Silent Sunday Expands to include North Mountain Park

Phoenix, AZ – Cyclists, skateboarders, wheelchair users and stroller-riding tots will soon get to call the roads of North Mountain Park their own one day each month when the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department expands it’s popular Silent Sunday event to the area beginning in February.

North Mountain Park, 10600 N. Seventh St., will host Silent Sundays from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month, except April. The kickoff event is Feb. 8 with the remaining 2009 dates March 8, May 10, June 14, July 12, Aug. 9, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13.

Vehicles will park in the lot at the Havasupai Ramada reserving the park’s roadways for non-motorized use. Trailhead access sites outside of the park will remain open to vehicles.

The Parks and Recreation Department started Silent Sundays in 2006 at South Mountain Park/Preserve, which also will continue to host the event throughout 2009 on Feb. 22, March 22, April 26, May 24, June 21, July 26, Aug. 23, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22, and Dec. 20.

The department started Silent Sunday to promote awareness of alternative modes of transportation and recreation and gives the Preserve a day of rest from motor vehicle traffic. Staff is expanding the program because of its overwhelming popularity at South Mountain. Comprehensive information on the city’s desert and mountain preserves is available online at phoenix.gov/parks.

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