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Receive Bulletins and PULSE Newsletters via email
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Join over 1,300 members who influence Town Council decisions
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Protect our quality of life
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Retain recreations space
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Uphold the Oro Valley General Plan
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Stay informed
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Get engaged
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Participate in a committee
-
Receive Bulletins and PULSE Newsletters via email
-
Join over 1,300 members who influence Town Council decisions
-
Protect our quality of life
-
Retain recreations space
-
Uphold the Oro Valley General Plan
-
Stay informed
-
Get engaged
-
Participate in a committee
Thanks to the dedication of a team of Preserve Vistoso volunteers, membership is nearly 1,900, and more members are joining each day.
CONGRATULATIONS PRESERVE VISTOSO MEMBERS!
WE CAN NOW BEGIN FUNDRAISING
Oct. 12, 2021 – We did it!! Thanks to our 1,860 Preserve Vistoso members for supporting our community’s dream of protecting 202 acres of the Vistoso property as a nature preserve and community trail. The Conservation Fund (TCF) has signed a contract with Romspen to purchase the property. This is an important first step to preserving the property, but it is just the first step. We need to quickly begin our fundraising campaign to raise $1.8 million if TCF is to complete this agreement by the end of the year.
Last year, we had a successful pledge drive only to have TCF’s purchase offer rejected. We urge those who participated to renew their pledges now to fund TCF’s purchase of the property. We had a tremendous response from our generous members and neighbors, but we’ll need to build even more support now to make sure we reach our $1.8 million goal.
There are so many people to thank! First and foremost we thank you, our members, for your persistence in making your voices heard. Mayor Joe Winfield, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett, Town Council members and Town Management listened to the community and played a critical role in the negotiations, and we thank them for their leadership.
We also have special thanks for Mike Ford and TCF. Even though Romspen last year rejected the offer of Fair Market Value from TCF, Mike Ford continued to be involved in the negotiations to purchase the property. TCF will protect the property with a conservation easement as a nature preserve and community trail. The Town of Oro Valley is expected to become the eventual owner.
In the next couple of days we will provide more information about our fundraising goals and how you can help. For up-to-date information, go to preservevistoso.org.
For more information, click here.
To see a map of the property to be acquired, click here.
To see a map of the Vistoso property trail, click here.
The Deal is Signed!
We are very close to having a Nature Preserve and Community Trail for all to enjoy.
But the Job is Not Done
We need to raise $1.8 million by December 15, 2021 to close the deal
Please Consider Your Gift Today
We Need Everyone's Support to Get This Done
Click here for more information
To donate or to arrange a 10 minute informal zoom presentation, please contact:
Gerald Bren at 612-209-7347 or gcbren@gmail.com
Karen Bren at 612-834-8891
READ THE LATEST NEWS . . .
Oro Valley Podcast: Mike Ford of the Conservation Fund Talks about the Acquisition of the Vistoso Golf Course on the Oro Valley Podcast
This is a great interview with Mike Ford from The Conservation Fund. Mike talks about the structure of the deal and how the Oro Valley community can support this valuable acquisition.
View the Podcast here.
THE CONSERVATION FUND: "Preserving Open Space is Par for the Course in Or Valley"
Read Mike Ford's blog about TCF's efforts to create the nature preserve.
Read the story here
The Mission of Preserve Vistoso is to support the preservation of the former Vistoso golf course property as a Nature Preserve and community trail
The former Vistoso golf property presents the beauty of the Sonoran Desert teeming with wildlife and artifacts of the Native Americans who lived and hunted there. The existing 6.2-mile, eight-foot-wide concrete path winds through the property providing visitors with views of the Catalina and Tortolita mountains, examples of varied desert vegetation, and the opportunity to view an abundance of wildlife. With easy access from multiple locations, visitors can stroll the property and connect with the natural world we tend take for granted.
JOIN US TO HELP PRESERVE VISTOSO
A Sonoran Desert preserve
where nature and people thrive
Go to the "Our Vision" page for more information about the wonderful natural environment that should be preserved as a nature preserve and a community trail.
The Vistoso property offers a rich variety of plants, mammals and birds as well as ancient petroglyphs along a paved six-mile path that could be available to all.
It should be established as a nature preserve and community trail.
Learn How a Michigan Golf Course was Converted to a Nature Preserve.
A sprawling piece of land in Harbor Spring, Michigan was once home to a Norther Michigan golf course but has now become one of the region's newest public nature preserves. Read More ...
Go to the NEWS page to read the latest information about the Nature Preserve and Community Trail. .
To get up to speed quickly about the recent history and current status of the Vistoso Golf property, read the information below, and the Fact Sheet here.
Oro Valley Town Council Approves Resolution to Proceed with Romspen Settlement
September 9, 2021 – The Oro Valley Town Council last night approved a resolution to facilitate completion of the negotiations for the purchase of the 202 acres of the former Vistoso golf course by The Conservation Fund (TCF). “We thank Town Council members, Town Attorney and Town Management for supporting our efforts to save the Vistoso property as a community trail and nature preserve,” said Gayle Mateer, President of Preserve Vistoso. “Negotiations are nearing completion and this resolution is the final step to remove any barriers to getting it done. Mayor Winfield proposed the resolution which was unanimously approved (7-0) by Town Council members.” .
Click here to read more
As part of Preserve Vistoso's outreach to the community, volunteers set up a table at the Library and signed up several hundred new members. The support for establishing the former golf course as a nature preserve and community trail was overwhelming.
Signs are popping up all over!
Members show their support for creating the nature preserve and community trail by displaying Join Preserve Vistoso signs.
Send an email to PreserveVistoso@gmail.com to display a sign on your fence.
