On September 6, the City of Prescott celebrated the opening of the Ecosa City Trail in the heart of the Granite Dells. This new trail was made possible when the Ecosa Institute acquired a 67-acre Granite Dells property in 2015 to use for educational purposes. Ecosa subsequently granted a public trail easement across the property to the City of Prescott. This year, the Ecosa Institute became part of Prescott College and title to the 67-acre property transferred to Prescott College.
This new trail extends the City’s Willow Lake trail system by 0.8 miles. It can be accessed from the City’s Willow Lake access trailhead and parking area. The trail includes a hiking path and interpretive signs and is mountain bike accessible. The trail was made possible through funding from Greater Prescott Outdoors Fund, Yavapai Trail Association and the City of Prescott’s Recreational Services.
The Ecosa City Trail and accompanying property will be used by Prescott College and Ecosa as a research study site to facilitate learning across the College’s Adventure Education, Environmental Studies and Sustainability programs. “The mission, values, and goals of Ecosa and Prescott College are totally aligned,” said former Ecosa Executive Director, Jessica Hernreich.“Ecosa is the leading Regenerative Ecological Design program in the nation,” said Prescott College President John Flicker. “We’re thrilled to be able to offer the new research study site to enrich the learning experience for our students.”
The signs and ramps where all fabricated by local artists. The interpretive signage was fabricated by Jesse Leight of Cerberus Iron Works and designed by Jonathan Decker. The ramps and rails were designed and fabricated by Brandon Eubanks of Eubanks Designs. The trail was designed and constructed by Chris Hosking, Trails/Natural Parklands Coordinator for the City of Prescott, who is a true earthworks artist. The project was managed by Ecosa’s former Executive Director, Jessica Hernreich.
About Prescott College: Founded in 1966, Prescott College offers four-year undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and Ph.D. programs utilising an experiential, self-directed model that attracts students motivated to make a difference in the world.
About Ecosa: The mission of Ecosa is to restore health to the natural environment, and thus the human environment, through education in design. Ecosa’s vision is of a world that blends the ethical values and ecological patterns, with the vitality and dynamism of the design arts. Founded in 1996 by Tony Brown, Ecosa has a goal of providing innovative ecological design thinking and an interdisciplinary approach to design education.
Source: Prescott College