“The Sandlot may be a good movie, but playing on one is not so great”
– Pima Mayor Brian Paull
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Town of Pima has $1.8 million in grant money to use at its recreation complex next to the Vard Lines Memorial Roping Arena at 1200 South and W. 800 South, and the Pima Town Council is whittling down what it feels are the town’s priorities – especially lighting and better playing fields.
The council received an update Tuesday night regarding the future of the community recreation park, made possible by a grant from the Arizona State Parks and Trails Heritage Fund. The grant was initially used to resurface the Pima Pool last year, and the remaining funds can only be used to improve the existing park property. The $1.8 million is expected to be used to transform underused dirt fields and outdated facilities into a multi-use recreation center with grassy playing fields.
Joe Jarvis, a municipal consultant with more than 15 years of experience (including stints as the Springerville Town Manager and Assistant Town Manager in Snowflake and Taylor), presented a detailed roadmap for the project with assistance from the council.
While Jarvis joked that there would be “No gold-plated backstops,” the project would deliver practical, high-value upgrades rather than luxury items. “This is very doable within the budget you have,” he said.
Jarvis outlined potential improvements to the recreation site, and the council members refined the priority list during a workshop-style presentation.
Council members noted that their top priorities were improved lighting, better fencing, permanent seating, updated restrooms, and high-quality field grass.
Council Member and soccer coach Lucas Hoopes said he would like to see the focus on the grass shift to the playing fields themselves, rather than throughout the property.
Mayor Brian Paull echoed that sentiment for the baseball/softball fields as well.
“The Sandlot may be a good movie, but playing on one is not so great”, Mayor Paull said.
Town Manager Vernon Batty proposed covered areas with picnic tables to encourage use for birthday parties and other similar gatherings, as offered at other municipalities’ parks.
Key proposed improvements discussed Tuesday night include:
- New sports field lighting to extend playable hours year-round
- Expanded and modernized restroom facilities (a frequent request from parents and coaches)
- A new concession stand
- Permanent bleachers and soccer goals to eliminate the need to drive heavy equipment across grass fields
- Improved playground with shade structures and possible protective fencing
- Enhanced security measures, including cameras and vandalism-resistant fixtures
- Better fencing to keep out dirt bikes, ATVs, and unauthorized vehicles
- Potential splash pad (added to the wish list during public discussion)
- Designated parking guidance and crushed-granite perimeter paths for accessibility
- Focused turf management to create high-quality playing surfaces rather than watering large unused areas
- Strategic drainage improvements to protect new investments from monsoon damage
Hoopes highlighted ongoing issues with vehicles tearing up new turf and requested permanent bleacher pads so equipment no longer has to be driven onto the fields. He also stressed that better fencing would help quell repeated damage from off-road vehicles.
Moving forward, the town will next hire a landscape architect to create professional renderings and an engineer to handle the electrical, water, and civil design work. The town will also determine whether to bid out the entire project or break it into separate items to allow local bidders who may not be able to take on the whole project.
Construction must be completed by July 2027 to meet grant deadlines. Jarvis expressed confidence that the timeline is achievable and noted there is sufficient time to complete the design and bidding phases properly.
Look to have a vastly different recreational complex near the roping arena by the summer of 2027.
