Naranja Park
NARANJA PARK
In November 2020, the Town opened the first playground - in roughly 10 years - at Naranja Park. This was a priority of the Winfield team elected in 2018 as “Playgrounds & play structures” ranked as the number one requested amenity in the 2014 statistically valid Parks Survey. That request was ignored by the former Hiremath Council who chose to acquire the golf courses that ranked next to last (33 out of 34) on the survey. A half-cent sales tax was implemented in 2014 to fund the acquisition, operations & maintenance of the Community Center, tennis & golf courses. By September 2021, nearly $13M in half-cent sales tax revenue had been dedicated to these facilities.
A Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment was conducted in the Winter of 2020 to help determine the future vision of parks, facilities, and programs in Oro Valley. Comprehensive master planning followed.
The Master Plan update was presented to Council on March 17, 2021. It included a preliminary project priority list with a $40,650,000 price tag. Council recommended reducing the project priority list to reach a Town commitment of approximately $25 million. The Plan was not adopted but would be used as a reference in selecting park amenities.
In April 2021 Council held a public hearing to discuss broadening the use of the dedicated half-cent sales tax beyond Community Center/Golf purposes.
In May 2021, Council voted to broaden the use of half-cent sales tax revenue. They also voted to include bond financing for Capital Projects using the sales tax revenue that exceeds the amount needed to operate the town owned golf courses, Community Center & Tennis.
On September 22, 2021 Council voted (Solomon & Green opposed) to issue $25 M in Parks & Recreation revenue bonds at a low interest rate. The bonds will be paid for with a portion of the existing half-cent sales tax revenue (no property tax & no sales tax increase).
The Groundbreaking was held May 31, 2022.
The half-cent sales tax revenue now funds projects that benefit the entire community instead of dedicating millions of dollars to facilities used by only a small subset of town residents & outside play golfers.
In November 2022, Council approved a revised, value-engineered plan for the Naranja Park Expansion Project and other recreational projects that more closely met the allocated budget. Costs had increased 65%, primarily due to an inflationary 30-40% increase in construction material cost.
Projects are anticipated to be completed within three years.
HISTORY
ACQUISITION
Oro Valley acquired the 173-acre site from the State in 2000. It was combined with the 40-acre Copper Creek Ridge Park (acquired in 1996) to complete the Naranja Town Site regional park. The site was previously used as a sand & gravel pit & large portions were disturbed by this prior use.
PREVIOUS PLANNING PROJECTS
In 2002 the Town prepared a master plan for the site. This plan was updated in 2007. These plans called for the development of various recreational, cultural, and community facilities. In 2008 a bond was proposed (secondary property tax) that would have provided $53 million for the initial development of the park. The bond proposal was rejected by the residents of Oro Valley by a 60:40 margin.
In 2013, Council agreed to move forward with a "pay as you go" plan of $2.3 million. The plan included bringing utilities to the site and construction of a dog park with separate areas/entrances for small and large dogs with a ramada in each area; two multi-sport fields with turf borders and lighting; and a chip-sealed parking lot.
In 2017, however, the Town brought forth a $17 million general obligation bond proposal (that equated to a $28M property tax) for a partial buildout of Naranja Park. The plan called for new fields and other amenities, but hid the Event Center for a later phase. OV voters rejected it by a 71:29 margin.
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