Join Friends of the Verde River for an evening of celebration, exploration, and community at the Ribbon Cutting for the River Center!
Our new River Center is more than a new home for Friends of the Verde River. It is a place where people can gather, learn, connect with the Verde River, and discover ways to become part of protecting this vital resource for generations to come.
Come celebrate this exciting new chapter with us on Thursday, October 29 from 4:00–9:00 PM. RSVP at VerdeRiver.org
Throughout the evening, you can meet the people behind the work, explore the River Center, participate in community activities, learn about conservation programs, and tour our 33.66-acre Nature Preserve along the Verde River.
Tour our new home and learn more about the programs, classes, events, and community activities that will take place at the River Center. Meet Friends of the Verde River staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners, and discover the many ways you can get involved.
Step outside and explore a very special part of the Verde River. As part of an agreement with the Verde Village Community Connection, Friends of the Verde River received the 33.66-acre Nature Preserve along the Verde River.
This beautiful greenway will provide new opportunities for community members to experience the river, learn about its history and ecology, and develop a deeper connection to this important resource. Join us for a guided tour and see this special place for yourself.
A win-win agreement was reached on April 24th by Friends of the Verde RIver (FVR) and the Verde Village Property Owners Association (VVPOA), DBA Verde Village Community Connection (VVCC). Following their motto, “Connecting Neighbors with Neighbors,” the VVCC is connecting with Friends who care about their neighborhood on the Verde River. And the FVR has found a new home for the River Center Concept.
Verde Village President Aislinn Maldonado says, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Friends of the Verde River, but it’s also a sustainable revenue stream for our organization which allows us to not rely on memberships for our success. This provides VVCC financial stability while we address some of the remaining issues in our unique community, such as the future of the Del Rio Pond and the remaining open parcels designated for parks. Now the real work begins!”
FVR has agreed to a long-term lease agreement for the Community Center property at 4855 E Broken Saddle Drive. They will begin by moving their offices to the historic Ranch House while the VVCC will continue to rent out the Community Hall for events, classes, and celebrations. This property will be their new base of operations. The opportunities are endless for their creative ways to help sustain the very river they are passionate to protect.
In addition, VVPOA is gifting their 33.66-acre Nature Preserve on Comanche Drive to the Friends of the Verde River as part of the agreement to assume this property because they are undoubtedly the best stewards to best maintain this important Verde River greenway.
“Friends of the Verde River is proud and excited to partner with the Verde Village Community Connection on this meaningful effort.” said David Gressly, Friends of the Verde River Executive Director. “We are deeply grateful for the generous donation of the 33.66-acre natural preserve along the Verde River, and we look forward to creating opportunities for community members to connect with this special place. Through classes, events, and hands-on experiences, we hope to share the rich history of the Verde River and inspire stewardship that will protect this vital resource for generations to come.”
FRIENDS OF THE VERDE RIVER GET A NEW HOME
by Vyto Starinskas, The Verde Independent
After 15 years in existence, the Friends of the Verde River finally has a home along the Verde River.
“This is like a big step forward for the organization,” Executive Director David Gressly explained on Monday, May 4. “It gives us a place, it gives us identity, it gives us an opportunity to provide a solid presence for the community to work with us.”
The river has always brought the Verde Valley community together, he pointed out. Now the community is will be coming to the river, as they visit the center and the Friend’s 33.66 acre nature preserve that runs for over a mile along the Verde River.
The former VVPOA clubhouse agreement includes the main room, community room and 4-acre plot. He said he wants to hold trainings, educational opportunities, and have fun events for kids, since they are the future of the last remaining free-flowing rivers in Arizona.
Over time, Friends hopes to develop opportunities to use this facility for lectures about the river, general demonstration gardens, pollinator gardens, rain harvesting, and “all the things that we preach on how to conserve water.”
“This is a great place to take kids to give them opportunities to learn more about the river and ecology and how all the things work together,” he said.
He envisioned educational opportunities for young people but also for older adults for adults as well. And this will improve the quality of access to the Verde River.
In the agreement, the Friends agreed to a long-term lease agreement for the Community center, and the VVPOA is gifting the Nature Preserve at the end of Comanche Drive.
The VVPOA clubhouse [correction: Ranch House] will be their new base of operations. Friends had offices in Cottonwood and utilized Dead Horse State Park and libraries for training and education.
Now they can do it at the center, he pointed out. They can train residents in water quality monitoring, invasive species eradication, the otter and beaver spotter program, and other educational topics, he said.
“We look forward to creating opportunities for community members to connect with this special place,” Gressly said. “Through classes, events, and hands-on experiences, we hope to share the rich history of the Verde River and inspire stewardship that will protect this vital resource for generations to come.”
Friends of the Verde River Center Gets a Fresh Look
Cottonwood Journal Extra published August 5, 2026
Friends of the Verde River’s new River Center is getting a fresh look. On July 11, a team of community volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help prepare the space for its future opening.
While the River Center is not yet open to the public, exciting improvements are underway as Friends prepares the space for regular hours of operation following the official grand opening this October.
Friends recently secured this long-term home for its future River Center through a partnership with the Verde Village Community Connection, leasing the Community Center at 4855 E. Broken Saddle Drive in Cottonwood and assuming stewardship of the adjacent 33.66-acre Nature Preserve along the river. (Read more: Friends of Verde River moves from Main Street to river’s edge)
The River Center will become a hub for river education, conservation, volunteerism and community connection. Before welcoming visitors through its doors, Friends of the Verde River is making updates to create a functional, inviting space where the community can gather, learn and connect with the Verde River.
During the volunteer workday, participants tackled a variety of projects inside and outside the building, including:
- Fresh exterior paint
- Gutter cleaning
- Cleanup around the preserve
- Minor repairs and organization
- Relocating the community’s beloved free library to its new home on the side of the building
“We know that the library is a beloved community asset and we want everyone to know it is still here,” said David Gressly, executive director of Friends of the Verde River. “We’ve moved it to the side of the building, where neighbors and visitors can continue to enjoy it, and we’ve added a few books about the Verde River.”
The updates are part of a larger effort to transform the River Center into a welcoming home for community programs, river education, conservation efforts and opportunities for people to connect with the Verde River.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to lend a hand,” Gressly said. “Every brushstroke, every repair and every hour volunteered brings us one step closer to opening the River Center for the community. This project is possible because of the generosity and dedication of our supporters.”
Friends of the Verde River extends its heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, partners, supporters and community members who make this work possible. Their time, energy and commitment are helping create a place where people can learn about, celebrate and protect the Verde River for years to come.
More updates about the River Center’s grand opening celebration this October will be shared in the coming months. Until then, Friends will continue putting the finishing touches on this exciting new space.
Friends of the Verde River works collaboratively to protect and restore the Verde River and its tributaries, including Oak Creek, Fossil Creek, Granite Creek and Sycamore Creek. The organization envisions a healthy, flowing Verde River system that supports vibrant communities, thriving ecosystems and future generations. Learn more at verderiver.org.