Parks and Recreation Master Plan Is Taking Shape (Part 2)

This article is the second regarding the status of the development of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The first article appeared yesterday.

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Concept plans on display
Mike Svetz from Pros Consulting, the firm that is building the master plan, unveiled five concept plans during his discussion with the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Commission this past Tuesday.

Concept plans for the towns are site-by-site

He presented one plan for each of the five Oro Valley community parks. This is a sample of what is being proposed:

• Community Center would get a reconfigured parking lot and replaced tennis courts
• Kreigh Park would have basketball courts replacing the racquetball court, a relocated dog park and a new adventure play area
• Riverfront Park would have splash pad and a dog park. Consideration would be given to changing the soccer fields into diamond fields
• Steam Pump Ranch would have an upgraded area that is better organized for seating and possible relocation of the farmers market to the "panhandle" area
• Naranja Park, the town's only truly regional park, would continue on its building path: More fields, as skate park and better buffering to adjacent homes

Svetz included the following critical items in the concept plan. These are items that pose a risk or safety issue:

• Steam Pump Ranch update of the historical buildings' core
• Playground replacement at Kreigh Park
• Stabilizing erosion areas at Naranja Park

Spending is yet to be determine

The cost of the plan and the funding for such have yet to be determined. Regarding cost, Svetz stated that The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will have three "buckets" of spending. One will contain those items that are "life-cycle" replacements. The second will contain items that upgrade the town's parks. The third  will contain the continued spending needed to build Naranja Park.

The plan still has a long way to go...Virtual Meeting on November 12

Residents will have the opportunity to share their thinking. The town will host a virtual meeting on November 12 to discuss community needs, park classification, level of service standards, mapping and the framework for concept plans. The town will seek community input via the town's web site for a month, starting November 18. 

What's not in the plan

The plan does not include anything regarding the former Vistoso Golf Course land. This, we suspect, is because it would be unwise for the town to state a position on this while land sale negotiations, though on hold at the moment, are very much in play. The plan also did not include discussion of the program and cultural aspects of parks and recreation activities.

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How will this plan get the  town get to "Excellent"

The plan is based on a metric of the number of something in relation to a Pros Consulting standard For example, there is now one pickleball court per 7,600 residents. The Pros Consulting target is one per 4,000 residents. Therfore, according to Svetz, there is a need for eight more pickleball courts. That will bring the total to 14.  The panel that follows shows the recommended level by amenity.

What the discussion did not consider is how this plan, if implemented, will improve resident rating of the quality of recreation programs and services. According to a May staff presentation to council, only 2% of residents consider the current situation as "excellent." 91% give a current situation a fair or poor rating. "The national benchmark for excellent is 33%," according to that May staff presentation.

It is important, we think, for the plan to be measured against how it will help Oro Valley achieve excellence, rather than how it can meet or exceed "standards" for each amenity it could provide.

Council Guides Staff on Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Master Plan: "Keep It Simple... Revegetation Is The Priority"

The Oro Valley Town Council provided direction last Wednesday regarding the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Master Plan.  The direction was provided during a study session with town staff and with consultant to the project. 

Keep it simple

The council wants the Preserve to be a place for relaxation, nature, and reasonable exercise. They don't want it to be a park that attracts a large volume of traffic. The council agreed that they need to know the traffic impact of each option in order to provide further guidance.

Get revegetation started sooner rather than later

The most important aspect of creating the Preserve is to return the greens and fairways to their natural state. This means planting native plants and eliminating the invasive species that are taking over the area. This is called "revegetation." Removing as much of the Bermuda grass as possible is a challenge as that grass is much like a weed. It's hard to kill. The longer the town waits to revegetate, the more difficult and the more costly it will be to do so. The proposed plan is to rip out the greens and fairways and to apply a seed mix of grass and straw. Revegetation is part of Phases 1 and 2 of the consultant's implementation plan.

Do something about the pond

...but don't make it too complicated. The simplest alternative seems to be what the consultant noted as Option C (see panel right). This is a smaller pond with sloped sides to allow leisurely access. The pond would use reclaimed water. 

Note: There is a simpler option that neither the consultant, town staff, nor the council discussed. That option is to fill in the area and revegetate it. That would return that area to its natural state.

Get a handle on cost of creating and maintaining the Preserve

Council wants to know the cost of building and of maintaining all options so that they can make an informed decision. "We need some reasonable estimates for the construction and maintenance," noted Council Member Solomon. "Is this going to be something that is going to start taking a big percentage of the Parks and Recreation budget?" Parks and Recreation Director Diaz-Trahan replied that it would be less costly than maintaining similar acreage at Naranja Park. Regarding cost of implementing, staff consistently mentioned getting grants but has provided no details.

Allow both walking and biking

The cart paths on the Preserve are not sufficiently wide for both foot and bike traffic. Also, they are not wide enough to meet ADA compliance. Town staff does not think it can enforce a "no bike" policy. Most on Council don't want to keep bikers out anyway. Some path widening will need to occur in the future. In addition, the town will need to add special ADA paths to allow all to enjoy the Preserve experience.

Involve the entire community

Residents of Rancho Vistoso donated $1.8million to The Conservation Fund for the purchase of the property. Some council members suggested that the opinion of these people should be weighed more heavily that the opinion of those who live outside the area. Mayor Winfield did not agree. He expressed the view of a majority: The investment that the town will make in this property will vastly exceed the amount contributed. Therefore, the town should weigh the thoughts of all residents equally. Diaz-Trahan noted that most resident input has come from those who do live in the area.

Diaz-Trahan: All plans  have been vetted with the easement holder, The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund holds the conservation easement on the property. The easement limits defines the activities the town can allow on the property and what it can do with it. Diaz-Trahan presented this to the Council. She stated that she has vetted all pieces of the Master Plan with The Conservation Fund.

