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Peoria’s newest park moves forward
Posted
By Philip Haldiman
Independent Newsmedia
Peoria’s newest park is a few steps closer to groundbreaking.
City council approved an agreement with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County for the use of about 450 acres behind the New River Dam for Paloma Community Park located east of Lake Pleasant Parkway, just south of the Loop 303.
The development of recreational amenities on such lands is not uncommon.
City spokeswoman Jennifer Stein said the agreement allows the city to develop, operate, and maintain the 80-acre park on flood control district land, including any future park expansions on the 450-parcel. It also allows the city to bring passive recreation and hiking-biking trails into the area throughout the parcel.
She said construction is expected to begin mid-January with a target completion date of late spring 2020.
The new park will include four lighted baseball fields and four multi-purpose fields, a fishing lake, dog park, pickle ball courts and picnic ramadas.
The agreement has an initial term of 25 years that may be renewed for up to three additional 25-year terms upon the city’s request and the flood district board’s approval.
Peoria may propose and construct trails connecting the park to existing city maintained trails on West Wing Mountain, which can be accomplished through future contracts, according to the agreement.
The agreement also states the flood control district will provide no funding for any capital improvements or future operating costs, and the city must pay all district plan review, permitting and inspection fees for any capital improvements.
Other provisions of the agreement include:
The safety and function of the New River Dam facilities must be maintained throughout the life of the dam.
Any revenues from any source on the parcel must be used by Peoria exclusively for operations and maintenance of the improvements and to benefit programs and capital projects on the land.
Final cultural investigations on the site to obtain the necessary federal, state, and tribal clearances have been completed. The cultural investigations yielded no unanticipated, project impeding findings, according to a city report.
Ms. Stein said the majority of the permits for the park have been issued.
In June, Peoria City Council approved a $34.4 million contract for construction of the park to Gilbert-based Hunter Contracting Co.
