The city of Sedona closed its Sedona Cultural Park survey on Sunday, Jan. 19. The city is referring to the area as the Western Gateway, although several residents contacted us to ask if they had the correct survey about the Sedona Cultural Park, given that those words appear nowhere in the survey itself, and even if just to clarify that the city is referring to the area by a name different than what residents have called it for more than 27 years.

The city of Sedona and Sedona City Council initially said when purchasing the 41-acre park for more than $23 million that the city had no official plans for the site, but the goal that they stated later was to use the site for more housing options. Residents agreed with them in the first survey completed in October, so with housing already the top interest, it was omitted from the second survey.

The first question asked if residents wanted to see a “civic center plaza/park,” “community park” or “neighborhood or pocket park” and gave definitions for each.

While any park would be a benefit and likely, given the other options, residents have long complained that Sedona has no “city center.” Uptown is a shopping district, City Hall is not really a gathering place and while Posse Grounds is often the center of public events, it is half a mile off State Route 89A and, as many will attest, parking gets limited very soon for any big public or private event.

The next proposed element was a recreation center.

Verde Valley residents have long praised the Cottonwood Recreation Center, which includes a gym, indoor pool and basketball space often used for public events, all adjacent to the Cottonwood Public Library, the Yavapai County complex and a popular kid-friendly city park.

However, this was where the survey began to inject loaded questions: “Do you support future city expenditures for a recreation center that could result in increased taxes?” using phrasing conspicuously absent from the previous question about a park.

Firstly, Sedona has no property tax, so unless the city is thinking about imposing one to build a recreation center, it’s odd, to say the least, to mention it here.

Secondly, when arguing with Sedona residents on social media, current and former Sedona City Council members and mayors are all too happy to point out that tourists fund 78% of Sedona’s budget through their sales taxes. So if a new recreation center were to cost $50 million, Sedona residents’ tax burden would only be $11 million, with tourists paying the other $39 million through their spending.

While that’s substantial, certainly, it’s less than half what the city spent to buy the land in the first place and — it should be noted — council did not ask residents then, “Do you support future city expenditures to buy the Sedona Cultural Park from a private owner that could result in increased taxes?” Council just bought it.

Thirdly, council voted to make a “temporary” Sedona in Motion sales tax permanent without resident input.

The third proposed element is an amphitheater. The survey suggests that a new venue with around 5,000 seats would cost between $12 million and $64 million, citing facilities in Illinois, Texas and Florida. However, the original Sedona Cultural Park architects, Dan Jensvold and Stephen Thompson, who toured the site in 2023 — the story is here on our website: “Engineers say Frontiere Pavilion good for at least 50 more years — stated renovations to make the existing structure usable would cost $3 million to $5 million.

They built the structure to survive for 50 years and, while it has been left derelict for 25 years, the venue is still salvageable, certainly if the city is really looking to keep costs low, as the leading questions suggest.

It took the city nearly 20 years to build the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park and the Posse Grounds Pavilion, which included a collapse of the original structure.

By the time the stage opened, there were few residents who still remembered Antonsen or what difference she made in Sedona. If the city is going to move forward with an amphitheater, it would be nice if my twin toddlers could see a show there before they head off to college.

This segment of the survey, too, featured the loaded question, “Do you support future city expenditures for an amphitheater that could result in increased taxes?” The final proposed element, transit parking, which the city appears to want for the new microtransit program and proposed new bus system, very conspicuously does not include the caveat “could result in increased taxes.” Either the city expects this city transit parking lot will be built for free or the substantial costs for a parking lot, waiting area or possible indoor structure to stave off the cold or inclement weather is a cost residents are all too happy to pay.

The Western Gateway master planning process public meeting has been pushed back from Thursday, Feb. 6, to a tentative date of Wednesday, Feb. 19. We will publish the details when confirmed.

We hope residents attend, see the results from the survey and map out the future of the Sedona Cultural Park parcels — sorry, Western Gateway.

Questions asked in PlanSedona’s second survey on the Western Gateway (Sedona Cultural Park)

Introduction: The purpose of the Western Gateway Master Plan is to determine future land uses for the 41-acre property. Given the public input from the October public workshops to the November survey, we now have a picture of the general elements to include in the master plan (as listed below). This survey is focused on what community amenities to include in the plan.

Note: There are no required questions to complete the survey, so feel free to skip questions – just be sure to scroll to the bottom and click SUBMIT when you are ready. 

Proposed Element: City Parks

This planning process has shown strong support for a community or neighborhood park at the Western Gateway. We would like to gain a better understanding of what type of park amenities you would like to see at the Western Gateway.1. Would you like to see a city park at the Western Gateway?YesNo

Characteristics of Three Park Types Civic Center Plaza/Park: A central gathering space for social activities that serves the city as a whole It can be a place to meet up with friends or small groups; or host small community events (markets, festivals, etc.) Examples: Flagstaff Heritage Square, Flagstaff Wheeler Park, Prescott Courthouse Plaza, Prescott Valley Civic Center Park Community Park: A park for social, recreation and fitness activities that can serve the city as a whole Possible amenities: playgrounds, multi-purpose fields, courts, walking paths, community/shared gardens, picnic tables and ramadas Neighborhood or Pocket Park: A small family-focused park serving neighborhoods within walking distance Possible amenities: playgrounds, multi-purpose field, basketball court, picnic tables

2. What type of park would you like to see at the Western Gateway?

• Civic center park
• Community park
• Neighborhood park

Do you have any comments about a city park at the Western Gateway?