There are three key areas of conservation easement requirements:

• Preserving land for outdoor recreation by or for the the education of the general public
• Protecting a relatively natural habitat of fish, wildlife plants, and ecosystem, and 
• Preserving open space for the scenic enjoyment of the general public 

Permitted uses of the property are:

• Low impact recreation activities that include but are not limited to:
  Walking, hiking, jogging, cycling, birdwatching, stargazing, archaeological efforts, education programs, nature photography, picnicking, and on-leash dog walking
• Construction of:
  Ramada’s, benches, picnic tables, water stations, bird blinds, exercise stations, ADA and non ADA trails and paths, and additional restrooms and parking areas that provide access to the area 

Remember: This is a Master Plan that will take many years to implement. The plan will be subject to review and funding by future councils as it becomes part of future annual budgets

The consultant has recommended four phases of the project. They did not define the timetable of each. Our guess is that it will be a decade before the master plan would be implemented completely. That time frame would span the terms of several Councils. No council is obligated to implement the plans of a prior council. Annually, the Council will decide if it want to do what is being suggested at that time in the Master Plan and if they want to fund it.  In essence, then, the Master Plan is guideline that may well change over time.  

Creating the Preserve is a long-term game

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2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan Phase 1 To Assess What People Want

2020: What people want
The Town Of Oro Valley is developing a Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The first phase of the plan is to determine what residents want. The town will approach this in several ways. One way is to do a statistically valid survey.

2014: What people wanted
The last survey was done in 2014. The most wanted items, those wanted by at least half the respondents are listed in the panel below.

Vice Mayor Barrett reminded us  in 2018 while a candidate for office of the 2014 survey results. "Far at the top were Playgrounds, Ramadas, and Walking Paths." Add to this list ballfields and basketball courts.

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Not on the most wanted list: A community center or municipal golf. Golf, in fact was rated as "not important" by 63% of the respondents.

The town built a plan for Parks and Recreation based on its existing facilities, the wants of the community, and the practical limitation that all facilities will be built on a pay as you go basis.

Then, in 2015 everything changed.

2015: An opportunistic purchase cast the plan aside
The opportunistic acquisition of the El Conquistador Country Club was at odds with the findings of the 2014 survey. Suddenly, golf and a community center jumped to the top of the list.

Mayor Satish Hiremath justified the "sudden turn" as fitting into the plan. He told LOVE that the purchase of the El Conquistador Country Club was "...a very unique opportunity for the Town to acquire a turn-key operation that will serve as the Community and Recreation Center." He then overstated the level of interest residents had in a community center telling LOVE that "Recent community survey results have indicated that the majority of our residents are interested in having a community center." Hiremath stated that "...Golf and Tennis fit into our strategy of youth and amateur events." (source)

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2016 General Plan provides guidance
The 2016 "Your Voice Our Future" General Plan was approved by the voters. The plan reaffirms the 2016 community survey results. It focuses Parks and Recreation on community events, outdoor recreation, the arts, and playing fields and courts.

The 2020 plan needs your input
The planning process is detailed on the town's website, planyourparksov. Do visit the site. Find ways to get involved. One thing you can do immediately send the town your ideas on what would you like Oro Valley Parks and Recreation to consider for future planning. Take the time to submit your thinking.

Remember: The plan considers more than just parks, golf, the community center and the aquatic center. It also includes Steam Pump Ranch and community events, such as holiday, running and bicycling events. It includes our trail system. It's for all of us of all all ages. So do think broadly and send in your thoughts.

We will be posting more about the master plan and the planning process in future love postings. Key word: 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
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Town Council Directs Staff To Better Reflect Towns Needs In Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Plan must reflect resident needs

Last Wednesday, The Oro Valley Town Council directed town staff to better reflect resident needs in the Parks and Recreation Conceptual Master plan. That plan is being developed by PROS Consulting.  Council noted that the conceptual plan  does not properly match the priorities of the community. 

The town developed these priorities after five months of community input gathering by PROS Consulting. They gathered information from community meetings, an input survey and a statistically valid online survey. 

High Priority "Trails and Conservation Areas" ignored in plan

Council Members Barrett and Bohen observed that the conceptual plan relied too heavily on comparisons of what Oro Valley has to overall national statistics; and that it did not adequately reflect what residents said they want. In particular, high priority items, such as trails and open space were generally ignored while low priority items such as basketball courts were emphasized.

Even more astounding is that the conceptual plan has no facilities for the town north of Tangerine. Yet, 40% of Oro Valley residents live in there. 

Winfield : The plan must emphasize resident defined top priority items 

Speaking at length, Mayor Winfield expressed disappointment that the community needs were not reflected in the conceptual plan. Referencing the needs assessment: “With that community input we are going to pivot. It’s going to be included. I am confident of that. I agree. The rankings are critical foundational information to the development of the master plan.” Community input "...simply can not be ignored…. We are going to give greater emphasis to those three priority items.” 

Winfield: North of Tangerine needs a community park

Speaking specifically to the residents north of Tangerine, Winfield observed that PROS equity mapping of facilities has clearly shown the need for a community park north of Tangerine… a park of 10 to 75 acres.  "I believe that the master plan should reflect that need.” 

Winfield's approach to Oro Valley Parks Planning is resident, not commerce focussed

Winfield’s comments are one of those times that clearly differentiate the Winfield Council from the Hiremath Council. 

Hiremath’s goal was to use Parks and Recreation facilities for sports tourism and to focus on building facilities for younger families. The emphasis on attracting younger families was part of his failed “rooftops strategy.” 

Winfield, on the other hand, is focussed on the needs of those who live in the community now and who will likely want to live here in the future. A multi use trail will not bring thousands of people into Oro Valley to spend their money; but it will bring happiness to those who live here.

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Eleven Reasons For The Parks and Recreation Bond Project Spending Disaster

A disaster of their own making

We have identified eleven reasons why the spending for the park bond amenities got so far "out of wack" from reality. Most certainly, planning to spend $53 million when there is only $33 million available to spend is a disaster.

