Click this link to optimize Flagstaff Community Forum for screen readers Skip to Content
Flagstaff Community Forum
Opengov
Greater Observatory Mesa Area Community Trail Plan Drafting.

City Seeking Community Input on the Revised Greater Observatory Mesa Area Trail Plan.

This topic is closed

184 registered responses


On average, how often do you use the greater Observatory Mesa area (i.e., Lowell Observatory, Observatory Mesa Natural Area, and abutting National Forest)? (See map, above)

Response Percent Response Count
5 or more times per week 14.8% 27
2 to 5 times per week 22.4% 41
1 to 2 times per week 31.7% 58
Less than once per month 27.9% 51
Never, I don't use this area 3.3% 6

When do you typically use the greater Observatory Mesa area?

Response Percent Response Count
Weekdays (Monday-Friday) 24.0% 44
Weekends (Saturday-Sunday) 8.7% 16
Both weekdays and weekends 63.9% 117
Never, I don’t use the area 2.7% 5
Other 0.5% 1

How well do you think the plan addresses the following priorities? (1 = poorly addressed, 2 = neutral, 3 = well addressed) (review the draft plan linked in the survey introduction)

Maintains sensitivity to natural and cultural resources (i.e., sufficient buffer around wildlife habitat, sensitive watersheds and springs, cultural resources)
Response Percent Response Count
1 6.7% 12
2 23.5% 42
3 69.3% 124
Provides educational zones
Response Percent Response Count
1 2.2% 4
2 49.7% 89
3 46.9% 84
Provides sufficient parking
Response Percent Response Count
1 11.2% 20
2 38.0% 68
3 49.7% 89
Provides appropriate access points
Response Percent Response Count
1 10.6% 19
2 24.6% 44
3 64.2% 115
Maintains or creates a sufficient number of trails for use
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.6% 10
2 20.1% 36
3 72.1% 129
Rehabilitates a sufficient number of trails for conservation or reduces redundancy
Response Percent Response Count
1 4.5% 8
2 24.0% 43
3 70.4% 126
Provides appropriate mountain biking alignments
Response Percent Response Count
1 12.3% 22
2 29.6% 53
3 55.9% 100
Addresses appropriate signage
Response Percent Response Count
1 3.9% 7
2 30.2% 54
3 63.1% 113

Would the proposed formal trail system for the greater Observatory Mesa area be an improvement of the current conditions? (see maps, above and review the draft plan linked in the survey introduction)

Response Percent Response Count
Yes 74.4% 134
Moderately 17.2% 31
No 5.0% 9
Unsure 3.3% 6

Should Class 1 E-bikes be allowed on the proposed trail system for the greater Observatory Mesa area? There may be an opportunity to allow E-bike use within the planning area. Class 1 E-bikes are pedal-assist bikes that can travel at speeds up to 20 miles an hour.

Response Percent Response Count
Yes 35.5% 65
Only on certain trails (ex: urban trail/FUTS and commuter routes) 43.2% 79
No 20.8% 38
Unsure 0.5% 1

Do you support the inclusion of the following trail design types in the Greater Observatory Mesa Trail Plan? (1 = No, 2 = neutral, 3 = Yes)

Adaptive Biking Trails (trails with 36-inch width)
Response Percent Response Count
1 8.2% 15
2 20.3% 37
3 71.4% 130
Trails open to Class 1 E-bikes (i.e., pedal-assist bikes limited to 20 miles per hour)
Response Percent Response Count
1 35.7% 65
2 21.4% 39
3 42.9% 78
Trails intended for specific uses (ex. directional trails, mountain biking, hiking) but open to all users
Response Percent Response Count
1 12.1% 22
2 16.5% 30
3 71.4% 130

Several dirt roads in the focus area will be retained for administrative uses. Should these roads be used as trail connectors to reduce overall impact, or would you prefer a new trail be developed adjacent to some of these existing roads to provide additional user experience? (see maps, above)

Response Percent Response Count
Prefer to use existing roads rather than develop new adjacent trails 26.5% 48
Prefer a balance of road connectors and new adjacent trail experiences 37.6% 68
Prefer to develop new adjacent trails rather than use existing roads 30.9% 56
No preference 5.0% 9

Please provide comments regarding what experiences you prefer as it relates to using existing roads vs. new proposed trails.

Answered
116
Skipped
68

Please provide further comments and direction on your views associated with any aspect you think this plan should consider. Specificity will assist us in using feedback to make plan revisions. (i.e., include: location, solutions, access point numbers, trail id numbers, section numbers, etc.).

Answered
122
Skipped
62

Would you like to receive future news about the Greater Observatory Mesa Trail Plan? Enter e-mail if interested.

