In early July, Oro Valley voters will be receiving ballots for the 2022 election or a Mayor and three town council members. LOVE plans to keep you informed regarding each candidate. In this regard, we’ve offered the pages of LOVE to each candidate. We’ve asked that they submit guest views. Mayor Winfield has provided the following “Guest View”.
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Naranja Park Buildout Provides Recreation Opportunity For All
Last Tuesday I had the privilege to speak at the groundbreaking for the Naranja Park expansion. It was an exciting day for me personally, and for the many young families in attendance. What started as a vision when the Town acquired the 213 acre site in 1998 is now well underway to becoming the best recreational facility in our region.
Over the past two years, the Town involved the community in developing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. From this plan came a new design for Naranja Park that works with the topography of the site to reduce grading, and allow the site to be expanded for half the previous plan’s cost.
Improvements and upgrades to Community Center exterior amenities were identified and also determined to be a priority. The improvements at the Community Center tennis courts and golf irrigation replacement are already underway and will be completed sometime in 2024.
To construct these improvements, the Town has obtained a $25 million parks and recreation bond at 2.3% interest, which will be funded by the half-cent sales tax revenues that were previously required to subsidize golf. In 2018, the golf subsidy was $1.75 million; as fiscal year 2021 ends, we now project NO subsidy for golf.
The Town’s successful golf management efforts included changing the golf operator to Indigo Sports, changing the operating model of the courses from a country club model to a municipal model, and opening all course to outside play. We have grown memberships, and benefit from a $125,000 annual contribution from adjacent HOAs.
Using bond financing for these capital projects at a record low interest rate has allowed the Town to design and build the park as a whole, saving both time and millions of dollars. It will also allow our current and future residents to enjoy these amenities years sooner without any tax increase.
Naranja Park, identified as the highest priority, will be expanded with new amenities: 4 additional multi-use fields, 6 pickleball courts, 3 basketball courts, a bike pump track, a skate park, a splash pad and paved walking trails.
At the Community Center residents will enjoy a resurfaced and expanded parking lot, upgraded and improved tennis courts, 4 new pickleball courts for a total of 10. Both the El Conquistador and Canada golf courses will have their 40 year old irrigation systems replaced. Multi-use paths will be added to La Canada Drive and Naranja Drive to provide safe off road access to the Community Center and Naranja Park.
Health and wellness are important to our community. These new and improved amenities will provide expanded outdoor activities for existing and future Oro Valley residents. They will provide opportunities for physical fitness and social interaction for years to come.
Joe Winfield
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