City, Sierra Vista schools work on joint park project

By Katie Evans
Herald/Review
Published/Last Modified on Monday, Dec 01, 2008 - 03:07:12 pm MST

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SIERRA VISTA — In what both sides are calling a win-win situation, the city of Sierra Vista and the Sierra Vista school district are working on a joint venture that would turn about 50 acres of land into a community park.

The land is located behind Joyce Clark Middle School and Town and Country Elementary School, bumping up to Seventh Street. The city owns about 10 to 15 acres of the land, while the school district owns the rest.

This plan has been a possibility for years, but it’s just now starting to take shape.

Assistant City Manager Mary Jacobs said the catalyst, from the city’s perspective, to begin pursuing the project again was the difficulty in purchasing land adjacent to its ball fields.

“It continues to be a challenge,” Jacobs said. “The thought (of teaming with the school district) just kind of came up within the last three months.

“We think there’s a huge opportunity there.”

While ball fields would be a given at the site, Jacobs and Superintendent Brett Agenbroad said public input would be a must in deciding how to develop the land.

Jacobs said the city would take over maintenance of the park, including paying to build it, planning some sort of a long-term lease with the school district for its portion of the land.

“The school’s investment is basically not charging for the land,” she said.

Any idea of when the project would start is unknown at the moment, Jacobs said. With the city trying to tighten the belt on its budget over the next few years, the City Council has requested that the project wait until February when they plan to reevaluate their strategic plan, so they can make sure it’s a feasible project economically.

The project is anticipated to cost $750,000 just to construct the ball fields, said Parks and Leisure Director John Startt.

“We are as anxious as the school district (to develop the land),” Jacobs said. “But we are about quality.”

Agenbroad said he feels this project is an example of how “government and state agencies ought to work.”

“I think it’s great,” he said, describing the project as a win-win situation for people in the community, in addition to the school district and city.

The school district would be able to use the park during school hours for its students, he said. In addition, the city would work closely with the school district to schedule extracurricular games.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for the city and school district to work together,” he said.

Herald/Review reporter Katie Evans can be reached at 515-4611 or by e-mail at katie.evans@svherald.com.

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Maybe Im confused wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:37 PM:

" Sounds like a good deal to me, the school gets a ballfield and recreation area to use and the city maintains it. Is this what the article says? If so then great. The school doesn't need more money to keep the place up and the kids get a place to run some of the excess energy off. Now all the vice principals can be gotten rid of and teachers rehired!! "

Another view wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:12 PM:

" Ball fields means big ugly light poles. Lights means electricity. Can the schools even afford to pay those bills? So long to dark skies. Those darn things will probably be on until midnight 7 days a week the way it is on the bypass right now. A nice place to picnic and a walking path or running track would cost less and be much better for everyone involved. "

areyoukiddingme wrote on Dec 2, 2008 11:52 AM:

" So the city is building the park, maintaining it, and leasing the land? the school district is making off like fat rats. Dont we have a park on south 7th st already "

Budget Overrider wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:50 AM:

" We DO get it "School Marm"...as mentioned in the article this IS NOT a land sale. It would be revenue generated from a rental fee...it is the same concept that take place when the community "rents" the Buena Performing Arts Center (PAC)from the school district. "

Great idea wrote on Dec 2, 2008 7:08 AM:

" I'd love to see another park in Sierra Vista. In particular, I'd love to see a walk/run/skate path or track. Right now, the only such path I know of is in Tomkins Park, but it is small. I like the idea of a dog area with dog owners doing the clean up. A couple of basketball courts would be nice, but leave room for places for picnics and kite flying. My only concern is security so that deviants don't ruin it at night! "

School Marm wrote on Dec 1, 2008 9:59 PM:

" School Districts in Arizona are prohibited by law from making additional money from the sale of land. Land sale money cannot be used in the Maintenance and Operations budget. Any money added to this budget results in a reduction in state money. Therefore, school districts cannot generate additional money without a budget override. Check this out with the Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Department of Revenue or other agencies. You guys just don't get it! "

momofJCMSstudent wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:45 PM:

" Too bad the district couldn't cough up the money before...JCMS looks pitiful in comparison to the other middle school in SV. JCMS does not have a field that is actually playable! There is no football team at the school due to the fact that the school doesn't have enough equipment to support one! Sad! Compare the two middle schools and you tell me who has it better! Who made the decision to give Apache nice things and leave JCMS students in the cold? "

Budget Overide wrote on Dec 1, 2008 3:13 PM:

" So the School District is not charging for the land...but is extremely upset that the budget override did not pass. Seems to me there is a great opportunity to collect some of that revenue the school board says they are losing. How did the School Board approve and let this lost opportunity happen and then berate the public like Ms. Debra Scott did? I guess we need a change in the school board. "