"By the end of September or October, we intend to have our full construction documents with the intent to start construction by the end of this calendar year – likely December." That was Jarod Rogers, deputy director of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Resources Division, speaking to North Central News in April. The schedule held. The City of Phoenix now posts a closure notice on its North Mountain and Shaw Butte page: North Mountain Park "will be closed from December 2026 through early 2028 for renovations."
The same article included a second detail that matters more for the long run. Once the work is done, cars will no longer reach the top portion of the park, and asphalt there will be replaced with natural surfaces. The park at 7th Street and Peoria Avenue was built for driving in and parking. It will reopen as a park meant for arriving on foot, and the trailheads that stay open during construction already work that way.
The Park Closing in December Is Already Partly Closed
North Mountain Park started in the 1950s as a Maricopa County park and joined the Phoenix park system in the 1970s. Its age shows. The city says the restroom at the old Ranger Station is permanently closed because of significant plumbing problems, which leaves the restrooms near the Pima, Maricopa and Yavapai ramadas. The playground structure is also closed for safety reasons, because replacement parts for a structure that old can no longer be found. Only the swing set is still open. North Central News reported that the playground closed two years before its April story.
The park also runs on a septic system. A new sewer connection to replace it is on the city's project list. The renovation covers roughly 37 acres on the west side of 7th Street at Peoria Avenue. The busiest part of the site is Trail 44, a 1.6-mile trail that circles the park and that North Central News called one of the busiest trails in the city.
Five Years From Survey to Reopening
The project has been moving through City Hall for a while. Here is the sequence, based on the city's North Mountain Park Renovation Update, dated September 25, 2026, and the North Central News account:
- Late 2022: Phoenix Parks and Recreation begins community surveys and public meetings.
- November 2023: The park master plan is approved.
- July 2025: Final design begins, led by J2 Environmental Design.
- December 17, 2025: The City Council approves an agreement with Valley Rain Construction Corporation as construction manager at risk, with fees for all phases capped at $30 million.
- September 2026: The city reports design at 90 percent complete.
- December 2026: The park closes. Construction is set to start in Winter 2026/2027.
- Winter 2027/2028: Estimated completion, with the park closed until early 2028.
With the closure starting in December and running into early 2028, the park will be closed for every month of 2027.
What Comes Back Is Built for People on Foot
Most of the city's improvement list adds things for people walking and takes space away from cars. According to the September update, the project includes:
- Pedestrian improvements that move walkers away from park roadways
- An improved walkable entryway from the intersection of 7th Street and Peoria Avenue, plus a new pedestrian connection south of Peoria from 7th Street
- A new, sustainable trail alignment linking the park to Tower Road
- Removal of excess asphalt to reduce heat
- An ADA-accessible Penny Howe Trail, which North Central News reported will move to the southwest part of the park and get new interpretive exhibits and interactive signs
- An interactive, nature-themed play area, expanded shade canopies, and picnic areas with more shade, tables and grills
- Three new restrooms, including family and ADA-accessible options, and chilled drinking fountains with bottle fillers
A few items on the list speak to how hard this mountain can be on hikers. The renovation adds ice machines to help first responders during rescues, shaded scenic viewpoints, LED lighting and automatic gates. Rogers told North Central News that with natural surfaces replacing pavement, "hikers will have a cooler walk and not have to contend with vehicles."
That is the main change. Today you can drive up through the park and park near the ramadas. After the renovation, the upper park is reached on foot from 7th Street and Peoria.
The Trailheads That Stay Open
The city's closure notice says other Phoenix Mountains Preserve trailheads stay open, including the North Mountain Visitor Center. North Central News suggested the Visitor Center, Lookout Mountain and Dreamy Draw Recreation Area as alternatives. The city's North Mountain trails page and preserve map list several entry points within a short drive:
| Trailhead | Address | What it reaches |
|---|---|---|
| North Mountain Visitor Center | 12950 N. 7th St. | Starting point for Trail 100 |
| Shaw Butte Trailhead | 12898 N. Central Ave. | Shaw Butte Trail, numbered 306 on the preserve map |
| Mountain View II Park | 9901 N. 7th Ave. | Maxine Lakin Nature Trail, numbered 60 on the preserve map |
| Lookout Mountain / 16th Street Trailhead | 15800 N. 16th St. | Lookout Mountain trails |
| Dreamy Draw Recreation Area | 2421 E. Northern Ave. | Piestewa Peak and Dreamy Draw trails |
Each option changes a routine in its own way. Mountain View II on 7th Avenue sits on the west side of the mountain. Shaw Butte gets you onto the taller peak next door, which tops out at 2,149 feet. North Mountain reaches 2,104. Dreamy Draw is the farthest from 7th Street. The city lists its parking and entrance hours as 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., with trails open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Those match North Mountain Park's regular hours outside the summer extension. Morning hikers on the usual schedule will find the same gate times at Dreamy Draw.
The Visitor Center Becomes North Mountain's Front Door
The most direct substitute is up the road. The North Mountain Visitor Center is on the west side of 7th Street, just south of Thunderbird Road, and visitors drive in past a gate. It reaches the other side of the same mountain, which is how North Central News described it. The center has trail maps and hiking information, and trails start right next to the building.
One timing issue for early risers: the building is open daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the center notes that hours can vary with volunteer availability. If you want maps or advice from staff, go mid-morning.
The center also hosts events beyond hikes. Its November calendar lists coffee-house music mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. on November 21 and November 28. Those are the last two Saturdays before the park's December closure, and a reason to get used to the north entrance before it becomes your only nearby way onto North Mountain.
For coffee after a hike, Beal Beans Roasting Co. is at 509 W. Hatcher Road in Sunnyslope. Phoenix New Times covered its July 2025 opening and wrote about its pour-over coffee, espresso drinks and house-made pastries.
When the Gates Reopen in 2028
Expect the park that reopens to work differently. The city's July 2026 concept design shows a rerouted Trail 44 and 298 parking spaces. The upper area will be closed to cars, and the main entry is being redesigned for people walking in from 7th Street and Peoria Avenue. For neighbors within walking distance of that corner, the renovation shortens the trip onto the mountain. For people who drive in, it means parking lower and walking farther. The city's project page is the place to watch for updates while construction is underway.
Living close to a preserve trailhead that's about to change is a real factor in what a home near 7th Street and Peoria is worth, and that factor changes with the park. If you're wondering how North Mountain Park's renovation could affect your home's value, Logan Lewis can walk you through it. Get your free home valuation.
