Update - 6 August 2025
On Tuesday, August 5th, 2025 Prescott voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition 484 “Open Space Charter Amendment”. Passage of the proposition will amend Article VIII, Section 12 of the City of Prescott Charter by adding several city-owned properties, prohibiting the sale, lease, or transfer of such properties and requiring such properties be retained by the city with use limitations in conformance with pre-existing and/or other limited specified uses consistent with open space in perpetuity unless an exception is approved by a majority of votes cast by Prescott registered voters at a primary, general or special election.
As of this writing, the Yavapai County Elections website indicated that 17,262 votes were cast for Proposition 484 with 16.15% opposed to the proposition and 83.85% in favor of the proposition. This results in 2,746 acres of City owned Open Space property, including Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, enjoying significantly greater protection from sale or development in perpetuity (forever)!
Prescott Voters to Weigh in on Open Space Protection - August 5th, 2025
The August 5th, 2025 Primary Election ballot includes Proposition 484 “Open Space Charter Amendment”. Prescott residents may have already received early voting ballots in their mailboxes during the second week of July.
At the heart of this issue is how open space properties in the City of Prescott, like Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, will be protected in the future. The common perspective is that with their zoning designation as Natural Open Space these properties, totaling over 4,000 acres, are protected. However, this is NOT the case for most of the City’s Open Space properties.
Only Watson and Willow Lakes and James Acker Memorial Park, totaling 1,259 acres, are protected in perpetuity in the City of Prescott Charter. That leaves the remaining 25 additional Open Space properties, totaling 2,746 acres, unprotected. A simple majority vote of the Prescott City Council could result in any number of actions that are not consistent with protection of Open Space.
Proposition 484 seeks to change this by amending the City Charter to protect these open and recreational spaces in perpetuity and requiring voter approval should a future City Council seek to sell them or change their uses.
Prescott voters need to cast a ballot in the August 5th, 2025 Primary Election to weigh in on this issue. It will not carry forward to the General Election in November, so Prescott voters will decide the fate of Proposition 484 on August 5th, 2025.
Why is Proposition 484 Relevant to Watson Woods Riparian Preserve?
During discussions early in the year about how Proposition 484 would be structured, some people advocated that Watson Woods Riparian Preserve did NOT need to be included in the list of properties covered by Prop 484. The assumption was that with its existing lease and hoped for future conservation easement that it would be protected. Prescott Creeks submitted multiple letter and spoke at multiple City Council meetings advocating for the inclusion of Watson Woods Riparian Preserve in Proposition 484.
While the Preserve lease does have a term of 25 years, there are provisions that could lead to its cancellation, and the lease does not protect the Preserve against sale by a future City Council – however unlikely it may seem.
While a conservation easement is expected to be placed on the Preserve property in the near future to protect the “conservation values” there, but it does not protect the Preserve against sale by a future City Council – however unlikely it may seem.
Council, recognizing that the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve that the existing lease and future conservation easement do not protect the property in ways consistent with Proposition 484, and that it is important as open space, for recreation, for wildlife, and for water quality, included it in the list of properties that Proposition 484 covers.
See below for a map of all properties that will be incorporated into the City Charter if Prop 484 is approved by voters on August 5th, 2025.
City of Prescott Information
- Yellow properties in this map are currently protected via the City Charter.
- Green properties will be incorporated into the City Charter if Prop 484 is approved by voters on August 5th, 2025.
- Note Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is shown and listed as number 24 in the map key.
Other City of Prescott Proposition 484 Information
Additional Information
Save the Dells
Save the Dells has prepared materials to help educate the public about the importance of Proposition 484. Save the Dells is advocating for a “YES” vote on Proposition 484. Visit their website and download materials as relevant.
