The Oro Valley Parks and Recreation department has released the Phase One report of a many months consultant study of town recreation facilities and future needs. This report will set the table for recommendations from the consultant and town staff to the Mayor and council.
The methodology included a statistical sampling of 443 randomly selected households. It also considered some “not so random” information from “stuff the box” town flash surveys to meetings with stakeholders. like the the men’s golf association and theCanada Hills HOAs.
Confirms Oro Valley's senior-dominant demographic
What really jumped out is the demographic data. For the first time, a town document recognized reality: Oro Valley’s residents are mostly over 55. We’ve been saying this for years. This was something we pointed to in 2013. However, then Mayor Hiremath was bent on telling everyone that Oro Valley was a younger community and that business should come here to employ these young people. He had the demographics wrong then. And the demographics have not changed.
More seniors coming
Indeed, this older group will grow larger in the future years with a coming wave of baby boomer new residents. Here are some points that caught our attention:
 |
| Facilities Currently Used |
- In 2019, 48.7% of Oro Valley residents were over 55. That will grow to 55.2% in the next 10 years residents .
- Sports fields in Naranja Park are adequate for the town’s youth, when we look at real needs rather than promoting sports tourism.
- There is a major unfilled need for paved paths and hiking trails for young families and seniors - highest rating
- Performance venues and community celebrations at Steam Pump Ranch are strongly supported.
- Archery has little support.
- There is an unaddressed golf demand for lessons and play. Maybe our new golf operator, Billy Casper Sports, should court Oro Valley residents to grow outside play instead of marketing to Phoenix visitors
- There is a strong demand for senior programs that have gone unaddressed. For example: Pickle ball is more in demand than our 30 tennis courts.
Looking at the statistically valid survey chart Q4 (see panel above) shows that Steam Pump Ranch and the town multi-use path are the most used town facilities with 54% of respondents using these facilities in the past 6 months.
 |
| High Priority Wants and Needs |
We've listed the high priority wants and needs expressed by the residents in the panel at left.
The consultant made a point that grants must be pursued if residents want to avoid property taxes.
However, our takeaway is that what residents really want- paths, trails, picnic ramadas, and more senior programs require less capital than the professional sports fields we have installed in Naranja Park.
Plus paths don’t need to be irrigated like golf nor lighted to Fenway Park standards for MSL games so they will be financially sustainable.
We will wait to see if the town staff recommendations are in line with the study data, and hope they don’t massage the statistically valid survey data to blend it with “stakeholder” bias.
---
