There is no crack of the bat on a baseball field, no laughter as children play on swings or teeter-totters in some of the Valley's newer neighborhoods, no grunts from a two-handed backhand on a tennis court, no families huddled under the shade of a ramada for a picnic.
Valley cities delay, re-evaluate parks plans
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Plans to create parks, often the recreational lifeblood of a community, have stalled as the recession continues to exert economic pressure on municipal budgets across metro Phoenix.
New parks that were added to budget wish lists in more optimistic times have yet to be built. More parks, or improvements to existing parks, languish, especially on the fringes of several Valley municipalities, depriving newer residents of soccer fields, playgrounds and healthy green space.
Phoenix has 28 yet-to-be developed park sites, mostly in Laveen, northeast Phoenix and northwest Phoenix. Chandler's plans for eight new parks are on hold. Scottsdale has land set aside for four parks that it cannot develop until the economy improves. Surprise's plan for new parks is on hold for at least another year, maybe two.
Parks are more than a quality-of-life amenity. Although they often are among the first budget cuts by cash-strapped municipalities, parks can be beneficial not only to the well-being of residents but also for the bottom line of communities.
"We believe that parks and recreation are really one of our most important public trusts and are essential to quality of life on so many levels," said Lauren Hoffmann of the National Recreation and Park Association, a Virginia-based organization dedicated to advancing parks, recreation and environmental conservation.
Four out of five people use a local park at least once a year, according to association research.
"They nourish us physically, spiritually and mentally and provide such an incredible value to communities across the country," Hoffmann said.
Parks and recreation facilities are among the factors businesses consider when looking to relocate. And parks provide an economic boost in small ways, such as sales taxes and jobs connected to the purchase of sporting goods and recreational equipment and in greater ways, including boosting tourism.
The Outdoor Industry Association estimates the annual economic impact of outdoor recreation nationally is $730 billion, most of that associated with local parks and public land.
The downturn in the economy did not diminish the need for public parks and other recreational facilities. In fact, that need is even greater during tough times, according to Kirk Haines, Peoria parks manager.
"Quite frankly, during the slowdown, people weren't traveling and doing a lot of vacationing," Haines said. "They were spending more time at home because they couldn't afford to go out and do different things.
"The pressure was on to provide services and make sure we kept up things like our library hours, for example, not just parks."
Shrinking funds
As property values and sales-tax revenue declined over the past five years and less money went into municipalities' general funds, cities were forced to cut budgets. To cover core services such as police and fire, lower priorities such as parks became expendable.
Chandler's 2008-09 budget called for construction of nine parks. All but one remain on hold indefinitely.
Among the casualties is Mesquite Groves, a 100-acre regional park near Riggs Road and Val Vista Drive. Chandler has the land for it. An aquatics center opened in 2008, but ball fields, a lake, an amphitheater and other amenities still exist only in drawings.
Chandler resident Patricia Edquist, who lives near the proposed site of Mesquite Groves Regional Park, understands the budget constraints but wishes the park would open soon.
"We could use more parks around here," Edquist said. "Tumbleweed Park (7 miles away) is really the only place around here for the kids. It would be great if they could build another one."
Scottsdale has put its plans for new parks on hold, as well, including two in the DC Ranch area, Desert Mountain Park and Whisper Rock Park.
Valley parks that have been delayed run the gamut: from smaller, neighborhood parks that would provide playgrounds or places to play basketball or soccer to large regional parks that include amenities such as urban lakes, amphitheaters and hiking trails.
The shrinking budgets caused community parks departments instead to focus on maintenance of existing parks and recreation facilities. This strategy benefits residents in established neighborhoods, but people in newer neighborhoods on the outskirts of municipalities must wait.
"It's maintain what you have and explain to the citizens the situation we're in," said Mickey Ohland, Chandler's park development and operations manager.
"Everybody understands the economic downturn and how it's affected the city. It's affected their budgets, as well."
Phoenix parks and preserve Administrator Cynthia Peters said the silver lining is that it helps the city catch up on maintenance.
"We're able to fix some things that have been broken for a long time, and we don't have to compete with new development," Peters said. "We're able to actually do some studies in terms of what our future needs are. We're able to plan, whereas before, we were just trying to catch up with the new growth."
Parks directors said the recession slowed anticipated growth in many outlying areas, in turn easing the demand for new parks.
Chandler resident Steve Johnson, who regularly visits the aquatic center at Mesquite Groves, said he would visit a regional park if it was built, but he isn't concerned if it doesn't come.
"I think there are plenty of parks," Johnson said.
Relief is on the way
The Valley is richly blessed with parks, from large regional oases with their lakes, riparian areas, miniature railroads, water-play features and trails that offer a wide range of recreation opportunities, to nationally renowned large-scale parks like Phoenix South Mountain and Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Mountain preserves, and small community spaces in mature neighborhoods. But the need for more never diminishes.
And although many municipalities still have their park plans on hold, there are signs of relief on the horizon as an uptick in the economy improves revenue.
Peoria continued to build parks through the economic downturn. Scotland Yard, a neighborhood park, opened this month, and the city began construction of the $20 million Pioneer Park in June, which is scheduled to open in fall 2013.
Dust Devil Park, at 107th Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix, opens this fall, and Chandler will begin construction on its Roadrunner neighborhood park in the next year.
The Maricopa County parks system has plans to develop a 110-square-mile recreation area around the Vulture Mountains in the far northwest Valley. The $29 million, 30-year project would be the first large-scale county park project since the 1990s.
Mesa voters in November will consider a $70 million bond issue that would fund park construction and renovation.
Scottsdale is reviewing parks and other projects as it determines whether to ask its residents to consider a similar bond issue.
Municipalities recognize the need to offer recreational opportunities and outdoor space to their residents, and they're keeping their fingers crossed that they finally may move forward with stalled projects soon.
"Some day, they will be built," said Ohland, the Chandler parks manager. "We just have to let the economy turn around ... so we can build them."
Valley cities delay, re-evaluate parks plans >>