1.  Naranja Park costs a lot more to build than "guestimated"

As we detailed in our article Monday, the key spending problem is the anticipated cost of Naranja Park. That cost has doubled from what was "guestimated" in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. It was that number, $17million, that the Council relied upon when the bonds were issued a year ago.

2.  No Naranja Park design in place to start

The Oro Valley Town Council agreed to move forward with the Naranja Park extension at a time when  there was no agreed upon design of what it was going to be. As a result, Council had no engineered cost estimate of what it would cost to build "it'. 

3.  Council ignored experienced advice

The Council ignored the advice of the only person on Council who has ever built anything of any significant magnitude. Council Member Solomon told them that they were going about this the wrong way. First, you design. Then you raise the funds. The Council voted to do the process backwards.

4. Cheap borrowing cost came at a price... Pressure to spend and build now!... "Haste Makes Waste"

Council Member Nicolson championed the concept that the town must borrow now because interest rates were cheap. He was right. Rates are higher today than they were in May, 2021. 

The price of borrowing was a commitment that 85% of the funds had to be spent within three years of the bond issuance. That is $21.25 million. That requirement put a "gun to the Council" to spend the money quickly.  It also meant that the town had to adopt a "construction manager is a risk" approach. This is a more costly process than the traditional building process. 

5. Inflation...shortages.. contingencies... design

According to Paul Keesler, Town of Oro Valley Director of Public Works, three items have worked together to increase cost 65%. [See panel right] The biggest culprit is an inflationary 30-40% increase in construction material cost. Timing has also hampered getting materials.

6. Naranja Park amenity scope creep

The scope of what is planned to be built has changed. The pump track is now an "all wheel space". The splash-pad is larger in size and includes shade sails, a ramada, and a bathroom. The cost of grading the land to which the dog park is being relocated is more than $1million.

7. Huge Naranja Park infrastructure cost of $11million

It is going to cost almost $11million to level the land and put in the utilities for the park. Certainly, someone should have known this when the original $17million total cost of the park was included as part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Simply put: The cost of getting the land ready for the amenities was vastly more than guessed by the study's consultant.

8. Council never adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Council decided not to approve the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. This is a 10 year plan. The plan was developed by a consulting firm. There was ample resident input. This plan included a statistically valid set of resident wants. Instead of approving the plan, the Council voted unanimously (Solomon absent) to instruct town staff to use it as a guide for future planning.  Thus, there was no plan in place and Council was free to do as it wished. Which it did!

9.  Pet Projects

It is not possible to piece together a coherent, financially sound plan based on the wants of Council members, each of whom have their own pet projects. The splash pad, golf course irrigation replacement, and the "pump track" are examples of special projects that one Council member wanted that really were not the priorities of the community. Trails, on the other hand, are a major stated desire of the residents as shown in the Master Plan Survey. Trail development, however, has taken a "back seat" to all these other projects.

10.  No early warning of outrageous cost

Keesler asserted at the Council meeting that the first time he had a glimpse of what it would cost to "do" Naranja Park was on September 23. That's when all the designs were (sort of) "complete." But, the cost of doing the grading was known some time earlier because it was an ongoing activity for many months and contracts have been in place.  Former Town Manager Jacobs should have reported to Council that site preparation was going to be far more than the consultant "guestimated". 

11.  Locking in the use of the half of the half-percent sales tax for non golf purposes

The Council voted to apply one half of the half-percent community center/golf sales tax to non golf purposes. The noble goal was to let the 99% of the community who never use those facilities get some benefit from the tax. The town pledged this tax to pay back the Park Bonds. That's a 20 year commitment that can not be changed. 

So...what can be done

It is now up to the Council do something.  They only need to build what they are legally required to do in the bond indenture: Spend 85% of the funds in the manner as noted in the bond indenture and continue to pledge the quarter percent sales tax to repay the bonds. Otherwise, they can do as they wish regarding what to build and when to build it.

Some of the amenity building on Naranja Park can be deferred to future years' spending.  As a minimum, the current plan for relocating the dog park... building pristine roads... adding all four new fields can wait.  The Council can defer building the trails but that would  punish residents who actually want to walk or bike to our parks without getting hit by a car on Oracle Road.

Tough Council decisions, decisions of their own making.

They need to fix the problem.

Whatever they decide, the vote needs to be unanimous. No more blaming each other. Partisanship has to go.

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Oro Valley Trails Plan is 60% Complete — Your Voice Still Matters

Oro Valley Trails Connect Master Plan continues to take shape
Oro Valley’s OV Trails Connect Master Plan is the Town’s first comprehensive effort since 2010 to evaluate, upgrade, and expand its network of unpaved trails and paved paths. The Town’s trails and paths are a key feature of our community, used by residents and visitors alike. Once approved by the Town Council, the plan will serve as a guide for maintaining and expanding Oro Valley’s trail system. 

How the process began
The study began in early 2025 with surveys, stakeholder meetings, and “trailside chats” that gathered input from hundreds of residents about how they use and value local trails. Earlier discussions focused on developing a shared vision and identifying key priorities such as connectivity, maintenance, and safety.

Public input shapes the 60% draft
Since those initial discussions, Town staff and consultant Kimley-Horn have broadened public involvement through additional meetings with residents, stakeholders, and regional partners. According to staff, participants have provided comments on the Town’s paved path and unpaved trail assets, as well as feedback on the draft vision and guiding principles.

Four areas of focus
The plan is now organized around four focus areas, each representing a key part of Oro Valley’s trail and path network:

• Unpaved trails:  Natural-surface trails such as those in Big Wash, Honey Bee Canyon, and other open-space areas.
• Multi-use paths (MUPs):  Paved paths located along or separate from major roadways, including those on La Cholla, Tangerine, and Naranja.
• The Loop within Oro Valley: The portion of the regional Pima County Loop system that runs through the Town.
• Paths at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve: The paved paths within the Preserve, including its main concrete trail network and access points.

In the draft, each focus area include proposed improvements and priority action tables that link community feedback to specific projects.

