If all the proposed amenities currently proposed are included, the cost to complete the 272-acre Gilbert Regional and 115-acre Desert Sky parks could cost the Town a total of $237M.
Budget Director Kelly Pfost informed Council at a March 3 retreat that projections for Desert Sky sit at approximately $73M and $164M for Gilbert Regional. Desert Sky’s final costs could be reduced by $10M with the application of park development system fees, however. Land sale monies that have not yet been spent could cut Gilbert Regional’s costs by approximately $9M as well.
The Town may seek a park bond in the November 2024 election. Once funding is in place, design and construction for Desert Sky Park could begin in Fiscal Year 2025-2026, and for Gilbert Regional Park in FY 2026-2027.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Robert Carmona, Desert Sky would add 12 new playing fields, a “championship field,” a trailhead connecting to Marathon Trail and a sensory playground to its existing offerings of four multi-use fields, a lake, a plaza and a play area.
The master plan for Gilbert’s entire park system, including a needs assessment for sports fields, is scheduled for updates next year, Carmona said.
In other park developments, groundbreaking for Cactus Surf Park was said to be expected later this year, with opening planned for 2024. The park sits on one of three Town-owned parcels adjacent to Gilbert Regional, and the Town plans to issue a request for proposals for recreational amenities on the other two sometime after 2025. (Source)
