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Council discusses $21 million Sunbelt Sports Park plan and $15 million recreation center bond; staff to keep $6.9M for phase 1
Summary
Council and staff debated funding and timing for Sunbelt Sports Park and a proposed recreation center, agreed to move forward with a roughly $6.9 million initial phase while planning a future GO bond for the larger build and to add more public engagement.
City staff told the Kingman City Council that the five-year capital improvement plan includes a full Sunbelt Sports Park build-out and a proposed recreation center, and councilors debated how much to fund now versus what to put before voters.
Staff described a five-year total for the recreation program and parks portfolio that includes a Sunbelt Sports Park cost estimate of about $21,000,000 for full build out and a $15,000,000 estimate for a future recreation center. For FY26 staff proposed $6,900,000 to begin Sunbelt’s first phase, primarily to complete drainage and some usable park features.
The nut graf: Councilors voiced a mix of urgency and caution. Several members said they wanted tangible progress—fields, restrooms or splash pads—before asking voters for a bond; others warned against spending large design sums before the electorate had time to consider a final plan. After discussion staff said they would move forward with the $6.9 million FY26 item and work toward a fiscal-2027 general obligation bond to fund the larger build, while retaining a small design contingency in FY26.
Council debate focused on timing, public engagement and fund source. A number of councilors said the city should show visible progress on the park to help a future bond campaign; others urged broader community outreach and a more modest initial expenditure so the city would not “design a project and then never have it funded.” Staff recommended keeping $50,000 in FY26 to support additional public-engagement steps and agreed to shift $900,000 in larger upfront design costs into the FY28 bond schedule while retaining that $50,000.
Staff told the council the CMAR (construction manager at-risk) procurement is underway and the project is about 60% through design; staff said, given the drainage constraints, getting the channel work done first makes the rest of the park feasible. Staff also said they would pursue outside grant funding for park elements and keep council apprised of opportunities.
Ending: Council agreed to continue the project with a limited FY26 appropriation to build the drainage and initial fields, keep a modest design contingency for public engagement and pursue a GO bond for the remaining build in 2027–2028.