Amenities and partnerships added to the discussion
The plan gives attention to accessibility and user comfort, calling for amenities such as restrooms, benches, shade, and ADA-compliant trailheads. It also begins to outline strategies for partnerships, volunteer programs, and grant funding to support long-term maintenance and future expansion.

Challenges that remain
Even with the progress reflected in the 60% draft, several challenges remain unresolved. The plan still does not specify how proposed improvements will be funded or maintained, offering no dedicated funding source or staffing plan for ongoing upkeep. Coordination with the State Land Department on future trail easements—especially in areas north of Big Wash—remains undefined. While the document outlines safety and etiquette goals, it lacks detail on enforcement and accountability. Environmental considerations, such as habitat protection and trail impact assessments, are addressed only broadly, with no clear standards or procedures. Finally, the plan does not yet establish measurable performance goals or timelines to track whether future trail expansion and maintenance efforts achieve their intended results.

Time to get involved
The 60% draft marks the first time Oro Valley’s OV Trails Connect Master Plan has been presented as a complete document for public and advisory review. Following input from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the draft will go to the Town Council in mid-November for additional feedback. Staff and the consultant will then refine the plan and share a final version with residents and regional partners early next year. The Town expects to bring the completed plan back to the Board and Council for approval in the spring of 2026. 

Because Oro Valley’s trails and paths are an essential part of the community’s quality of life, supporting recreation, health, and connection to nature, we encourage you to review the plan, share you thoughts to help shape the future of this community asset. 

“Throughout this process, the community is invited to www.OVTrailsConnect.com to sign up for the Trails Stakeholder Group, stay informed about the latest materials and information, and reach out to Senior Planner Kyle Packer (kpacker@orovalleyaz.gov) with comments and questions.”

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Town Has No Legal Authority To Plan Future of Vistoso Golf Course

No legal authority to plan Vistoso Course use

Last week's community outreach on the conceptual master plan of Oro Valley's Parks opened with a "bang". With many Rancho Vistoso residents tuned in, Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan tried to diffuse the "Vistoso Golf" time bomb.  (Time stamp 0:03:18).

Diaz-Trahan stated that the town is not in a legal position to opine on the future of the former Vistoso Golf Course property: "The town does not have the legal authority to add someone else's private property within this master."  This is because the hoped for transaction between The Conservation Fund and Romspen LLC, the property owner, has not occurred. That transaction would have resulted in the eventual transfer of the land to the town.

Town still focused on property

This does not mean that the town has no interest in the situation. In fact, our town leaders are very much up-to-date on the situation and under some pressure to do something. They commissioned a study on what it would cost for the town to maintain the land as preserve. We will discuss this in an upcoming article. Last week, they held yet another closed-door executive session to discuss the future of this land.

Diaz-Trahan noted: "...please know, the town has heard the [Rancho Vistoso] community and that we have a commitment that in this final master plan those desires [of the Rancho Vistoso community] will be addressed." That desire is for the 208 acres of Vistoso Golf become a preserve for all to use in the community.

Wants of 40% of residents ignored

Not all agree with Diaz-Trahan.  Speaking at the outreach      meeting (remarks at right), Oro Valley resident Michael Bilodeau pointed out that the assessment did not accurately reflect the needs assessment created last spring. Bilodeau is an advocate of the need for community engagement in the master plan development. He discussed this in a LOVE guest view in March.

At last week's meeting, Bilodeau observed that the assessment as presented does not meet the goals of the study, which is to develop future parks and recreation needs that has an equitable distribution of facilities. As LOVE observed previously, the Parks and Recreation conceptual plan at this point places little town focus on the needs of Rancho Vistoso. 

Bilodeau expressed surprise that some previously town identified low priority items, like a BMX park and more basketball courts, were included in the conceptual plan; while, with two exceptions, trails and related items were not considered. 

"I still don't get the fact that we go from an assessment of the needs of the community, pretty much ignore them all, and we jump directly into a conceptual plan that includes a lot of low priority needs."

He also pointed out that 40% of the town's population lives north of Tangerine where there is only one town facility and not very many amenities. He alleges that the proposed 'fix' that this conceptual plan makes is "...to make no investment north of Tangerine."

A gut punch: "The plan does not address the needs of Rancho Vistoso residents"

Other concerns voiced by attendees include:

• Rancho Vistoso residents are not considered to be part of Oro Valley yet they pay taxes twice: Once to the form of HOA fees; and the other in the form of sales taxes (and utility taxes)
• 50% of Oro Valley's residents are seniors. "We don't need more archery parks."
• "Look at what people want. Not what you think they should have."
• The aquatic center and the community centers are not free to residents even though the town paid for and subsidizes them.
• Residents of Vistoso want open space and this conceptual plan does not address this.
• Why are there not parks planned for north of Tangerine Road?
• Why would Romspen turn down a good offer? Why can't the town send a signal to Romspen that the council will not rezone this land?

The plan is conceptual at this point. Much more work needs to be done. Patience on the part of all is needed.

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Oro Valley Town Council to Create 2025-2027 Strategic Plan

Oro Valley Town Council to discuss new strategic plan
The Oro Valley Town Council will hold a study session tomorrow to discuss projects, strategies, and guiding principles for the Strategic Plan for the upcoming two fiscal years (2025-2027). The current Strategic Plan covers this fiscal year (2024-2025) and the last fiscal year (2023-2024), meaning the Council must now develop a new plan for the next two fiscal years. The Strategic Plan is a significant document as it shapes budget priorities and guides long-term initiatives.

A current example: Trails Master Plan
Two years ago, the Council agreed to a plan that, among other things, called for "Creating a Trails Plan" focused on multi-use paths, natural surfaces, paved surfaces, access, connectivity, maintenance, mapping, promotions, and signage. [panel right] In November 2024, staff initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a consultant to lead this effort. The RFP stated a budget of $50,000, an amount that should be in this year’s budget, though it has not been clearly identified.

