EPG was selected by the Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department to provide design and construction administration services for the first three planned segments of the Maricopa Trail, a 240-mile system of non-motorized trails that will encircle metropolitan Phoenix and connect all eight Maricopa County Regional Parks with a single multi-modal loop. These segments, identified in the Maricopa County Regional Trail System Plan (adopted on August 16, 2004), included Segment 10 - a new 0.9 mile trail that connected the White Tanks Regional Park to McMicken Dam; Segment 17-3.88 miles of realignment and improvements to existing trails within the Cave Creek Recreation Area; and Segment 19 - a new 3.45-mile trail within the Spur Cross Conservation Area.

Working closely with the Maricopa County Trails Manager and the County’s trails maintenance staff, EPG performed site analysis work for each of the three segments, which included using GPS to electronically delineate proposed trail alignments for use in the construction plans, identifying and photographing critical areas and unique features associated with each of the three segments, as well as identifying typical site conditions that would require specific construction details or other needs. Construction documentation, assisting the client with the selection of a contractor, and on-site construction observation by EPG ensured a high level of quality throughout the entire design and trail construction process. EPG’s commitment to quality provided Maricopa County residents and visitors with three significant opportunities to enjoy the beauty and complexity of these Sonoran Desert open-spaces. These trail segments and the details developed set the standard for all future segments of the Maricopa Trail.

The Spur Cross Trail (Segment 19), longest of the newly constructed trail segments, was recognized with an Award of Merit by Valley Forward in the category of Open-Space and Connectivity Trails for their Annual Environmental Excellence Awards. This trail segment brings users through the heart of the Spur Cross Conservation Area, a sensitive open-space area highly valued by the local community of Cave Creek, Arizona.