PHOENIX — When the temperature spikes, Phoenix trails will stay open for man but not for man’s best friend.
City leaders on Thursday rejected a proposal to prohibit people from hiking in extreme heat, but they approved a rule banning dogs from the city’s 41 trailheads when the mercury climbs to 100 degrees.
The ban — a first for Phoenix, at least in modern times — took effect Friday.
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department was looking for ways to improve trail safety following several rescues and at least one death. But after strong objections to the proposed hiking ban, its board passed just the dog portion of the proposal as a compromise, department spokesman James Ritter said.
“Our goal and our duty is to meet what the taxpayers want,” Ritter said. “We weren’t there trying to strong-arm anyone.”