The strategic plan is not the general plan
The General Plan is a voter-ratified document that outlines the town’s long-term vision for a 10-year period. The town is currently working on a new General Plan, OV Path Forward, which will take effect in 2026.

It is a council and staff interpretation of resident intent
The Strategic Plan, on the other hand, is a Council-approved document developed by town staff and reviewed by the Town Council. Unlike the General Plan, which is shaped by voter input, the Strategic Plan reflects a staff and council interpretation of the General Plan, setting the priorities for staff actions and activities. It matters even more than the General Plan because, unlike the broad statements in the General Plan, the Strategic Plan determines specific actions to be taken.

The translation from General Plan directives to Strategic Plan actions a open to wide interpretation
Over the years, LOVE has reported on the town’s Strategic Plans, and some residents have raised concerns about the process. These concerns include:

• The Strategic Plan is shaped by town staff and the Council, which may lead to misalignment with residents’ priorities.
• Staff controls the narrative, possibly selectively presenting information to the Town Council, resulting in a focus on growth that primarily benefits staff initiatives rather than community-driven needs.
• The 2016 General Plan is still the guiding document for the Strategic Plan, since the 2026 General Plan has not yet been adopted. Some fear that the 2016 plan may be dismissed as outdated to justify new priorities that may not reflect resident approved long-term vision.

It is up to the council to get this right
Ultimately, it is up to the Town Council, not town staff, to ensure that the Strategic Plan aligns with the community’s vision. It is our hope that each of the seven Council members will challenge staff as needed to ensure that resident priorities remain at the forefront.

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Here’s What Happened While We Were Away…

Town Finance Director: Oro Valley successfully negotiated the financial challenge of Covid-19

…this according to town finance manager, Wendy Gomez speaking at the May 19 town council meeting was referring to the projections for the year based on actual results through March. Gomez attributed this to holding the line on spending; and that revenues “…have significantly out performed expectations.” 

Speaking of the general fund, Gomez noted said the fund revenues are estimated to be 20% over budget for the year, at $52,2 million. The primary sources of this are federal government “rescue” money; higher than expected local sales tax revenues (12% over budget); and increased commercial and residential construction activity that is driving license and permit revenue. Spending is estimated to be 2.7% under budget.

Council to consider completed Parks and Recreation Master Plan as a “reference” for future spending decisions

The Oro Valley Town Council discussed the parks and recreation master plan at it’s May 19 meeting. According to the town’s master plan project consultant, the master plan “…provides information over which to make decisions” on parks and recreation spending now and in the future. The council made it clear in the resolution it passed (Panel at right) that this plan is not going to be implemented as is and that the community will continue to provide input

“This work is an invaluable tool for us but we are not committing to any particular spending,” noted Council Member Bohan. “It’s a plan. It’s not something we are going to be locked into,” according the Council Member Joyce-Ivey.

Mayor Winfield and Vice Mayor Barrett have proposed what they would like to see happen with Parks and Recreations spending next year.

La Posada Senior Living Facility Development Progressing

In March, LOVE reported that the Nakoma Sky senior living project was back in operation. Owners of the La Posada Senior Living Facility (formerly titled “Nakoma Sky”) develop ment have submitted a new conceptual architecture plan for the main part (Area C on map at left) of their development. This is the five-story apartment portion. This retirement community is located north of Home Depot and on the northern side of the CDO wash. The Hiremath council approved the entire project in 2016. “The maximum height (75', 5 stories)was previously approved as part of the PAD zoning in 2014 and is not under consideration. However, the revised design reduces the building mass by decreasing the height of the residential buildings from east to west.” The Planning and Zoning Commission will hear this item in tonight’s meeting.

GRDF says: “No Burning”

The Golder Ranch Fire District announced this past Thursday that it will not issue any burning permits. Also, any permits issued during the past 180 days are revoked.  “The conditions in our region are very dry and we are going to do everything we can to keep our community safe,” says Chief Randy Karrer. (Source: GRFD Press Release). Remember last summer. One dry lightening strike and the Catalina’s burned for two months.

Fireworks Test June 3

The town is conducting a fireworks test of nine shots this Thursday at 8:30pm.  It is a test of the July 4th fireworks show from Naranja  Park.  The test is a chance for residents to see if they can see the fireworks from their house as there will be no in person visits to the park allowed on July 4.

uPetsia makes pet breath smell better for longer.

No. this is not an advertisement. Its about our Oro Valley based startup.

 

The company, uPetsia, resides in the Center for Innovation in Oro Valley. It is the winner of an event sponsored by the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. “uPetsia (rhymes with "“You betcha") is a startup focused on making dog breath smell better for longer by engineering bacteria for dog and cat microbiota. uPetsia's product is incorporated into pet treats and chews and provides hours of minty-fresh breath. The The winner for the UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by Greater Oro Valley Chamber of underlying technology was developed at the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and BIO5 Institute by founders Eric Lyons, David Baltrus and Scott Zentack. Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the technology commercialization arm of the UArizona refined and protected the invention and also helped them identify their best market.” (Source: May 2021 Center for Innovation Newsletter)

Parks and Rec Draft Master Plan "Connects" Oro Valley

Recommendations link individual trails and trail segments

The Town of Oro Valley is unveiling it 2020 Parks and Recreation draft master plan in a study session before town council this Wednesday. The study is the result of a year long effort at the direction of the Oro Valley Town Council. 

Last week, LOVE summarized the draft master plan facilities conceptual plans. Today, we discuss the “Connectivity Analysis” of the town’s natural and multi-use paved trail system ("Trail System"). 

The town’s trail system is the highest parks and recreation priority

..as identified by Pros Consulting, the firm the town retained to create the master plan. They based their conclusion on community input that includes a random phone survey, community zoom meetings, and written public comment. 

There are fifteen recommendations

Pros has identified missing path trail segments; and opportunities to expand the existing trail system. These are shown as “A through O” on the panel at right. We’re highlighting five. You can read about the others and review the draft master plan here.

