11/25/2009 10:36:00 AM Prescott Valley approves artificial turf for Mountain Valley Park
By Ken Hedler Special to the Tribune
Mountain Valley Park will use less water and require less maintenance by this coming spring.
The Town Council voted unanimously Thursday to accept a bid of about $1.4 million from Low Mountain Construction Inc. of Phoenix to install artificial turf and lighting in the park, located off Nace Lane and Robert Road. Other aspects of the project include spectator seating and expanding the dog park.
The contractor will install artificial turf on about 100,000 square feet of a soccer field and 40,000 square feet of T-ball fields, Utilities Director Neil Wadsworth told the council.
Low Mountain crews are expected to start Nov. 30 and complete the project by March, according to Parks and Recreation Director Brian Witty.
The town will pay for the project from impact fees collected from home construction, Town Manager Larry Tarkowski said. He made the point because he said some people have questioned spending the money for the purpose.
Vice Mayor Lora Lee Nye said the savings and lighting "impressed" her.
Town officials scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for the project at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at the covered pavilion in the park.
In other actions, the council approved a proposal from the Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition to pursue grants. Prescott Valley serves as the fiscal agent for the coalition, which formed in June 2006 and contains representation from the towns of Prescott Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and Chino Valley, the City of Prescott and Yavapai County.
The council also presented a certificate of appreciation to Prescott Valley police Sgt. Jake Jackson for 10 years of employment.
During the evening, the council chambers was also the place for a police promotion ceremony.
Prescott Valley Police promoted Cpl. Jake Jackson to the rank of sergeant, and Officer Thomas Grant to the rank of corporal.
The council also graduated the town's tenth Citizen's Academy class.
Mayor Harvey Skoog honored Bradshaw Mountain High School art students Lee Woodruff and Eric Martinez, who, along with a number of others, worked on the town's timeline at the Civic Center.
