The Scottsdale History Hall of Fame features more than 100 past and present community leaders and organizations, each having their own unique impact on Scottsdale. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy was honored in 2010 for its tireless work protecting and preserving the McDowell Mountains — a 1.8-billion-year-old treasure and pristine desert landscape.
During the celebration in April 2010, the Hall of Fame recounted our early days as a resourceful group of activists who stood against development in the McDowell Mountains. Through creative campaigns and tireless advocacy, the group earned the support of the City Council and the surrounding community. Several of our organization’s founders and key personalities are also included in the Hall of Fame.
Eventually, efforts paid off and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve was formed. Today, the Preserve is now the largest urban preserve in the United States, offering plentiful outdoor recreation as well as scientific and educational opportunity, with more than 750,000 visitors every year.
The Hall of Fame also highlights our organization’s expansive and award-winning Steward program, which has become one of the most successful volunteer programs in the nation. Stewards are the backbone to everything we do: from introducing schoolchildren to the wonders of the desert, to maintaining trails and providing interpretive guided tours. We wouldn’t be here today without their support!
The immense amount of work and passion behind our organization has irreversibly changed Scottsdale for the better. We have activated hundreds of citizen activists, brought awareness to the importance of conserving a vibrant desert ecosystem and established an unparalleled destination for visitors across the globe. We’re immensely proud to be included among Scottsdale’s most renowned names.
Learn more about the 2010 Hall of Fame inductees and celebration here.