With a population just over 4,000 residents, Clarkdale is located near the Verde River in the north central part of the state. Like many small Arizona towns, it was originally built as a company town in 1912 to serve the employees of the United Verde Copper Company. Unlike other towns, though, Clarkdale was designed to grow and was the first master planned community in Arizona.
The original rail line that served the copper smelter is now home to the Verde Canyon Railway (verdecanyonrr.com), a popular tourist attraction that gives tours of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area and Verde River. So much more than a tourist destination, Clarkdale stands among other municipalities for its environmentally friendly practices.
Managing Natural Resources
“Planning for a resilient and vibrant future while honoring its past, Clarkdale’s citizens and its leadership believe in being a model community for stewardship—environmentally, economically and culturally,” says Jodie S. Filardo, community and economic development director.
Part of the town’s emphasis on environmental stewardship focuses on strategic management of energy and water. Filardo says that Clarkdale believes in generating as much of its energy from renewable sources as possible.
“[Clarkdale] was one of the first Verde Valley communities to partner with APS on its Arizona Solar Community program, reaching its goal of a solar install base of systems on at least 5 percent of owner-occupied homes within the program’s first year,” she says. “Clarkdale has installed many building retrofits through the help of the state’s Department of Energy.”
The town boasts the first geothermal installation of a historic municipal facility in Arizona, Filardo adds.
When it comes to water management, the town, which owns its local water company, is on a mission to reduce water consumption. The plan includes replacing aging water infrastructure, along with an upgraded wastewater treatment plant that came online this year. In addition, Clarkdale has a goal of connecting its citizens with the Verde River, which flows along the northern end of town.
“People care about facilities or resources they use and understand. As a result, community leaders are developing public river access and education opportunities along the river to include recreational opportunities such as kayaking, hiking, birding, photography, guided tours, archeology, cycling, swimming and picnicking,” Filardo says. “In addition, the town is working with upstream landowners to provide public access points for river enthusiasts to use to launch upriver from Clarkdale’s Tuzigoot River Access Point.”
Green Developments
Filardo says that to showcase the “beauty possible in drought-tolerant gardens” Clarkdale developed its popular Centennial Plaza and installed native and adaptive plants at Town Hall.
“This area [Centennial Plaza and Town Hall] continues to develop as both a community gathering place and an education spot for learning about sustainable plantings and watering techniques,” she adds.
Science Leads the Way
“The town is also embarking on a science-driven water resource management program investigating current water models, water management best practices, climate assessments, and new ideas for the management of water in our arid climate,” Filardo says. “As such, the town sees the opportunity to model sustainable water practices in the Southwest region.”
Clarkdale is also poised to be a focal point for arid climate agriculture with the creation of Yavapai College’s Southwest Wine Center at their Verde Campus in Clarkdale. With a groundbreaking in November and construction completion scheduled for fall 2014, the wine center will be the first teaching winery in the southwest.
Visiting Clarkdale
In addition to the Verde Canyon Railway, Clarkdale is an ideal spot for visitors looking to experience the outdoors and Arizona’s small town history. For history buffs, popular spots include the Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum (clarkdaleheritage.org) and Clarkdale Memorial Library (clarkdale.az.gov/library2.html), which offers a public arts program and ongoing events. For outdoor enthusiasts, recreational opportunities abound by the Verde River. Tourists can also check out Centennial Plaza to see all of the natural foliage and desert landscaping.
Photo by Elena Oradat
