I just heard NOW on the news that Prescott Valley was planning to obtain some State Trust Land so they can develop a park and trail system to link to other surrounding trail systems in Prescott - I LOVE that idea for the same reasons you do - stops the developers from reaping (raping) the land and gaining all the profits at the public's expense.
Yes, and the city Govt.'s love more growth, so that they can get more tax money, but with the growth also come's more housing in and with that creates more traffic jam's. Got to have stoplight's on almost every corner.