SAFFORD — The work by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee was so thorough, the Safford City Council wants to know how fast can the plans be implemented.
During its most recent meeting, the council heard the committee’s recommendations and Councilman Arnold Lopez wanted to know which are “shovel ready.”
“We have projects in the pipeline now that we can begin work on, like El Paso. There are alterations we can make in Firth Park as well,” said City Manager John Cassella. “Then these other projects, obviously, would be longer term.”
Recommendations for Firth Park are relatively minor, including moving the playground equipment and shade structure from the rear of the park to the front, repair the shade sails at the pool and install a sign.
The committee suggested a few additions to the already approved El Paso Park plans, including additions of parent-child swings to the playground area, more ADA-compliant equipment and either relocation or removal of a proposed dog park in favor of more green space for children. The park is also proposed to have a splash pad and zip line.
Cassella said the committee’s proposals for a park at 10th Avenue and 10th Street — which would focus on amenities for middle- and high school-aged children — and a family-centric park at 8th Avenue and Discovery Park Boulevard that would have space for food vendors as well as an amphitheater, would be addressed during 2022-23 budget talks, which have just started.
“I just didn’t want to be dragging our feet. It’s taken to six months to get to here and the weather’s starting to come up where we can do things,” Lopez said.
Cassella added that the city has funds from the American Recovery Plan, for which parks are an approved expenditure. It would be up to the council how and where to use that money.
