In a move to preserve and enhance its natural beauty, Peoria, Arizona is doubling down on green spaces. The City's Parks & Recreation Department is expanding with the addition of the Mountains, Open Space, and River Ecosystems (M.O.R.E.) Division, according to a recent City of Peoria. This division will not only maintain Peoria's current mountain parks, river corridors, and desert open spaces but also lay the groundwork for new green areas as Peoria continues to grow.
With a current bounty of 3,865 acres consisting of mountain parks, river corridors, and desert open space, the city looks to expand this to roughly double its size. Surrounded by scenic beauty, Peoria's new communities are required to dedicate 15% of their planned area to open space. And due to the more areas like Lake Pleasant Heights, Aloravita, Vistancia North, and Saddleback Heights, these future developments are expected to add another 3,800 acres to the preservation efforts, essentially doubling the challenge the M.O.R.E. Division is set to undertake.
Integral to the plan's execution is the city’s citizen-led Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. As new land becomes available, this board plays a central role in guiding how it is used and cared for, ensuring that the expansion of green spaces aligns with the community's values and needs. The M.O.R.E. Division's effort to manage these ecosystems is aimed at giving Peoria residents and wildlife alike more room to thrive—a sentiment echoed in the city's declaration that the growth of these protected spaces will "elevate the Peoria brand as a high quality-of-life place," as stated by the City of Peoria.
For more detailed information on the M.O.R.E. plan, Peoria has released a white paper which can be accessed on the city’s website.
