The Town of Prescott Valley and its partners are getting closer to the dream of a premier open space and recreational destination park on Glassford Hill. The park has a proposed name of Glassford Dells Regional Park. 

The Town of Prescott Valley does not assess a property tax and is continuously looking for ways to bring income to fund community needs with clean industry. The Glassford Dells project has the potential to increase tourism, diversify the economy away from housing growth, preserve the Glassford Hill area from over-development and protect its water resources, and become part of a larger regional or State Park.

An intergovernmental agreement signed in 2022 provided a framework to purchase approximately 3,500 acres of State Trust land on Glassford Hill between Prescott and Prescott Valley. The IGA is a partnership between the two municipalities and Yavapai County. An appraisal completed in May 2022 valued the acreage at $22.4 million.

Prescott Valley has since engaged in coordination meetings with Prescott, Yavapai County, the Arizona State Land Department, and the Arizona Parks & Trails Department. In the first phase of the acquisition, Prescott Valley would purchase 1,262 acres, and Prescott would purchase 953 acres, with targeted completion of purchase by late summer 2023.

The partners are looking into possible funding for the project, including State and grant money. House Bill 2518 would allocate $3.5 million in State funds but must go through a series of approvals. The Bill has passed the House Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and the House Appropriations Committee.   Currently the Arizona State Land Department has ordered an updated appraisal, required if the first appraisal is more than six months old. Total cost to Prescott Valley would be approximately $4.3 million if State funding is approved, and $5.4 million without State funding, depending on the updated appraisal.

Public participation in the Glassford Dells project is paramount, and plans include online surveys, social media, neighborhood meetings, and an advisory committee consisting of neighborhoods, HOAs, businesses, civic leaders, and environmental experts. The Town wants to hear from residents about amenities they would like to see in a regional park.

When more pieces are in place, the Town will go out with a Request for Proposals for a firm to design, build and operate a world-class downhill mountain bike park.