Sedona AZ (August 9, 2016) – The Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau recently announced the creation of Sedona Trail Keepers — a program that allows business sponsors to financially commit to the preservation, maintenance and creation of trails for generations to come.
The goal is to have 25 business sponsors commit $1,000 per year, for five years. The SCC&TB will match the private-sector investment, generating $250,000 for the US Forest Service by 2021.
In conjunction with the City of Sedona and the USFS, this investment will be used to sustain existing trails, and design and construct new ones.
“The annual investment from the Trail Keepers program will be instrumental in sustaining the Red Rock Ranger District trail system,” said Adam Barnett, Recreation Program Manager, Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Ranger District.
“By sharing the responsibility with the local business community and residents, we will all have a role in protecting and maintaining the 300-plus miles of trails for future generations to enjoy.”
Benefits for sponsors include:
- Business name listed on three signs at USFS designated trailheads. (A limit of five businesses will be listed on each sign).
- Listing in USFS Recreation Guide (150,000 printed annually).
- Listing on VisitSedona.com. (1.7 million unique visitors annually).
- Recognition in the Experience Sedona Visitors Guide (275,000 printed annually).
- Use of program logo.
- Gratification of knowing that you are helping to preserve Sedona’s natural landscape.
“We understand the value of our public lands and we want to take a leadership role in protecting and sustaining our stunning landscape for generations to come,” said Jennifer Wesselhoff, Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau president/CEO.
“We are excited to develop and execute this program in conjunction with the city and the USFS and know that a $250,000 investment to our public lands will enhance the visitor experience and contribute to the core values of our local residents and enhance our quality of life.”
If your business would like to become a sponsor or if you have questions about the program, please contact Jennifer Wesselhoff at 928-204-1123 Ext. 111, or email jwess@sedonachamber.com.
1 Comment
No explanation as to how the money would be spent maintaining trails. So much money being spent in Sedona by our local government such as nearly one million dollars to purchase land to expand City Hall. Now the Chamber wants business owners to pay for the work of the National Forest Service. All this money and yet Sedona was a nicer town before incorporation. All that matters now is how many more tourists can we bring to town. So now the aim is to preserve the trails for future generations. Perhaps it is more like trails for more tourists to destroy with trash and rock stacking which is detrimental to the environment and small creatures and off trail ATVs. The number of tourists has reached a point to where the quality of life is being degraded all because certain special interest organizations are successful lobbyists to the City Council and City Staff. Just read the latest article in the “Red Rock News” about the disgusting trashing of Slide Rock Park and other sites in the Canyon and yet our Chamber and City Council wants more of these people to visit and destroy our treasure. I have lived here for 36 years so I can testify to how much nicer Sedona was before we had a Chamber of Commerce that is given $1.5 million of taxes a year inviting day trippers and a very activist City Council and City Staff looking for more ways to increase the number of destructive visitors.
Joan Shannon