It’s been more than five years since the city purchased land on Brewer Road in anticipation of someday turning it into a park.
Since then little has been done, but that was known going in. When the Sedona City Council approved the purchase, the idea was to secure the land, but it was unknown when the funding would become available to build it out to include amenities like a walking path, picnic area, pickleball courts and historic interpretive information.
In the meantime the city, including the Historic Preservation Commission, has continued to look at ways to refurbish the historic buildings.
“As is to be expected, two historic structures require regular maintenance and repair, as does any structure,” Assistant Community Development Director Warren Campbell said this time last year. “The age of the structures and their designation as national landmarks increases the need for proper maintenance and repair on a regular basis. Thus far the city has focused projects to prevent the degradation of the properties.”
In 2014 the city purchased 3.4 acres on which the ranger station and other buildings currently sit. The property includes the historic Forest Service Ranger Station house, built in 1917, and barn, which was constructed in 1934. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Work at the park in recent years has included:
- 2017: Hazardous material was removed from the site, one building and three sheds were removed, and Phase 1 of the master plan was designed. This phase included utility improvements, a new parking lot, restrooms, a lawn, playground and central seating areas.
- 2018: Underground utilities were installed for the site, and rough grading was completed for a large area of the site, including the area of the future lawn.
- 2019: Minor repairs were completed on the Ranger Station residence including repairs to the porch, deck and doors.
- Current fiscal year: $250,000 was budgeted for exterior repairs to the Ranger Station residence and barn structures. The city is currently preparing an improvement project for bidding, which will include these exterior repairs.
As for next fiscal year, City Engineer Andy Dickey said city staff anticipates completing the interior repairs needed for the structures. And as the city develops the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget, city staff will further refine when other improvements will be made for the property.
To date, the property has been used for additional parking for events in the area. This has allowed parking to occur close to where it was needed, within walking distance, reducing interactive trips and volume of traffic.
“We also allowed city projects occurring near the property to stage equipment and materials in the area that was rough graded,” Dickey said. “This saved the city costs that would have been incurred if the contractors had to stage in an area needing to be leased.”
In addition, costs were saved by allowing nearby city project fill material to be delivered to the site, free of charge and within a short haul distance. This saved city funds by reducing export haul distance and acquiring needed fill material that would have otherwise required hauling from a distance much further away.
“While the city has used the property on occasion for convenience and cost-saving purposes, in the upcoming fiscal year, we look forward to continuing to bring to life the vision of the Ranger Station Master Plan and making this property the community asset we know it will be,” Dickey said.
