Apache Junction in final steps to achieve rodeo grounds ownership
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This month we finally received notice that the sale had been finalized and all the steps had been completed. We received an invoice to pay our $1.4 million and the finance department wired that as soon as humanly possible so that we can continue this and hope to get all this done by the end of this fiscal year.”
Liz Langenbach, Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Director
The city of Apache Junction has paid $1.4 million and could have the title and ownership of the rodeo grounds, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd., by June, the city council was told recently.
The rodeo grounds, owned by the Bureau of Land Management, are home to annual events such as the Lost Dutchman Days rodeo and carnival, and the Arizona Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association show.
The city began leasing the rodeo grounds in 1986. In October 2020 the Apache Junction City Council entered into an agreement to purchase the 20-acre rodeo grounds.
“So we started a process that was about 2.5 years long to go through an entire process with the Bureau of Land Management where they would ultimately appraise the land for the land value alone; we added many amenities there many years ago,” Liz Langenbach, the city’s parks and recreation director, said at the council’s May 16 meeting.
“In January of 2022 we received the appraisal amount of $1.4 million from the third party that does all of the appraisal process. Council approved at that time continuing with the process and incorporating that into our city budget for this year, which is in there now,” she said.
“This month we finally received notice that the sale had been finalized and all the steps had been completed. We received an invoice to pay our $1.4 million and the finance department wired that as soon as humanly possible so that we can continue this and hope to get all this done by the end of this fiscal year,” Langenbach said.
The final title documents should be received in June, she said.
“(I)t’s a big commitment to purchase these rodeo grounds. We think it will be very good for us in the long run. It was a council direction for us to pursue that so that we could have more events and more activities at this event center,” she said.
The Bureau of Land Management’s Lower Sonoran Field Office last year sought public comments on a proposed direct sale of the 20 acres of public lands to the city, which leased the land for use as a rodeo grounds arena under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. A direct sale would allow the city to operate the lands for commercial purposes beyond the scope of the act.
Amenities sought
The city’s fiscal year 2023-24 tentative budget includes $100,000 for a master plan review and design services to identify additional amenities needed at the rodeo grounds, Langenbach said.
“So there are still a lot of things that still need to be done there,” she said. “For example, there is very-limited electricity to the rodeo arena and to the restroom facility. But the area where all our vendors usually are there is no electricity so they have to bring in generators and think of how they are going to get power there. Water lines are old ... So it’s a 40-year-old facility that we maintain ourselves. And so there are a lot of amenities that we are going to have to look at and those will require design, services through electricians, architects and all that kind of stuff.”
Current users of the rodeo grounds — such as the local 4-H, Lost Dutchman Days Committee and an archery group — will be asked what they would like to have as additional amenities, Langenbach said.
A 2006 master plan that included the rodeo grounds and a portion of the adjacent 200-acre Prospector Park showed a need for a $32 million estimated cost, she said.
“We won’t be doing all of those things and so we’ll be able to keep it a little bit more minimal of that, but there will be a cost to some of the amenities that we need to have here so this next year will be a chance to learn what those are and for us to prioritize with our parks and recreation commission and then be able to bring recommendations to the city council so that they can be considered over time and within our budget and the means of out city,” she said.
Rent for $8 an hour
The city of Apache Junction in 2021 added nonresident and for-profit commercial rates to its fee structure. Nonresidents pay 25% more than a resident, and commercial and for-profit businesses pay 50% more than nonprofits, Langenbach said.
Cost to rent the arena is $8 an hour in the day or $17 an hour at night because of the need for lights. A commercial entity would pay $12 an hour for the day use and $25.50 an hour to rent it at night, she said.
There is no fee or charge for the Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo and other civic events that are city-supported, she said.
“They don’t pay any money at all to use that for that entire weekend and all of the prep and all of the staffing that goes into police services, parks maintenance service. So zero times any increase will still be zero. And as long as the council continues to choose to have that be a civic event, then their fees are not going to change at all,” she said of the annual Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo.
The city can begin renting the rodeo grounds to commercial entities and for-profit businesses once the final ownership documents are received, Langenbach said.
“Currently we can’t do that right now and so that will help us bring in more revenue. We will definitely have a plan for reaching out and promoting use of the rodeo grounds and so it won’t only just be nonprofits and private residents that can rent our facility. We’ll be able to open up to a much bigger variety of individuals — as soon as we have the ownership documents in hand,” she said. “So we expect after July 1 that we would be able to open all of this up.”
Council discussion
Councilmember Bryan Soller asked if the city would look into purchasing adjacent property, including land used for parking.
“We can definitely explore that. It will be a difficult process because we would have to first separate out whatever land from Prospector Park,” Langenbach said.
About 40 acres of the 200-acre Prospector Park are developed, with the rest as trails and open space, she said.
“I’m really excited about it. This is a little gem for us. Now we can do things where the city can run events and not have to worry about the federal government being involved,” Soller said.
Councilmember Peter Heck asked if land west of the rodeo grounds could continue to be used for Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo contestants and horse trailers.
“Absolutely. Yes. We confirmed with the BLM what our abilities are. We use it now and so they are well aware of that,” Langenbach said.
Council members thanked city staff members for their help in purchasing the rodeo grounds.
“All’s I can say is ‘thank you.’ My God this is just awesome news. Thanks to all of the staff that’s been involved in securing this; great job. And I look forward to all of the wonderful things that are coming up in the future. So kudos,” Councilmember Darryl Cross said.
“Congratulations and thank you very much. It’s something we’ve been working on for many years and this is now finally coming to fruition so thanks everyone,” Mayor Chip Wilson said by phone at the meeting.
Vice Mayor Robert Schroeder thanked Langenbach for her work in purchasing the rodeo grounds.
“I know you were very instrumental in this whole entire process. Good job Liz. Really good job,” he said.
The Bureau of Land Management manages approximately 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The bureau also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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