Grassroots Movement Saves Arizona's Granite Dells

Residents of Prescott organize to preserve iconic open space from development

Apr. 12, 2026 at 2:35pm

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A high-contrast, silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeating grid of the Granite Dells' distinctive rock formations in a palette of neon greens, blues, and reds, creating a striking, abstract representation of this cherished natural landscape.The vibrant colors and bold graphic style of this pop art interpretation capture the rugged, iconic beauty of the Granite Dells, a natural landmark that the Prescott community has fought hard to preserve.Prescott Today

In Prescott, Arizona, a grassroots movement led by the Save the Dells advocacy group has successfully fought to protect the Granite Dells, a 3,000-acre open space area, from encroaching development. After years of the city favoring growth over conservation, Save the Dells mobilized the community, ran political campaigns, and negotiated creative land-for-water deals to preserve the Dells' iconic rock formations, meadows, and trails.

Why it matters

The Granite Dells are a beloved natural landmark in Prescott, providing outdoor recreation and a scenic backdrop for the community. This story highlights how determined residents can band together to save cherished public spaces from development pressures, even when local government is initially resistant to conservation efforts.

The details

For decades, Prescott residents had advocated to preserve the Granite Dells, but the city repeatedly favored growth over open space. In 2016, a proposed development on the Dells' northern edge sparked a new grassroots movement. The Save the Dells advocacy group organized protests, ran political campaigns to elect conservation-minded city council members, and negotiated a land-for-water deal that allowed the city to acquire 474 acres without spending any money. This success led the city to proactively purchase thousands more acres of the Dells in the following years.

  • In 2006, 16,000 acres of private land near the Granite Dells went up for sale, but the city failed to act quickly and the land was sold to developers.
  • In 2016, Save the Dells was formed in response to a proposed development on the Dells' northern edge.
  • In 2018, a Save the Dells hike-and-bike event drew over 600 participants, and a community forum brought over 1,200 people.
  • In 2019, Save the Dells endorsed its first successful city council candidate, Cathey Rusing, who ran on a platform of open space preservation.
  • In 2021, the city council unanimously approved a land-for-water deal negotiated by Save the Dells to acquire 474 acres of the Dells.

The players

Save the Dells

A grassroots advocacy group formed in 2016 to protect the Granite Dells from development, using tactics like community organizing, political campaigns, and negotiating land deals.

Granite Dells Preservation Foundation

A nonprofit organization that shares the goal of preserving the Granite Dells and works closely with Save the Dells.

Cathey Rusing

A city council member endorsed by Save the Dells in 2019, who ran on a platform of open space preservation and was later elected mayor in 2025.

Chris Hosking

The trails and natural parklands manager for the city of Prescott, who has overseen the expansion of the Dells' trail system through the efforts of volunteer groups like the Over the Hill Gang.

Over the Hill Gang

A group of mostly retired volunteers who have contributed over 10,000 hours of free labor annually to build and maintain trails in the Granite Dells.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The city of Prescott and Prescott Valley are working to expand the Granite Dells into a 7,000-acre regional park, combining city-owned land, federal lands, and conservation easements.

The takeaway

This grassroots victory in Prescott demonstrates how determined community members can successfully fight to preserve beloved public spaces, even when local government initially favors development over conservation. The Granite Dells story shows the power of political organizing, creative negotiation, and volunteer stewardship to protect natural landmarks for future generations.