The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is set to get four trailheads.  Scottsdale is gearing up to improve trailhead access to the Preserve after buying 4,420 acres of state trust land in recent weeks for $86 million.  Read more…

In 2010, more than 222,000 people set foot in the McDowell Mountains portion of the city’s nature preserve, according to preserve planner Scott Hamilton. Phoenix recently earned notice from National Geographic magazine for being one of the nation’s best hiking cities. But Scottsdale, with its rugged hiking, mountainous landscape and top-notch trailheads, is no underdog. Read...

Windgate Ranch, which is said to be Scottsdale’s last master-planned community because no other parcels are set aside for such a development, has persevered through a long market downturn with about 43 percent of 633 homes sold, said Mark Bailey, Toll Brothers vice president.  Read more…