100-Miles in 100 Days

2014 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Maricopa County, Ariz., AZ

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The 100-Miles in 100 Days challenge, originally developed as a way to celebrate Arizona’s Centennial, is a program that challenges participants to hike one-hundred miles in one-hundred days. The primary goals of the program are: 1) to entice park visitors to explore Maricopa County’s regional park systems extensive trail system while experiencing Arizona’s pristine Sonora Desert; and 2) challenge park visitors to either begin or expand exercise regimes. The program is kicked off on November 1st and runs for; you got it, one-hundred days! During this time, participants must trek and log one-hundred miles in at least three Maricopa County parks. While participants are encouraged to come-up with their own trail plans, and include the Maricopa Trail (a trail system that will eventually link all of the county’s regional parks together) in their strategy, sample trail plans are available. Upon completion of daily hikes, participants are asked to have a member from the park sign-off on the mileage. Once the participant completes their one-hundred miles, and turns in their log, they are eligible for the grand prize drawing (an Annual Pass and Gift Shop voucher) and are invited to a park celebration where they receive a complimentary, limited edition tee-shirt.