Proposed Element: Recreation Center

Public input showed strong support for a recreation center. For reference, the following are examples of recreation centers in Arizona.

Recreation Center Examples	Construction Date or Date of Estimate	Construction Costs or Cost Estimate	Size and Amenities
Marana Community and Aquatic Center	2024 budget estimate	$45.6 million budget	60,000 sf community center 48,000 sf aquatic center
Sahuarita Multigenerational Recreation Center	2024 budget estimate	$48.6 million budget	54,000 sf with aquatic facilities
Casa Grande Community Recreation Center	2019	$18.2 million	50,000 sf Gymnasium, fitness center, multi-purpose rooms
Cottonwood Recreation Center	2010 2024 estimate:	$17 million $52 million	53,000 Pool, gymnasium, fitness center, multi-purpose rooms

3. Do you think there is a need for a recreation center in Sedona?

• Yes
• No

4. Do you support future city expenditures for a recreation center that could result in increased taxes? Expenditures such as construction costs (see examples above) and on-going operational and maintenance costs. Typically, community recreation centers operate at a deficit.

• Yes
• No

5. Do you support user fees for a recreation center? User fees are typically charged to supplement the costs to operate a recreation center. As an example, Cottonwood’s recreation center user fees are $8/day or $38/month.

• Yes
• No

6. What is the most appropriate location for a recreation center in Sedona?

• I support a recreation center located anywhere in Sedona
• The Western Gateway property is the best location for a recreation center

7. What amenities would you like to include in a Recreation Center?

Select all your preferences.

• Gymnasium/court (basketball, volleyball, pickleball, etc.)
• Fitness equipment (weights, cardio, etc.)
• Group fitness classes
• Indoor walking track
• Climbing wall
• Indoor swimming pool
• Outdoor swimming pool

8. What community center amenities would you like to see included?

Some recreation centers also feature community center amenities. Select all your preferences.

• Community rooms for small meetings/events
• Multipurpose room for larger meetings/events
• Computer room/game room
• Business/technology center
• Senior focused programs/activities
• Teen focused programs/activities
• Children focused programs/activities

Do you have any comments about a recreation center?

Proposed Element: Amphitheater

This planning process has shown that there is a mix of opinions about an amphitheater at the Western Gateway. To give you an idea of the potential cost of building an outdoor amphitheater of similar size, below are examples of other projects.

Amphitheater Examples	Construction Date or Date of Estimate	Construction Costs	Capacity
City of Washington, IL proposed amphitheater	2024 estimate	$12 million	5,000
Moody Amphitheater (proposed) Waterloo Park, Austin, TX	planned	$64 million budget	5,000
Daily’s Place Amphitheater Jacksonville, FL	2017	$44.8 million	5,500

9. Do you think there is a need for a larger amphitheater in Sedona?

There is a smaller amphitheater at Posse Grounds Park that seats 300. A larger amphitheater could be of a similar size as the original, with 5,500 seats.

• Yes
• No

10. What is the most appropriate location for an amphitheater?

• The Western Gateway property is the best location for an amphitheater
• An amphitheater should be located elsewhere, such as the “Dells” on W 89A (near the wastewater treatment plant)

11. Do you support future city expenditures for an amphitheater that could result in increased taxes?

• Yes
• No

12. Do you support reserving most of the land at the Western Gateway for an amphitheater?

An amphitheater requires a significant amount of land to accommodate seating, stage, support buildings, and required parking. If an amphitheater (to original size of 5,500 seats) is built at the Western Gateway, it will utilize most of the property.

• Yes
• No

13. Do you support frequent events and associated visitation and traffic?

To ensure the amphitheater’s profitability, it would likely need to frequently host large events, which could draw additional visitors to the community, potentially resulting in increased traffic.

• Yes
• No

Do you have any comments about an amphitheater?

Proposed Element: Trailhead Parking

Currently, parking for the Girdner/Western Gateway Trailhead is on City property. In the future, all trailhead parking may need to be moved onto National Forest land. The Forest Service is planning (contingent on federal funding) trailhead improvements such as a striped parking lot (50-70 parking spaces) and compost restrooms. A partnership approach (shared funding and land) could allow for more enhanced improvements (such as more restrooms with flush toilets) and additional parking.

14. Do you support a City and Forest Service partnership to build an enhanced and expanded trailhead?

This may involve additional city expenditures and utilizing a portion of the Western Gateway property (approximately 1 acre).

• Yes
• No

Do you have any comments about trailhead parking?

Proposed Element: Transit Parking

15. Do you support consolidating transit parking to one lot at the Western Gateway property?

Currently there is a parking lot for the trailhead shuttle on the corner of W 89A and Upper Red Rock Loop Rd (next to the high school). This location could remain a parking area for transit or relocated to the Western Gateway property to consolidate transit parking at one parking lot for the western entry to Sedona.YesNo16. Do you support a multi-use parking area at Western Gateway for transit and trailhead use?

There is an opportunity for a shared, multi-use parking area for future transit, trailhead shuttle, and Girdner Trailhead parking.

• Yes
• No

Do you have any comments about transit parking?

Demographics

17. Where do you live?

• City of Sedona resident
• Resident of another community in Yavapai or Coconino County
• Other

18. How do you spend your time in Sedona?

Check all that apply

• Live here
• Work here
• Own a business
• Own property
• Visitor to Sedona