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O’Neil Park in Glendale gets huge upgrade, new football field next

New play space benefits area with 35% poverty rate

Posted 11/24/22

O’Neil Park in Glendale received a major upgrade.

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THANKFUL

O’Neil Park in Glendale gets huge upgrade, new football field next

New play space benefits area with 35% poverty rate

Posted

O’Neil Park in Glendale received a major upgrade.

The public park, located at 6448 W. Missouri Ave., recently got new playgrounds and a multi-purpose sport court, and a new football field — the same surface used at the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in downtown Phoenix — will be planted in early 2023.

Located in south Glendale, this is the 13th site for a Fiesta Bowl Charities playground legacy project over the last five years.

The area in which O’Neil Park is located comprises a 78% minority population, with a median household income of $32,610 and an average poverty rate of 35.2%. The new play space at O’Neil Park contributes to the city of Glendale’s ongoing project to address infrastructure disparities across the city.

“This project is a perfect example of a public-private partnership that my office has been working hard to bring to the community,” Glendale Vice Mayor Jamie Aldama, who represents the Ocotillo District, shared in a statement. “The park has undergone several upgrades, many that are long overdue. The children and families of the area deserve quality parks and safe, inviting amenities.”

More than 100 volunteers from Fiesta Bowl Charities, BHHS Legacy Foundation, Palo Verde, AZSTA and KABOOM! came together to build the state-of-the-art playgrounds and sport court that will be used by more than 6,000 children each year.

“We are excited to see Fiesta Bowl Sports Complex at O’Neil Park come to life and be part of the revitalization of this neighborhood park,” Kristina Chumpol, senior director of community relations for the Fiesta Bowl, stated. “With the William C Jack and Don Mensendick schools adjacent to the park, in addition to the community leagues that practice there, we know that the two playgrounds, sport court and future football field will provide a safe play space for youth of all ages for many years to come.”

Earlier this year, children in the community created the concept of their dream play space and shared their artwork with project organizers. The drawings were used as inspiration for the 2,500 square feet of total playground design.

Fiesta Bowl Charities soon will install an 80,000 square foot football field in partnership with BHHS Legacy Foundation and AZSTA as the final step in the new complex.

Before receiving the new play space, O’Neil Park had featured outdated infrastructure at the end of its lifespan of use.