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Coconino County approves 2025 Fort Tuthill County Park master plan
Summary
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a 10-year master plan for Fort Tuthill County Park that preserves natural areas, adds a “heart of the park” events space, and phases roughly $45 million in aspirational improvements.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the 2025 Fort Tuthill County Park Master Plan, directing staff to use the plan as the county’s guiding document for park priorities and capital requests.
Why it matters: Fort Tuthill is a high‑use regional park just outside Flagstaff; the new plan lays out a phased, 10‑year vision — from restroom and parking upgrades to a multi‑use event building and a centerpiece “heart of the park” plaza — intended to guide future investments and public‑private partnerships.
The plan, developed by Parks and Recreation staff with consultants and an extensive public process, recommended preserving the park’s natural open spaces while enhancing visitor facilities. Key elements include a plaza and promenade at the park’s center for community events and cultural interpretation, additional picnic ramadas, an expanded restroom program, new small vendor and event facilities, a proposal for a large multi‑use building that could host 4‑H and community events, and improved wayfinding and parking strategies for large events.
Parks staff and the consulting team told the board the plan is aspirational: buildout as written would cost nearly $45 million. The plan organizes projects into four phases so the park can pursue higher‑priority and lower‑cost items first, while leaving room for public‑private and nonprofit partnerships to cover construction and operations where appropriate. Parks Director Cynthia Nemeth and project consultants Fred Sallop and Nancy Wanders said the public engagement process produced more than 700 contacts and emphasized the public’s desire to keep the park’s character intact while improving facilities.
Supervisors praised the outreach, the emphasis on preserving natural areas, and the plan’s potential to generate revenue if the county advances public‑private partnerships for campgrounds and the amphitheater. Commissioner Brian Blue, who sits on the Parks & Recreation Commission, told supervisors the turnout for the planning process was higher than typical and urged maintaining the park’s personality while pursuing strategic improvements.
What’s next: The county will use the plan as a decision tool when funding opportunities arise; projects will be prioritized in the master‑plan phasing and advanced as grant, partnership or budget funding becomes available.
Ending: The board adopted the plan by motion; supervisors said they expect follow‑up budget discussions and partnership outreach to begin as the county identifies implementable projects.
