Even though the request came a bit late in the budget decision-making process, the recent McDowell Mountain Preservation Commission financial request for the preserve still has merit for fiscal year 2014-15.

While the preserve is not your traditional high-maintenance park such as Golden Eagle Park or Fountain Park, the open desert area does require periodic maintenance and repairs.

The commission, which met last week with the Town Council, had specifically requested $33,200 for preserve operation and maintenance. The request covers such items as people counters to gauge trail usage, trail maintenance tools, vehicle for transport of supplies and people and a part-time employee or ranger dedicated to the preserve.

The part-time ranger might be the least favorable request at this time, since adding personnel goes counter to recent trends at Town Hall. Many of the commissioners themselves and other volunteers with preserve-related organizations have done such an outstanding job with building trails and other details of maintaining the mountain preserve that they may very well have presented the largest argument against funding an employee now or in the foreseeable future.

Preserve usage obviously decreases in the hot summer months, but the 940-acre McDowell Mountain Preserve is certainly a valuable Fountain Hills asset – along with the other trails and natural areas in town and in adjoining locations (City of Scottsdale, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, etc.).

It’s important for the Town of Fountain Hills to maintain these areas and keep them safe for use by the general public on a continual basis for decades and decades to come.