Five recommendations make a huge difference
Extend the CDO shared use path into Rancho Vistoso (Item D)
This has to be a relatively inexpensive yet very important step. There is about a half mile of paved path that connects the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail  to Big Wash. The trail runs on the east side of the wash. The paved portion runs west of the Oro Valley Hospital. The pavement ends a bit north of the hospital. 

There is about a half mile of unpaved path along the wash that extends from that. It connects to Rancho Vistoso Blvd, west of Vistoso Commerce Loop. 

When this small section is paved, Rancho Vistoso residents will be able to ride a bike to or walk to the Oro Valley Marketplace, Catalina State Park, Steam Pump Ranch, and the Rooney Ranch Shopping Center. If they are really ambitious, they can go all the way to the Tucson Mall and to the east side of Tucson if they want. They will be able to do this without ever being on a road way. 

The estimated cost of completing this trail is $750,000. This will be funded by Pima County.

Pedestrian bridge across the CDO wash (Item J)

This bridge will connect Riverfront Park to the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail.  
Currently, the only way to get from the shared use trail to Riverfront Park is to walk or ride along Lambert Lane and on a section of Oracle Road. 

The plan is for a path from the south side of the park to a bridge that crosses the CDO. If you were to walk this now, you would have to walk through the wash, which is not a simple task; and then scale a 10 foot wall to get to the path. Obviously, few had done this. The bridge opens easy access for those who want to park at Riverfront and walk or ride the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trial. The estimated cost of this bridge is $1 million. However, funds may be available from the county to pay for it.

New shared use path connecting Kreigh Park to the Linda Vista Trailhead (Item L)
The best and really only way to safely access the Linda Vista Trailhead is by car. Otherwise you encounter the perils of walking or riding along Oracle Road. Sucking exhaust from cars on Oracle Road is not a fun thing! This new path would remove the problem providing easy access for all.  The estimated cost of this is $300,000.

New shared use path connecting CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail to Kreigh Park (Item K)
This path would use existing roadways to connect the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail to Kreigh Park. It would access the path on the bridge next to the Oro Valley Country Club, connecting to existing roadways that lead to the park. These are quiet residential roads. The estimated cost is $1 million.

Convert the sidewalk on one side of Rancho Vistoso Blvd to a shared use path (Item A)
Currently, there are narrow sidewalks on either side of Rancho Vistoso Blvd. This item would widen one of these to be a path that would provide safe connection to Honey Bee Canyon Park, Honey Bee Preserve and schools. It will also link to the former Vistoso Golf Course. The estimated cost is $1.8 million.

Total Cost: $10 million

The total cost of the 15 items is approximately $10 million. Some of the funds for this would come from the county or grants.

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Oro Valley's Parks and Recreation Random Survey Missed The Mark

Last week, The Oro Valley Town Council held a special session to review to Phase 1 Parks and Recreation Master Plan study. This session was dedicated to understanding and asking questions regarding the study we reported last week. This study focussed on what residents say they want.

Mike Svetz, project leader for Pros Consulting, the firm retained to do this study, emphasized that the goal is to develop master plan that is “realistic, implementable and financially sustainable. Anything that you build has life cycles to them… need to insure that you have the operating and maintenance dollars to maintain and replace things as they age. The plan needs to consider both the short term investment and the ongoing cost.

Svetz observed that the town should develop a plan  that meets the needs of all residents, not simply the needs of one dominant population segment. In Oro Valley, that would be senior and retirees.

Svetz: People don't know what we have
The study of wants highlighted paths and walking trails as a must investment. Svetz stated that these were not new trails, but the upkeep of exiting trials plus the creation of some loop trails in park areas. Council Person Solomon observed the the town has 54 trail miles. He wondered if residents knew that. Svetz stated that they did not know but he had not basis for this statement. The study did not "test" people on their knowledge of what Oro Valley has. It asked only what they wanted.

The devil is in the detail and the detail is missing
Responses specific to location
Council Person Barrett wants more detail of information by area of the town. For example, the stated need that town needs more restroom facilities most certainly does not apply to the town's parks. Each has restrooms. However, the many HOA parks don't. Those would be the responsibility of the HOA and not the town. Thus, the need for more restrooms is not a town challenge.
The bathroom puzzle
While the study is able to segment results by age group it is not able to do it by geographic location. According to Svetz, the statistically valid survey, a survey of xxx people, was geographically representative of the town's population locations, but Pros Consulting never associated a response with the geography. Thus, the study does not tell what people in, say Rancho Vistoso want versus what people in the original section of Oro Valley want. This seems like a very significant oversight on the part of the town and study designers. Barrett wants that information so the "the town can invest strategically."
What kids want
Mayor Winfield observed that detail is needed regarding what Oro Valley's kids want. The survey did not include them, It included their parents who, according to Svetz, were supposed to respond to questions with the whole family in mind.  This really is not a valid gauge even though Svetz plans to provide responses based on family demographics. Given the methodology, we now understand why Baskeball Courts (Oro Valley has one) or new fields, items that were important in the last survey of 2014, suddenly dropped to low priority. Youth baseball and little league, a big concern a few years ago, fell of the chart. Other then refurbishing four of the five fields at Kreigh Park, nothing has been done. Pickleball Courts, on the other hand, jumped from the bottom in 2014 to near top. This, after the town has added pickleball facilities.

Town on its own?
The town plans to reduce the use of an external consultant in completing the master plan, spending no more than $30,000. According to Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Director Krisy Diaz-Trahan, "We have a meeting with Mr. Svetz scheduled to determine where the greatest talent pool exists" to do each one of the remaining steps to complete the master plan.

Municipal Golf Is A Conundrum For Oro Valley

The plan is for financial sustainability by 2023

It's been almost a year since the Oro Valley Town Council voted to create a scenario where the town would pay a municipal golf subsidy not more than a $800,000 by 2023.  Council came to this agreement after 8 months of public hearings and sometimes endless discussion.  

