City officials say Scottsdale has acquired 415 acres of land for its McDowell Sonoran Preserve for more than $30 million at two state land auctions.
They say the city was the only bidder in Wednesday's auctions.
Funding will come from money generated by two sales taxes approved by Scottsdale voters in 1995 and 2004.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve now encompasses more than 30,500 contiguous acres, nearly 47 square miles.
City officials say that achieves 90 percent of the long-range goal to preserve about 34,000 acres.
The preserve lands acquired includes the western edge of the Rawhide Wash corridor and a planned major trailhead near the intersection of Pima Road and Dynamite Boulevard.
The proposed trailhead would provide access to planned and existing trails in the northwest region of the preserve.
