Manvel parks board asks staff to explore partnership with Sedona Lakes for Almost Heaven Park

The Manvel Parks Board voted May 22 to recommend that city staff explore partnerships, including with the Sedona Lakes utility district, to improve Almost Heaven Park and report back to the board.

The recommendation seeks to speed cleanup and limited development of a park parcel identified in the city’s 2016 parks plan that officials and residents described as underused and in rough condition. Board members emphasized that the vote was only to direct staff to investigate collaboration and possible agreements; the board did not commit city funds.

Brian Sarunito, parks staff, told the board the site has “good bones” and “it's a real diamond in the rough,” noting a half-mile trail, a central pond and large oak trees but also holes, dead trees and a trail in need of resurfacing. Jim Forrest, president of the Sedona Lakes utility board, asked the city to consider resurfacing the decomposed-granite trail, cleaning up trees and adding benches. “We only get paid $5,000 a…