Answered
131
Skipped
53

What is your home ZIP code?

Answered
180
Skipped
4
Name not shown inside City Limits
July 16, 2023, 10:06 PM
  • On average, how often do you use the greater Observatory Mesa area (i.e., Lowell Observatory, Observatory Mesa Natural Area, and abutting National Forest)? (See map, above)
    • Less than once per month
  • When do you typically use the greater Observatory Mesa area?
    • Both weekdays and weekends
  • How well do you think the plan addresses the following priorities? (1 = poorly addressed, 2 = neutral, 3 = well addressed) (review the draft plan linked in the survey introduction)
    • Maintains sensitivity to natural and cultural resources (i.e., sufficient buffer around wildlife habitat, sensitive watersheds and springs, cultural resources) - 3
    • Provides educational zones - 3
    • Provides sufficient parking - 3
    • Provides appropriate access points - 3
    • Maintains or creates a sufficient number of trails for use - 3
    • Rehabilitates a sufficient number of trails for conservation or reduces redundancy - 3
    • Provides appropriate mountain biking alignments - 3
    • Addresses appropriate signage - 3
  • Would the proposed formal trail system for the greater Observatory Mesa area be an improvement of the current conditions? (see maps, above and review the draft plan linked in the survey introduction)
    • Yes
  • Should Class 1 E-bikes be allowed on the proposed trail system for the greater Observatory Mesa area? There may be an opportunity to allow E-bike use within the planning area. Class 1 E-bikes are pedal-assist bikes that can travel at speeds up to 20 miles an hour.
    • Only on certain trails (ex: urban trail/FUTS and commuter routes)
  • Do you support the inclusion of the following trail design types in the Greater Observatory Mesa Trail Plan? (1 = No, 2 = neutral, 3 = Yes)
    • Adaptive Biking Trails (trails with 36-inch width) - 3
    • Trails open to Class 1 E-bikes (i.e., pedal-assist bikes limited to 20 miles per hour) - 1
    • Trails intended for specific uses (ex. directional trails, mountain biking, hiking) but open to all users - 3
  • Several dirt roads in the focus area will be retained for administrative uses. Should these roads be used as trail connectors to reduce overall impact, or would you prefer a new trail be developed adjacent to some of these existing roads to provide additional user experience? (see maps, above)
    • Prefer a balance of road connectors and new adjacent trail experiences
  • Please provide comments regarding what experiences you prefer as it relates to using existing roads vs. new proposed trails.
    Riding and hiking on trails is usually nicer than on roads but if we can avoid some new development by using existing roads, that seems like a good thing.
  • Please provide further comments and direction on your views associated with any aspect you think this plan should consider. Specificity will assist us in using feedback to make plan revisions. (i.e., include: location, solutions, access point numbers, trail id numbers, section numbers, etc.).
    Trails that include fun rock features for mountain bikes would be nice. Depending on the intensity of use in the area, suggesting bike bells in signage could help trail conflicts, especially if more trails are built with an eye towards mtb use. Within the context of the multi-use nature of the mesa, protecting wildlife habitat and maintaining natural processes would also be good.
  • Would you like to receive future news about the Greater Observatory Mesa Trail Plan? Enter e-mail if interested.
    [email protected]
  • What is your home ZIP code?
    86004
Flagstaff Community Forum is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Flagstaff Community Forum is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.

Your answers will NOT be saved

This is the form that was used to collect responses. It's here so you can try it and see how it worked when the topic was open.

The topic is now closed, and anything you enter into this form will not be saved.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PROPOSED TRAIL PLAN MAP

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PROPOSED TRAIL PLAN MAP

1
2
3
Maintains sensitivity to natural and cultural resources (i.e., sufficient buffer around wildlife habitat, sensitive watersheds and springs, cultural resources)
Provides educational zones
Provides sufficient parking
Provides appropriate access points
Maintains or creates a sufficient number of trails for use
Rehabilitates a sufficient number of trails for conservation or reduces redundancy
Provides appropriate mountain biking alignments
Addresses appropriate signage

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PROPOSED TRAIL PLAN MAP

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EXISTING CONDITION MAP

1
2
3
Adaptive Biking Trails (trails with 36-inch width)
Trails open to Class 1 E-bikes (i.e., pedal-assist bikes limited to 20 miles per hour)
Trails intended for specific uses (ex. directional trails, mountain biking, hiking) but open to all users

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN MAP (MORE TRAIL ALIGNMENTS)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DRAFT TRAIL PLAN MAP (LESS TRAIL ALIGNMENTS)

Check out our guidelines for civility
Back to Intro