Scottsdale says Prop. 490 sales tax is already funding visible park and preserve upgrades

Scottsdale says the voter-approved 0.15% Parks & Preserve sales tax is already producing tangible work less than a year after taking effect. The city points to new sod, plants, trees, storm repairs and preserve maintenance as early proof that the funding stream is changing how quickly park and trail projects can move.

Scottsdale says the city’s dedicated Parks & Preserve sales tax is now showing results on the ground just nine months after voters approved Proposition 490. The measure, a 0.15% sales tax that began on July 1, 2025, is restricted to improving, maintaining and protecting city parks and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

According to the city, the first round of work has included more than 240,000 square feet of new sod, more than 700 flats of plants and 93 newly planted trees. Officials also said crews have completed more than $150,000 in storm-damage repairs, with notable work along the Indian Bend Wash corridor and other public spaces that are heavily used by residents.

For Scottsdale residents, the city is framing the update as an early accountability check on how the new tax is being used. The message is that voters are not waiting years to see the impact: the city says the money is already being translated into cleaner landscapes, repaired facilities, safer recreation areas and better upkeep in one of Scottsdale’s signature outdoor assets.