A hiking trail now makes a complete, 315-mile loop around Maricopa County in Arizona.

"Nearly 20 years after the idea was born and 15 years after development began, Maricopa County has finished a 315-mile trail that circles the entire county," reports Jessica Boehm.
"The last leg of the Maricopa Trail, which links 10 of the county's regional parks, was completed this Fall when the county finally acquired four small sections of state trust land," adds Boehm.
The article includes a lot more detail about the 20 years of planning and political will that got the loop built, and more detail about the route of the trail and the points of interests along the way.
FULL STORY: 'I just can't believe we finished': 315-mile trail loop around Maricopa County completed

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
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Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods
Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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