Flagstaff parks staff outline fall and winter projects including cemetery expansion, shop building and playground replacement

Gino (last name not specified), the parks manager, and other staff briefed the commission on an array of planned fall and winter projects across city parks and cemetery grounds. Staff described projects funded in the current fiscal year and other maintenance priorities intended to keep projects moving through the colder months.

Cemetery expansion and related work: staff said they received one-time capital funding this fiscal year to develop roughly 1 acre of Citizen Cemetery (located on San Francisco), which they estimate will add approximately 700 plots once developed. The project will include clearing, minimal grading, irrigation mains and laterals, sod installation and updating the cemetery mapping software. Staff said the cemetery expansion funding was part of the parks operating capital allocations for the year.

Columbarium and roadway repairs: staff said they placed a down payment for a 64‑niche columbarium (lead time roughly 12 weeks) and will perform additional road R&R at the cemetery, including mill-and-overlay work on cross streets following earlier main-road repairs.

Operations and smaller capital: staff said parks’ annual operating capital allocation is $255,000 and outlined several projects funded within that envelope and other carried-forward funds: a new 40×60 pole-barn style building at the park shop to store equipment indoors; a $150,000 playground replacement for McMillan Mesa Park (vendors to submit design options and neighborhood will be engaged in selection); new dumpster enclosures at the Thorpe Annex to reduce illegal dumping; replacement of two pedestrian wooden bridges on trails; and completion of a citywide park signage program that uses standardized metal entrance signs and QR codes.

Sport- and site-specific items: staff said two new electronic scoreboards are planned for Continental Sports Complex fields 2 and 4, and Bushmaster skate track/park will receive concentrated maintenance (pressure washing, minor concrete repairs, recaulking) and possible new standalone features and community art once repairs are complete. Staff said the Westminster pickleball courts project is more than 90% complete and that APS energization and final inspections remain as final steps.

Budget and timing: staff said the cemetery expansion was budgeted with one-time capital money this fiscal year (staff cited the cemetery expansion sum as part of operating capital funding and later referenced $225,000 as the one-time cemetery allocation); other projects are funded from the parks operating capital, carried-forward balances, or cooperative contracts. For larger procurements (for example, some capital contracts) staff said they expect City Council approval where required.

Next steps: staff said they will seek contractor quotes, finalize vendor selections for playgrounds and follow standard procurement and permitting processes. Several projects are scheduled to move forward in spring for planting or construction after winter conditions subside. The commission received the update and had no formal votes on the projects at the meeting.