2025 was an eventful year for Keep Sedona Beautiful. You can read about our various accomplishments below.
OHVs
We're helping lead the effort to identify and implement solutions to the environmental damage and threats to public health and safety caused by OHV overuse and misuse on Forest Service roads and trails. Our representatives serve on the Greater Sedona Recreation Collaborative whose mission is to help solve the OHV Crisis, and we are serving as the 501(c)(3) facilitating creation of the "Eyebrow Road" that will significantly reduce flash points between OHVs and the residents of the Bear Mountain area.
KSB Eco-Hub
We completed extensive renovations to our grounds to make them a showcase for responsible landscaping, and rehabilitated the outside of our building. In November we will begin environmental education classes for area students ages 9-12.
Dark Skies
As part of an effort led by the Dark Sky International, KSB prompted the City of Sedona and Yavapai County to declare April 21-28 2025 to be International Dark Sky Week. In addition, KSB submitted comments to Yavapai County as they updated their lighting code.
Creation of Annual Report
We created and distributed our second KSB Annual Report.
Collaboration
KSB continued to participate on the Leadership Council of the Verde Front and participated on Sedona's Tourism Advisory Board. We worked with the Oak Creek Watershed Council, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and over 15 organizations to hold the second Oak Creek Collaborative Cleanup event. We are meeting with City of Sedona, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and Sedona Lodging on collaborative visitor messaging regarding environmental preservation and responsible tourism.
Litter Lifters
Over 70 KSB litter lifters removed litter and trash from over 54 miles of streets and roadways.
Award of Excellence
Awards were presented to Pines Inn and Suites in Cottonwood for Sustainability, Hozho Sedona for Dark Sky Lighting, The Ripple Effect Water Conservation Project for Environmental Stewardship, Sedona Vista Village in the Village of Oak Creek for Building and Signage Design and Peggy Chaikin for Community Service. A special award was bestowed to photographer Mike Koopsen for his long support of KSB.
Speaker Series
The KSB Preserving the Wonder Speaker Series hosted speakers on a variety of subjects of interest to our members.
New Tourist Website and Instagram
The KSB PreservingTheWonder website and KSB Instagram account are each reaching out to an entirely new demographic: tourists. In that space, KSB is finding new collaborations and ways for outreach.
KSB Legacy Family
This funding program continues to engage significant donors and this year were highlighted on a wooden plaque now located in the small conference room.
Property Improvements
After years of neglect, the outside of the EcoHub building was prepared: rotting wood was replaced, old paint scraped, and all cracks caulked. The building was then completely repainted. Gutters were also replaced. The KSB Interpretive garden went through many changes, including new plants, trees, signs, and benches. There is no garden in Sedona like it, functioning as a showcase to the community.
APS 69Kv Overhead Electrical Line in the VOC
Significant effort went into changing lines from overhead to underground near VOC subdivisions; however, the Forest Service did not require the change so the utility will place lines overhead.
Fire Awareness
KSB provided fire awareness information at local meetings and continues to promote education on the website and through Speaker Series events.
Environmental Art and Community Project
KSB partnered with the City of Sedona and Arizona Community Foundation to bring environmental artist, James Havens, to Sedona to paint a mural in the Ranger Station Barn. Over 100 people came from the community to paint on the mural with James. While in Sedona, James donated his 4' x 8' oil painting entitled Sedona Canvas One to KSB to sell, with all profits going to further KSB's mission.
Noise Pollution
A KSB trustee assisted the City Council in passing a sport court ordinance which will have a significant impact on protecting neighborhoods from sport court noise, especially pickleball.
Arizona Public Television Recognition
A KSB member/hiking expert was interviewed by a PBS series host and followed by a PBS film crew while hiking West Fork Trail for a spring episode of Arizona PBS's series entitled Trail Mix'd, an outdoor documentary series on exploring the great outdoors across Arizona. The show features hiking trails and interviews with trail experts.
Red Rock State Park Earth Day
KSB had a table at the Red Rock state Park Earth Day event to promote our programs and websites.