If one hasn’t already been sent, consider this the official “thank you” letter to the City of Scottsdale from the Town of Fountain Hills, its citizens and our own McDowell Mountain Preserve Commission and Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills.

Scottsdale now has 30,000 acres of Sonoran Desert Preserve within its boundary, and much of that is adjacent to the Town of Fountain Hills and within the McDowell Mountains.

Scottsdale bid $21.3 million for 2,365 acres of state trust land that includes the “twin peaks” highly visible on our western horizon. Many folks mistakenly assumed that land was already in a “preserve” and not available for development. Part of Scottsdale’s financial package included an $8 million Growing Smart grant from the state.

This giant purchase, however, is good news for both Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. Preserve advocates have been salivating for the chance to link up a trail connecting the preserves, and now they’ll have that opportunity.

The new preserve land abuts the Fountain Hills boundary on the west and clears the way for efforts to build a connecting trailing between Scottsdale’s Sunrise Trail and Fountain Hills’ Western Loop Trail. Construction on this link trail could start within the next year or so.

Hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts should be excited about this prospect. It will further cement ongoing mountain preserve activities in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills for generations to come. So thanks, Scottsdale, we appreciate the purchase.