By Janet Perez
Mail | Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

At its Wednesday meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council approved beginning the sale of bonds to fund Phase 1 of new park facilities as part of the Park Master Plan.

Phase 1, anticipated to take several years to build, includes East Park, the remainder of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, and a multigenerational recreation center and aquatics center.

In December, the council voted to approve funding for Phase 1 of the Park Master Plan.

At the time, Mayor Gail Barney said: “The town council has continued to prioritize public safety and transportation. Thanks to significant progress in those areas – with more to come – and fiscally responsible planning, we are in a position to expand our recreational facilities to meet the needs of our community.”

According to a staff report on the bond issuance:

“Only the non-growth share of the costs for these projects are included in the issue ($138 million), therefore, the debt service on this issue will be paid for by the operating budget. The growth share of the construction costs at East Park will be funded with cash collected from parks impact fees. The land acquisition, remaining park improvements, the recreation center and the aquatics center are not impact-fee eligible.

“These projects will help meet the needs of both current and future residents in accordance with the town council adopted Parks Master Plan level of service of 51 acres per 10,000 population. Issuing this debt is a way to allocate the costs over time and ensure those who will use this infrastructure also pay for it.”

The initial $115 million funding for the facilities identified in Phase 1 will be primarily through the town’s operating budget, with $21 million funded through impact fees specific to East Park funding.

The bond issue amount increased from $115 million to $138 million to include land acquisition.

In the recent 2021 Citizen Survey, 81% of Queen Creek residents reported visiting a town park during the past year, with 33% visiting a park more than 10 times. In a separate survey conducted earlier in the year, 75% of residents reported wanting a town aquatic center and/or multigenerational center.

Once issued, the bonds will allow the projects to be built now and repaid over time. The action will not increase taxes.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, council gave East Park a new official name.

After a few years of going by its placeholder name, East Park, the soon-to-be-built facility now will be known as Frontier Family Park. The park will be located around the southwest corner of Ryan Road and Signal Butte Road.

Originally, East Park was slated to be called the Queen Creek Sports Complex. In the intervening years before plans to build the park were solidified, the town saw the emergence of the Barney Family Sports Complex and Legacy Sports Park (also known as Bell Bank Park).

Queen Creek Council Vice Mayor Jeff Brown and Councilors Julia Wheatley and Robin Benning asked to discuss possibly renaming the park in order to avoid confusion.

Staff provided a list of possible names and Councilmember Turley zeroed in on Frontier Family Park. She said the name would be easy to remember, did not contain a particular family name and alluded to the town’s past.

Turley’s name selection was unanimously approved.

Currently, Queen Creek is soliciting statement of qualifications from firms to provide design services for the Aquatic and Recreation Center that will be at the newly christened Frontier Family Park.

The new 91-acre Frontier Family Park will be delivered in two phases. The town has entered into a contract with J2 Engineering and Environmental Design for design services for Phase 1, which will include a majority of the park acreage and will deliver lighted sports fields, sand volleyball courts, concession and restroom buildings, and play areas in the fall of 2023. 

Phase 2 is anticipated to be the combined aquatic and recreation center on the north end of Frontier Family Park along Ryan Road. It is expected to open in spring 2024.