Pinal County has officially tapped Scott Hamilton as the new captain for its Open Space, Trails, and Regional Parks Department. Stepping into the role on Monday, May 12th, Hamilton leaves behind a legacy over two decades strong at the City of Scottsdale, where he stewarded the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Pinnacle Peak Park, amassing over 30,000 acres of protected desert and mountain landscapes, according to a Pinal County announcement.
With a background that encompasses the oversight of 230 miles of trails and multiple recreational facilities, attracting over 1.3 million visitors annually, Hamilton is poised to marry his expertise with Pinal County's natural resources. He expressed his enthusiasm, "I am excited to join the team at Pinal County and to utilize my experience to advance the citizens' goals for protecting natural open spaces and developing public trails and regional parks," Hamilton said in the statement procured by Pinal County.
Under the watchful eyes awaiting his leadership, some of the initial tasks lined up for Hamilton include breathing life into Palo Verde Regional Park, Pinal County's second regional park, extending the Central Arizona Project (CAP) National Recreation Trail, and enhancing the offerings at West Pinal Park. These projects follow on the heels of the opening of Pinal County's inaugural regional park, Peralta Regional Park, in 2023.
Himanshu Patel, Deputy County Manager of Pinal County, who oversees the Open Space, Trails, and Regional Parks Department, lauded Hamilton's appointment, sharing that "We're delighted to have someone with Scott's experience join our County to lead our Open Space, Trails, and Regional Parks team." He added that "Scott's vision, strategic planning, and project management experience will be a great asset in ensuring they are delivered responsibly, while meeting the needs of the community," a sentiment echoed by Pinal County in their announcement. Hamilton's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management from Arizona State University.
