Oro Valley Has Big Dreams, But No Money For Kreigh Park

The Town Of Oro Valley is negotiating the purchase of 8.9 acres adjacent to and north of land north at James Kreigh Park from the Amphi School District. This purchase presents the town with an opportunity to improve park facilities. Kreigh is where the Oro Valley Aquatic Center is located.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Kristy Dias-Trahan present the conceptual plan for the park to the Oro Valley Town Council at it's December 2 meeting.

This park will be the "home of baseball" for both little league and "big league" use with the opportunity to use them for senior softball. The fields will  include what is called a "skinned" infield that can be removed for softball play. There are two 225 foot fields and two 250 foot fields. There is room for the fields to the fields need to be larger.

Kreigh Park... Future and Now

Existing multipurpose soccer/baseball fields will be reconfigured with four baseball fields in a traditional clover-leaf pattern with concession stand, restroom, and scorekeeper building in the middle. Large mature trees will remain. Associated spectator seating, batting cages, bullpen are also included.

The conceptual plan also includes:

• Relocation for the Dog park from the northeast to the southeast side of the park, near the aquatic center, to include a restroom
• Footprint for future aquatic center expansion 
• A more "robust, adventourous" playground with an adventure/tree house theme
• Racquetball courts removed and lit outdoor basketball courts with associated ramada 
• Field of Dreams and the Christina Taylor Green memorial would remain in place; however, concession stand is to be removed 
• Multipurpose general park use as well as space for tee ball 
• A second playground, ramadas, picnic tables, barbecues, restroom, and group use space 
• Parking lot, access drive to Canyon del Oro High School, small maintenance facility, and storm water/drainage channel Egleston Drive is a continuous north/south roadway with a drop-off and pick-up loop in the middle of the park, which is the east park entry plaza with an associated ramada

"It is really well designed conceptual site plan." observed Council Member Burns.

The council unanimously approved the plan. However, there are no funds to pay for this plan in either next year's planned budget or in the next 5 year financial plan.  The hope was to get the community to pay for this plan through the rejected Pima County Bonds.

So, at the moment, it is more of a conceptual dream than a conceptual plan.

The town's little league "...is very excited about getting the little league consolidated," according to Council Member Snider. And, yes, prior to the towns purchase and operation of the El Conquistador Country Club this may have been achievable.

Perhaps had the town not dove headlong into purchasing 47 holes money losing golf, the town could have the funds for this and other "planned" parks and recreation concepts that have been repeatedly requested by our residents.