By Cindy Barks | The Daily Courier
An unobstructed view of Thumb Butte; a hike through the towering spires of the Granite Dells; a stroll along the banks of Granite Creek.
Anyone who has enjoyed those or any number of other Prescott outdoor amenities recently has one major funding source to thank: The streets and open space sales tax.
Since voters approved the 1-percent tax in 2000, the City of Prescott has used the revenue, in part, to buy more than 320 acres of undeveloped land (open space) throughout the community.
That, in turn, has allowed the Prescott Recreation Services Department to build 17 miles of new trails through some of the community’s most scenic areas.
In all, the city’s open space purchases over the past 15 years have totaled about $16 million.
