| AGENDA ITEM #: 8. DATE: 05/24/2021 AI #:288 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | AMENDMENT TO THE 2014 PARKS, RECREATION, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Nathan Torres, Parks and Recreation Director |
SUMMARY
This amendment encourages equitable access of parks and recreation facilities by exploring the acquisition of a 16 +/- acre site located at the southeast intersection of S. Wood Boulevard and W. Lower Buckeye Parkway (adjacent to the Goodyear Spring Training facilities) for the purpose of developing a special use park to include two ball fields and one ball field designed specifically for special needs accommodations.
Recommendation
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this amendment. Should the land acquisition be pursued, acquisition and development costs will be identified and presented to City Council at a future date.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
On July 14, 2014, City Council adopted the Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide strategies and operational policies to best meet the needs of current and future residents. The plan was developed through a highly interactive process involving public forums, stakeholder meetings, surveys, site evaluations, benchmarks to like communities, meetings with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission as well as the General Plan Committee.
STAFF ANALYSIS
This amendment to the 2014 Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan achieves the following:
- Encourages equitable access of parks and recreation facilities by exploring the acquisition of the 16 +/- acre site located at the southeast intersection of S. Wood Blvd. and W. Lower Buckeye Pkwy (north edge of the Goodyear Spring Training facilities) for the purpose of developing a special use park to include two ball fields and one ball field designed specifically for special need accommodations.
- Development of this 16-acre site, immediately adjacent to the spring training facilities, allows Goodyear to capitalize on shared resources (operations, tournament planning, parking, maintenance, etc.). Using this parcel to co-locate similar facilities (ball fields) allows Goodyear to meet growing local demand as well as expand regional and national tournament facilitation opportunities. Development of this site also capitalizes on the identity of the area as a sports venue and leverages the existing development south and northeast of the site, which includes sports-oriented retail and dining uses.
- Enhances equity by increasing the acres of park space and number of ball fields available to Goodyear residents.
- Supports retail and restaurant related uses at the Goodyear Ballpark by increasing the potential size of the market taking advantage of these businesses.
- Responds to recently approved and planned increases in densities around the ballpark area by providing additional recreation facilities thus increasing community enhancement.
- Continues implementation of the adopted City of Goodyear General Plan (2025) and the Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space Master Plan (2014).
- Protects the Goodyear Airport from noise-sensitive development.
- Buffers central Goodyear residents from future industrial development associated with the Goodyear Airport.