Urban Sprawl Encroachment
The White Tank Regional Park is located on the western fringe of the Phoenix metropolitan area, and abuts the rapidly growing suburbs of Buckeye and Surprise. The rapid growth of these cities along with plans by various developers to construct large residential developments in the park's proximity has alarmed some environmentalists and park officials worried that the human impact may disrupt the area's ecology.
Surprise is adjacent to the park's north and east border; in response to the envioronmental concerns, city planners have identified the White Tank Mountains and the adjoining desert environment's preservation as one of the most critical planning issues in their general plan. To that end, the plan includes a greenbelt "buffer" between residential development and the park. Critics respond that the park will still suffer the effects of being isolated from surrounding areas, becoming in effect an ecological island.
Read more about this topic: White Tank Mountain Regional Park
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