The Creekwalk may be built and the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park may be completed sooner as the city of Sedona scrambles to comply with requirements attached to approximately $650,000 it received from the state for the Sedona Cultural Park.

The Creekwalk may be built and the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park may be completed sooner as the city of Sedona scrambles to comply with requirements attached to approximately $650,000 it received from the state for the Sedona Cultural Park.

Sedona City Manager Eric Levitt drafted a letter to be sent to Arizona State Parks by the end of the week to fulfill the city’s obligation for the Sedona Heritage Cultural Park Grant.

Sedona City Council voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 11, to transfer the obligation to other parks if Arizona State Parks agrees to the deal.

Levitt said he’s proposing that the city contribute a combined amount of $1 million to construction of the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park and the Creekwalk along Oak Creek.

The Heritage Cultural Park Grant stipulates the money must be used for a place open to the public.

Since the Sedona Cultural Park shut down in summer 2003, the city has been out of compliance for four years.

All the grant money given to the city was used to develop the site as it is today. Approximately $600,000 was used to build the amphitheater and parking lot. The remaining money was used to build a trail system.

“There is no money left,” Levitt said.

Arizona State Parks told the city it needs to address the situation. It gave the city three options — pay back the $650,000, restore the Sedona Cultural Park with substantial progress made by Saturday, Dec. 30, or purchase and develop new open space equal to or greater in value.

Levitt didn’t recommend any of the Arizona State Parks’ options to council.

If council decided to pay Arizona State Parks back for the grant, the entire amount would have to come from the general fund, according to Levitt. By using the money for other parks, the city gains a little wiggle room.

“It wouldn’t all come from the general fund,” Levitt said. Money from the general fund, capital fund and parks and recreation development impact fees — such as those the city will now receive after council decided not to accept creek-front property in lieu of fees for the Cole Sedona

Preserve — could be used.

Restoration of the cultural park by the December deadline isn’t an option either because the city doesn’t own the property and never has.

Fitch Industries is in escrow with Sathcupa for the property, which it plans to develop to include the amphitheater, a retail village and possibly a resort and conference facility.

Monty Fitch, of Fitch Industries, said Wednesday, Sept. 12, that Fitch Industries will close escrow Thursday, Sept. 27.

Instead of putting the money into a new development, Levitt recommended council use the money for projects already in the works.

Friends of the Posse Grounds already raised a portion of the projected approximately $600,000 needed for the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park to be built at Posse Grounds Park.

Levitt suggested council help  the group out with a contribution, while helping itself by fulfilling its obligation to the state.

The Creekwalk is a project the city has conceptual drawings for but hasn’t been able to allocate funds to build.

The creekwalk entails construction of a pathway along Oak Creek in Uptown to allow residents and visitors to enjoy a Sedona jewel.

Arizona State Parks officials haven’t agreed to allow the obligation to transfer to other city projects, but said they would consider it.

Trista Steers can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 129, or tsteers@larsonnewspapers.com