Achieving the subsidy goal requires accomplishing major five steps (see panel).

Where do we stand today?

Two accomplishments

Two of the items have been accomplished. The food operations are the responsibility of the course's new operator, Antares, and the town reached agreement with the homeowner associations to fund the courses.

Covid-19 put Pusch View lease option "back"

The rest of the plan is open. As a result, as reported last week, golf operations are expected to lose about $1.4 million this year.

Shortly after the plan was approved the still ongoing Covid-19 pandemic happened. This had two impacts. One was an increase in golf revenue for the from March through June. Golf was, at that time, the only sport an adult was allowed to play. 

The second impact has a substantial impact on the ability to achieve financial sustainability of municipal golf.  HSL, the owner of the El Conquistador, has seen a substantial decrease in resort occupancy. As a result, they are not in a position to enter into a lease for the 9-hole course. Leasing the facility is a major source of savings that is now "off the table." 

As a result, it is still owned by the town. The town has maintained the greens on that course and has not over seeded the rest of the course. This has caused anger among residents whose homes are in this area. They want that course maintained. You should expect them to attend en-masse to the November 19 council meeting where council will consider Pusch View.

Ripple effect on Parks and Recreation

All of this has a "ripple" effect on the parks and recreation master plan that is being developed. That plan is focussed on the total needs of the community (yellow on map in panel); not on the specific needs of any one group. 

Municipal golf has a separate plan.

The master plan does not include anything regarding the possible actions that council may take regarding the Vistoso Golf course land. What happens to this property matters to thousands of residents in Ranch Vistoso.

Council faces daunting challenge 

Oro Valley does not have an infinite supply of funds to pay for everything that everyone wants. Some tough decisions are in the offing. The result is that the council has the daunting challenge of balancing the needs of the total community, as represented by the parks and recreation master plan, with the wants of three constituencies (panel above). 

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Council Makes Major Suggestions for the Trails Connect Master Plan

Council weighs in on trails master plan
Several weeks ago, LOVE reported that Oro Valley’s OV Trails Connect Master Plan is now 60 percent complete and ready for public and advisory review. That article summarized the plan’s structure, priorities, and the challenges that remain, including the lack of a dedicated funding strategy and questions about long-term maintenance. Staff presented the same 60 percent draft at the November 19 Town Council meeting. That discussion resulted in several significant Council suggestions that could shape the plan’s next version.

Council wants trails to be a major tourism focus
The most significant theme of the Council discussion was the clear link between trails and tourism. Councilmembers emphasized how important outdoor recreation has become for visitor spending, hotel activity, and Oro Valley’s identity. They encouraged staff to elevate trails and multi-use paths as core tourism assets, integrate them into the Explore OV platform, and ensure that maps and information are easily available in hotels, resorts, and bike shops.

Volunteer programs should support short-term priorities
Councilmembers repeatedly stated that volunteer programs should be treated as a short-term action, not a mid-term item. Oro Valley’s volunteer culture is strong, they noted. Council wants to mobilize residents quickly for tasks such as trail maintenance, mapping, outreach, and small-scale improvements. This direction would shift how implementation is phased in the next draft.

A northern Loop extension toward Saddlebrooke and Biosphere 2 is being studied
A surprising element of the discussion was that Pima County and regional partners are exploring a northern extension of The Loop that could eventually reach Saddlebrooke and even Biosphere 2. Councilmembers saw this as a major long-term opportunity and suggested that the Trails Plan acknowledge and plan for regional connectivity.

Rancho Vistoso Boulevard identified as a future multi-use path corridor
Vice Mayor Barrett highlighted Rancho Vistoso Boulevard as a location where residents already walk and cycle in large numbers. She suggested that the Town consider adding a multi-use path along this roadway to improve safety and enhance connections to Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. This was not in the original 60 percent draft but received support during discussion.

Stronger partnerships needed to legitimize and expand trails
Council encouraged staff to work more actively with HOAs, homeowners, trail groups, and local local businesses to secure legal access for certain “informal” trails. Members suggested preparing a stakeholders-only map identifying where approvals are needed and who might help obtain them. This reflects a shift toward more community-driven trail expansion.

Better integration with mapping and navigation apps needed
Councilmembers suggested that the Town use mapping platforms more effectively, including Strava, AllTrails, and Apple mobility data. They encouraged staff to ensure that Oro Valley trail maps appear in the Town’s Explore OV app and in apps that residents and visitors already use. Better visibility, they said, would improve both safety and tourism value.

Recognize regional mountain biking assets
Some Councilmembers suggested adding references to the 50-Year Trail and other nearby mountain biking areas that, while not located in Oro Valley, draw riders who often stay and shop in Town. They viewed these as regional assets that complement the Town’s own network.

Implementation should emphasize low-cost “quick wins”
Several members pointed to small actions that can be completed quickly, such as better printed maps at hotels and bike shops, trail-day events, and clearer wayfinding signs on existing paths. These short-term improvements were seen as a way to build momentum before larger, more expensive projects begin.

90% version is up next… final version next spring
Staff will use Council’s direction to revise the plan, prepare a 90 percent draft, and share it with the public and regional partners early next year. A final version will return to Town Council in the spring of 2026 for possible approval.
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No Bonding (Likely) For Parks Master Plan

Bonding Highly Unlikely In Funding Parks and Recreation Plan
Seeking public approval for issuing bonds with a property tax to repay them is a highly unlikely source to pay for the Parks and Recreation Master plan. Mayor Winfield noted, at last week's council study session, that residents have continually voted down such bond measures over the years. 

Winfield noted that the survey the town conducted last year asked what people would want assuming there would be no new taxes to pay for such. "This means that it would not cost them anything." 

