As part of a major renovation set for North Mountain Park, the Penny Howe Barrier Free Nature Trail will be moved and expanded (photo by Kathryn M. Miller).
Phoenix is home to more than 41,000 acres of desert parks and mountain preserves, and 200-plus miles of trails, with millions of people enjoying city trails every year. And one of the busiest trails in the city is Trail 44, a 1.6-mile trail that circles North Mountain Park, on the west side of 7th Street at Peoria Avenue.
At 2,104 feet, North Mountain is an easily recognizable landmark in the north Valley skyline. In addition to Trail 44, the mountain offers a wide array of options for hikers of all abilities and boasts amazing summit climbs. But the park itself, which was built in the 1950s as a Maricopa County Park and joined the Phoenix Parks system in the 1970s, has seen better days.
So, in late 2022, the City of Phoenix Parks & Recreation Department began collecting community surveys, holding public meetings, and an extensive design and review process began to bring much-needed updates to the popular park.
The park master plan was approved in November 2023; design began in July 2025 and the city council finalized project funding – not to exceed $30 million – in December 2025.
“We’re really close to our 60 percent design drawing,” said Jarod Rogers, the deputy director of the Natural Resources Division of the Parks and Recreation Department. “By the end of September or October, we intend to have our full construction documents with the intent to start construction by the end of this calendar year – likely December.”
Planned improvements include new, expanded restrooms; expanded shade canopies and improvements to existing picnic areas; pedestrian path and trail improvements; automatic gates; a new irrigation system; restored vegetation areas; chilled drinking fountains with bottle fillers; and ice machines to assist first responders during rescue efforts, among others.
Rogers also noted that excess asphalt will be removed during the renovation, reducing heat and improving aesthetics. Cars will no longer have access to the top portion of the park and by replacing asphalt with natural surfaces, hikers will have a cooler walk and not have to contend with vehicles. In addition, the playground, which was closed two years ago due its age and state of deterioration, will return better than ever, with a nature theme and shade structure.
Another aspect of the renovation is the expansion and redesign of the Penny Howe Barrier Free Nature Trail. The plan is to move the trail to the southwest portion of the park and to refine it with improved interpretive exhibits, learning opportunities, and interactive signage that promotes engagement. Accessibility for all park patrons will remain front and center of the trail design.
The renovation will require a complete closure of the park, and the work is anticipated to take a full year. In the meantime, residents can visit the North Mountain Visitor Center to access the other side of the mountain, or explore nearby Lookout Mountain or Dreamy Draw Recreation Area.
Visit www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/parks/activities-facilities/trails.html to find a link to the North Mountain Park project page.
