The Sedona
Main Street Program is proudly nominating the “Uptown EcoTrail
Celebration” – held October 30, 2004 – for Best Special Event.
This
natural, outdoor history museum was constructed by Sedona Center as part
of its commitment to create a memorable Main Street experience. The
trail is comprised of a quarter-mile connection from the busy Uptown
Sedona area leading down to the banks of Oak Creek – the only
public access to Oak Creek from the Uptown shopping district.
The EcoTrail was designed to provide visitors to Uptown free access to
the Creek while also educating them on the region’s natural habitat.
The
picturesque pathway features photos and informational signage, providing
hikers of the EcoTrail with interesting details about Sedona’s plants
and wild life. Most of the information was provided by the Sedona-based
Institute of EcoTourism, which partnered with Sedona Center owners and
management to breathe life into the EcoTrail project.
Featuring a
free high-powered viewer through which visitors can experience enhanced
panoramic views (similar to those found at Niagara Falls or on top of
the Empire State building), the interactive and educational EcoTrail is
peppered with interesting information about the area’s geological
formations, plant and animal life – many of which are interesting facts
little known to visitors and residents of the area. Answers to commonly
asked questions about the red rocks, the biodiversity and the Native
American history of the area are featured throughout the EcoTrail.
The
EcoTrail has already had a significant impact on those visiting Sedona
and seeking a “Main Street” experience. It is not always convenient for
tourists to Sedona to drive to an easily accessible portion of Oak Creek
to see the water. With the EcoTrail’s fitting location in Uptown Sedona,
tourists can shop, dine, watch a live concert and see the Creek all in
one location, without having to get in their cars and leave.
The
EcoTrail was awarded the Keep Sedona Beautiful Award for 2004. This
award was presented because of the Uptown EcoTrail’s exceptional
landscaping and signage, and its contribution to the Uptown community.
The
unveiling of this attraction on October 30 was a memorable event for all
who gathered. Starting their journey on the patio of Canyon Breeze
Restaurant – with a popular band playing rock-and-roll oldies in the
background – participants grabbed sidewalk chalk and helped create the
“Naturalist Trail” sidewalk art-walk on their way to the EcoTrail head
across the parking lot. At the trail head, the Yavapai-Apache Nation
Mountain Spirit Dancers performed an opening blessing ceremony as the
Phoenix-based non-profit, Raptor’s Inc., released rehabilitated falcons
back into the wild.
As the crowd of several hundred people gathered at the top of the trail,
Uqualla -- a Havasupai Native American -- lead the group down toward the
Creek and acted as their guide. At the foot of the trail, Van VanDerberg
from Red Rock State Park showed visitors animal tracks and scat, and
gave everyone a “game card” to see if they could find matching tracks
and scat that had been strategically placed along the EcoTrail.
Down the
path, the Movement and Dance Alliance greeted partygoers with a creative
interpretive dance depicting the homosapian’s evolutionary process, as
the sound of several acoustic music acts could be heard in the
background.
There were
also plenty of art-inspired activities, as participants painted their
interpretation of the panoramic red rock view on a large plein air
mural, overseen by nationally known author and artist, Joan Bourque.
Further down the trail, participants painted individual tiles in
conjunction with Gardens for Humanity representative Amy Gordon. The
tiles will be used in Fall 2005 (after the 2nd annual
EcoTrail celebration) to create a tile-bench which will be placed on
Sedona Center property – an incredible community-inspired piece of
functional art.
Closer to
the Creek, hundreds of children were enticed by the concept of painting
ancient symbols and petroglyphs on a large red-rock wall as well as
smaller rocks they could keep as souvenirs. On goers were also greeted
by various shops specializing in merchandise related to the wildlife and
culture of the southwest, land-stewards from the state and national
forest service who educated participants on our natural environment, and
free chair massages by NAMTI School of Massage students.
Visitors touched the Wildlife Critter Collections of Arizona Safari Jeep
Tours, wildlife specialists; and critters from Chuck Oldham, a wildlife
sculptor and naturalist. There was a snake family, a turtle family –
including babies – as well as tarantulas, desert turtles, scorpions, and
toads.
Once the EcoTrail hit Amara Creekside Resort, participants traveled
through Amara’s Gallery On Oak Creek Restaurant to the resort’s
Courtyard where Raptors Inc. had birds of prey to view, including Aimee
the Owl – the largest species of Owl in Arizona. Many participants
ventured down to Oak Creek to talk with Ranger Mike Lyles about nature
and the water, play a water xylophone, and walk along the banks of the
Creek.
The
festivities concluded with an encore performance by the Yavapai-Apache
Nation Mountain Spirit Dancers, a closing blessing by Uqualla, and the
symbolic release of a rehabilitated red-tailed hawk provided by Raptors,
Inc.
There was also a special “eco-friendly” dinner prepared by Gallery on
Oak Creek’s Executive Chef Alan McClean (not all who came to the
celebration ate dinner – it was a paid and optional part of the event).
The opening
of Sedona’s EcoTrail proved to be an extremely entertaining and
educational event. All who attended were pleased and many have since
returned to the public access trail. A strongly anticipated anniversary
celebration is scheduled to take place October 1 – with many of the same
non-profits and groups involved.
We are
delighted to provide the people of Sedona access to one of our most
treasured natural landforms – helping create and sustain the image of a
vibrant Main Street experience.
Photos included with Nomination