Town staff acknowledged this. In fact, it appears that staff never considered bonding to be a viable funding source. "Our community doesn't really have an appetite for a bond initiative" to fund parks, according the Parks Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan. "We do know that there are financing options available that can be used." She noted that funding for parks is on a "pay as you go" basis. That's how we moved the needle somewhat at Naranja Park over the last seven or eight years." Indeed, it is becoming quite a park as we noted in our posting: "Naranja Park... Building Over Time... Meeting Resident Needs."

Funding from various sources

According to Winfield and others speaking at the study session, some of the funding can come from sources other than from the town. For example, funds from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) may be available to pay for trails funding. In fact, Winfield and Vice Mayor Barrett recommended to staff that they move trail spending timing up to take advantage of these funds.

According to Consultant Mike Svetz of Pros Consulting, the half cent sales tax the town enacted to subsidize municipal golf can be used for work at the community center. This includes paying for improved parking and repaving tennis courts. 

Also, council believes that there  may be opportunities to partner with third parties, like Pima County and the Amphi School District.

Three facilities are 65% of the $62 million plan

The Plan calls for $62 million in spending in the next ten years. Projects are classified in groups (see panel above, right).  The cost is driven by three items: $17 million to build out Naranja Park; $13 million for the Community Center; and $10 million for trails. Indeed, spending to repurpose the "clubhouse" as a community center begged the question, asked by Council Member Bohen, as to whether the town had considered starting from scratch, building something new. Diaz-Trahan said they had not.

Winfield: Target Town Spending $25 million in capital spending over 10 years

The challenge will be to prioritize spending. Hopefully, this will be done based on the statistically valid survey that formed the baseline for the study. Winfield set a target for which the town would be responsible of $25 million in capital spending over ten years.

In addition, as Mayor Winfield noted, priorities must also consider the ongoing maintenance cost of the facilities. For example, trails can be maintained at minimal cost whereas park equipment requires relatively more cost. Also, as Svetz noted at the meeting, there are opportunities to break projects, such as the Naranja Park buildout, into phases.

Initial priorities presented to Parks and Recreation Commission last night

Last night, the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Commission met to discuss project priorities and funding the the plan.  Svetz presented project priorities and funding sources. His plan targeted the $25million Winfield capital spending cap by dropping spending on Naranja Park and the Community Center visionary, rebuilding projects. 

Next Step: Community Meeting on March 30

Staff will host a community meeting on March 30.  This meeting also will focus on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Capital Improvement Project (CIP) priorities and funding expectations.

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Oro Valley's "Big Spend"

UPDATE: 9pm Tuesday, April 7
Subsequent to posting this article. we received an email from Oro Valley Town Communications Direct Misti Nowak, regarding the accuracy of some portions of this report.

Misti provided the following correction to our numbers in the panel below.

• Naranja Park Plan  $31.0 (you have it correct) 
• Already Invested       2.3 
• OV Aquatic Center    5.0 
• El Con/Comm Ctr     5.5 (for five-year projections) 

The total is $41.3 million which is less than the 2008 plan number.

Also, there was a sub-header stating that the event center was a last-minute addition to the plan. The event center was actually discussed in Fall 2014 and was adopted by the Parks and Recreation Commission as part of the Naranja Park Master Plan in December.
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The Report

The Oro Valley Town Council, last week, approved the Naranja Park Plan on a 5-2 vote. The approval did not include approval of funding for the project, which could be upwards of $31 million.

In February, we reported what is included in the park You can watch our video (below) of the town site's plans through the years to look at the latest and previous layouts.

This is not Oro Valley's first rodeo with Naranja Park Planning

The 2008 Naranja Park plan was the dream of then mayor Paul Loomis. The plan was put to vote of the people because Loomis' plan was to be financed by a secondary property tax. Only the voters can approve a property tax.

Voters rejected the 2008 plan by a 60:40 margin.  Oro Valley residents did not want a secondary property tax to fund a $48.6 million initial phase expenditure. (The total cost of the site was $154 million.)

Two years later, voters reiterated this to Mayor Loomis. Loomis did not survive the primary in 2010, though he had been the incumbent for many years.

Total cost now is $51.5 Million versus $48.6 Million Then

As one of the meeting's attendees was quick to point out: "We're going to spend more than the amount of money the voters refused to spend in 2008."

The 2008 plan, like a plan that was developed in 2001, had everything centered in one park.

Instead of that, Oro Valley will bring together three facilities to accomplish what would have been done had the vote passed in 2008.

The town has "cobbled together" a rebuilt aquatic center located on Concordia; a to-be rebuilt community center/golf course located on La Canada; and the Naranja town consolidated activity site which is now called a park.

The total estimated cost of all of these three facilities is $51.5 million. This is greater than the $48.6 million to finance the 2008 plan.



Four Sources Likely To Fund Facility Acquisition or Construction

The council majority has stayed away from any talk of a property tax to fund the construction or acquisition of these facilities. Instead, they have "cobbled together" several funding sources.

Funding for all the construction of these facilities has or will likely come from bed tax revenues, a sales tax increase, hoped for Pima County bond money and the Oro Valley contingency reserves.

At issue: An event center that was a last-minute addition to the plan

The key issue at the council meetings was an event center which is in the plan. It looks much like a community center.

We discussed the event center with former Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Jack Stinnett. According to Stinnett, the event center that is now shown in the plan was not included in any plan for the park until just prior to the announcement of the El Conquistador Country Club purchase and the town's planned conversion of the clubhouse to a community center.

Council Member Zinkin voted against the Naranja Park Plan because he felt that the insertion of an event center at the last minute was simply not based on town need. Zinkin feels that the real need is for green fields with lights for athletics.

"Town surveys of our residents have shown that things like a splash pad, a skate board park, an event center, and a performance area are simply not the priorities of our people."

Watch the plan presentation to learn more
Want to lear more about the plan and what is included in the park?  The plan was prepared by McGann and Associates, landscape architects and planers. They are located on Oracle Road.

You can view the presentation that Don McGann, company principal, made to council to get a complete view of the facility and the rationale for why each item is included.



Please let us know what you think of this plan.
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