Local environmental group asking for public input on land use

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ECO, Inc., the local, non-profit Environmental Concerns Organization is requesting community input on the future use of a 40-acre parcel of land 10 miles south of Maricopa in Hidden Valley.

The community forum will take place on Oct. 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Maricopa Veterans Center, located on the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway behind Rotary pool.

Invited participants will be residents from the mini-farms and Hidden Valley areas, which are adjacent to the land under consideration, the Ak-Chin Indian Community and any residents who have input to contribute.

ECO originally formed for the purpose of cleaning up illegally dumped trash in the desert; the photo shows the worst property, Vekol Wash.

The environmental group purchased the property in bankruptcy court in 1998 in order to clean and restore it. “Since then, thousands of pounds of tires, appliances, glass bottles and other junk have been cleared, and most of it recycled,” said Gina D’Abella of ECO.

The Vekol Wash, which runs diagonally through the 40-acre parcel, has been identified as a future open space, non-motorized vehicle trail. The mountains directly west of the property have been identified as a future regional park for Maricopa residents.

“This fall we are working with an ASU intern, Mariann Abrahamsen, from the School of Sustainability. We offered her various projects to choose from this semester and she chose this one,” D’Abella explained.

What should be done with the remainder of this land parcel? Residents can provide their ideas and information at the Oct. 27 forum.

For further information, contact D’Abella at 520-568-9428.

Submitted photo