Prescott Residents Fight to Preserve Iconic Granite Dells

Community members organize to protect beloved natural landmark from encroaching development

Apr. 14, 2026 at 12:05am

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A vast, majestic landscape painting in muted earth tones, with dramatic clouds and atmospheric lighting casting a sublime, melancholic mood over the iconic boulders and reservoirs of the Granite Dells in Prescott, Arizona, conceptually representing the community's hard-fought campaign to preserve this natural wonder.The Granite Dells, a beloved natural landmark in Prescott, Arizona, stands as a testament to the power of grassroots movements to protect cherished open spaces from encroaching development.Prescott Today

Residents of Prescott, Arizona have been engaged in a grassroots campaign to protect the Granite Dells, a unique natural landscape on the outskirts of the city, from proposed development. The Dells, a scenic area of boulders and reservoirs, have long been cherished by locals, but the city government has repeatedly favored growth over conservation. Frustrated residents have organized, elected pro-preservation city council members, and pursued legal action to safeguard the Dells, in the face of ongoing development pressures.

Why it matters

The fight to save the Granite Dells highlights the broader tensions between development and conservation in the American West, as well as the power of community-led efforts to protect beloved public spaces. It also reflects a nationwide trend of federal and local governments prioritizing economic growth over environmental preservation, despite strong public support for conservation.

The details

For decades, the Granite Dells have been under threat from proposed development projects. Despite overwhelming public support for preserving the area's natural beauty and recreational opportunities, the city government has repeatedly sided with developers. Residents like Joe Trudeau have organized to elect pro-preservation city council members, formed advocacy groups like Save the Dells, and even resorted to legal action to force the city's hand. Their grassroots campaign has slowly but steadily gained momentum, as the community has rallied around the shared desire to protect this iconic natural landmark.

  • In 2010, Joe Trudeau moved to Prescott from New Hampshire, drawn in part by the Granite Dells.
  • Within a few years of moving to Prescott, Trudeau heard whispers about proposed development that could encroach on the Dells.
  • Residents have been organizing and advocating for the preservation of the Dells for decades, forming advisory committees, voting for relevant legislation, and crafting land management plans.
  • At one point, residents resorted to a lawsuit to force the local government to act on preserving the Dells.
  • Voters in Prescott approved a 1% tax to purchase park lands, but the city rarely acted on this, passing up opportunities to protect the Dells.

The players

Joe Trudeau

An environmental consultant who moved to Prescott in 2010 and became a vocal advocate for preserving the Granite Dells.

Joanne Oellers

The current chair of Save the Dells, an advocacy group formed to protect the Granite Dells from development.

Save the Dells

A grassroots advocacy group formed by Prescott residents to protect the Granite Dells from encroaching development.

Prescott City Council

The local government body that has repeatedly favored development over conservation of the Granite Dells, despite strong public opposition.

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What they’re saying

“It's the backdrop to our lives. Driving by on Highway 89 in the morning, you catch a glimpse of the sun coming over the hill, and it's just a profoundly awesome way to start your day.”

— Joe Trudeau, Environmental consultant

“The public wanted this open space, and yet the leadership in the city was resistant for one reason or another. The leadership was the problem.”

— Joanne Oellers, Chair, Save the Dells

What’s next

Residents of Prescott will continue to monitor the city's actions and decisions regarding the Granite Dells, and will likely maintain pressure on the local government to prioritize conservation over development in the area.

The takeaway

The fight to save the Granite Dells in Prescott highlights the power of grassroots community efforts to protect beloved natural spaces, even in the face of persistent development pressures and unresponsive local governments. It serves as a model for other communities seeking to preserve their unique natural landmarks in the face of growth and urbanization.