Right now, a large sign is the only physical evidence of the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park along Posse Ground Road in West Sedona.

However, a year from now, a monolith dome sheltering an outdoor stage could be a familiar sight to Sedona residents and visitors who play and party at Posse Grounds Park.

The Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park could be complete and open to the public by fall 2010, thanks to a new public-private partnership approved by Sedona City Council on Oct. 13.

Council members voted to dissolve the current lease agreement with the Friends of the Posse Grounds — the group spearheading the construction of the outdoor entertainment venue — and replace the lease with a public-private partnership.

City staff will examine the Friends’ contracts with the park’s architect and other agreements to make sure the proposed structure is up to current code and in line with city ordinances and other laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Andi Welsh, Sedona Parks and Recreation Administrative Services director, said she was confident the Friends of the Posse Grounds would work with the architect and make any changes the city deemed necessary.

With the new partnership, the city agreed to honor the Friends’ existing commitments — the only one noted was donors of more than $500 will have their name placed on the decorative art wall behind the stage.

The park will cost an estimated $600,000 to design and build. Most of that funding will come from the Friends, who have raised a little more than $200,000 since 2005.

Part of the funding for the new park could come from the city’s development impact fees and the Arizona State Park’s Heritage Fund Grant originally earmarked for the Sedona Cultural Park.

After the cultural park failed financially, the state requested the city return the money or find another park to fund so the city can fulfill its obligations for

the grant.

The city transferred the obligations in July and the new partnership agreement will help both city staff and the Friends enter the construction phase.

Once construction crews break ground, the dome would only take a week or two to build, said Welsh. The rest of the construction would include the stage, landscaping and adding other amenities to the park.

Council members spoke in favor of the park’s progress.

“I wanted to thank both staff and the Friends because I know this has been a trying project, going on at least as long as I’ve been here, about six years,” outgoing Vice Mayor John Bradshaw said. “You guys have really pushed through and made it happen.”

Councilman Cliff Hamilton also thanked the Friends and city staff before making the motion to approve the agreement. Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Phone calls to representatives of the Friends were not returned by press time.

Christopher Fox Graham can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 129, or cgraham@larsonnewspaper.com