Oro Valley Town Council voted to approve $25 million in bond financing for various Parks and Recreation improvements. This is not a voter-approved bond that adds property taxes to cover the repayment. Rather, the cost for repayment of these bonds is in included in the sales taxes the Town already collects. More than half of the $25 million bond will be used to add amenities in Naranja Park, which were identified by the community in the recent parks master planning process. Click here to view a Case Study(PDF, 704KB) conducted regarding this project. The bond will also fund projects at the Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center and expand Oro Valley’s quality multiuse path system.
The projects are anticipated to be completed over the next three years. As conceptual plans and the park bond continue to be finalized, details and timelines about each specific project are subject to change. Be sure to check this website often for updates, as it will be updated regularly once projects begin.
At its November 16 meeting, Town Council approved a revised, value-engineered plan for the Naranja Park Expansion Project and other recreational projects that more closely meets the allocated budget. The Town is excited to announce that the plan still includes skate/bike amenities that will be built on the north end of the park, a splash pad, four pickleball courts and two new multi-use fields. The dog park will remain in its current location. Click here for more details on the value-engineered plan(PDF, 130KB).
Naranja Park Site Access Map
Other Resources
Week of May 22 construction update
Haydon crews continue to work completing the electrical installation, concrete work around the fields and flattening the field sand. The booster pump yard construction is fully underway for irrigation piping and electrical duct banks. The final plans for the park improvements have been received and are currently in permitting. Staff expects this final piece to be under contract in May. Construction continues on GMP 4 construction of fields 5 & 6 and GMP 5 utility improvements to install duct banks, water lines and irrigation for the improvements. The park improvements are on schedule and anticipating a grand opening in Spring 2024.
Week of May 15 construction update
This week’s update includes the photo on the left of the construction crews patching the asphalt over the utility crossing shown last week near the dog park. The photo on the right shows the Haydon crew continuing to spread the sand on the fields and in the background, the electrical subcontractor installing conduits for electrical feeds.
Naranja Park Expansion Details
The bond will bring more ways for Oro Valley to play at Naranja Park! As part of the bond proposal, additional multi-sport field are expected to be added to the four already at the park. Pickleball courts and basketball courts are also planned.
The site plan presented to the public on April 6 will require areas of the park to be raised or lowered to establish field elevations and level areas for the buildings, ramadas and amenities to be built. The initial contract will include the mass grading and a second component, the walkway improvements between Fields 1-2 and 3-4. The walkway improvements project includes a 12-foot meandering sidewalk and shade structures with turnouts for food trucks.
Families can look forward to cooling down at the Naranja Park splash pad. This would be the second splash pad in Oro Valley; the first splash pad is at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center.
The bond is expected to bring two first-of-its-kind amenities to Oro Valley – a Bike and Skate Park tailored to all wheel sports (bikes, skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades) which will highlight a pump track, which is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden by pumping the body (instead of pedaling or pushing) to gain momentum.
Here are some other upgrades expected to come to Naranja Park:
- Paved paths
- Ramadas
- Restrooms
- Associated Infrastructure
Tennis and Pickleball Court Renovation
The project is complete.
Golf Course Irrigation Replacement Projects
Conquistador Golf Course irrigation replacement
Installation work on the El Conquistador Irrigation system has been completed.
Cañada Golf Course irrigation replacement
Start April 25, 2023
End October 2023
The La Cañada Golf Course Irrigation System Replacement and Cart Path Rehabilitation will begin on April 25, 2023. The course will be closed to facilitate construction of a new irrigation system. The irrigation and cart path improvements will involve replacement of existing irrigation pipe as well as cart path rehabilitation in proximity to the La Cañada Golf Course.
Community Center parking lot
Another improvement project at the Community Center will be the reconfiguration of the Community Center parking lot. According to Parks and Recreation’s Master Plan, the reconfiguration of the parking lot will increase the number of stalls by 40%, replace the entry and parking lot surface and add additional shade trees in the area.
Start Summer 2023
End TBA
The following multiuse paths are expected to be constructed:
- La Cañada Drive between Lambert Lane and Naranja Drive
- Naranja Drive between La Cañada Drive and Naranja Park entry
- Cañada del Oro (CDO) Wash to James D. Kriegh Park
Multiuse Paths Updates
On November 17, 2021, Oro Valley Town Council authorized and approved an agreement with the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to fund the design and construction of the La Cañada Drive multiuse path between Lambert Lane and Naranja Drive. The agreement adds an additional $420,000 to the previously approved $25 million in bond financing for various Parks and Recreation improvements.
It should be noted that this agreement only funds this specific multiuse path. Because of the supplemental funding, the monies that would have been used on this project can now be distributed to other park-related projects.
The order in which project construction is anticipated to begin and end has been tentatively planned as follows, subject to execution of contracts with qualified firms:
Naranja Park (this will be phased with some elements opening sooner than others)
Start May 31, 2022
End Fall 2024
Conquistador Golf Course irrigation replacement
Start May 2022
End October 2022
Cañada Golf Course irrigation replacement
Start April 25, 2023
End October 2023
Community Center Tennis and Pickleball Courts
Start May 2022
End October 2022
Community Center Parking Lot Reconfiguration
Start Summer 2023
End TBA
La Cañada Drive multiuse path
Start April 2022
End July 2022
Naranja Drive multiuse path
Start July 2022
End December 2022
CDO Wash multiuse path
Start TBD
End TBD
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was completed and presented to the Town Council in May 2021. The plan was the culmination of an 18-month process that began in September 2019 and included significant community input and engagement. The development of the plan was part of the Council’s Strategic Leadership Plan goal, which states, “Invest in and maintain a high-quality parks, recreation and trail system that is accessible, comprehensive, connected and serves the community’s needs.” The plan will serve as a guide for investments in parks and recreation amenities and programs for the next ten years.
On May 5, 2021, the Town Council voted to broaden the use of the half-cent sales tax originally dedicated to support the operation of the Town’s golf courses, community center, tennis courts and related amenities, to include construction of other parks and recreation facilities. This change led to the Council authorizing $25 million in bond financing for a variety of parks and recreation projects paid from this restricted fund, while continuing to support the golf courses and community center facilities and programs. The bond will be repaid through sales taxes the Town already collects. No property or sales tax increases will be required.
On July 7, 2021, the Town Council voted to have the Naranja Park, Community and Recreation Center, and multiuse path projects funded by the $25 million bond financing. Since this is a multi-year initiative, if additional funds are needed to complete the list of projects, the Town Council will be presented with further funding requests during the annual budget process. On September 22, 2021, the Town Council voted to issue the $25 million in bonds.
How was data gathered for the master plan?
The Parks and Recreation master plan project included two phases – a Needs Assessment and development of a Comprehensive Master Plan. The Needs Assessment, completed in the spring of 2020, identified community needs to create a foundation for future development of recreational facilities and opportunities for the Town over the next 10 years. The data-driven Assessment included a review of current park facilities and amenities. The assessment used various community gathering methods from user groups, stakeholders, Town staff and residents. The data was gathered using in-person meetings, opportunities to comment online or by email and a statistically valid survey.
Phase II, the Comprehensive Master Plan, included technical analyses of the current park facilities and program offerings through level of service standards and geographical analysis, as well as operational and connectivity reviews. The consultant team prepared a capital improvement plan, as well as presenting funding and revenue strategies to achieve the plan’s goals. Phase II also was refined through Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Town Council and community input. The final plan was presented to Town Council in May 2021.