Bushmaster Park courts declared substantially complete; new LED lighting, courts and landscaping open to public
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Summary
City staff said Bushmaster Park's sports courts are substantially complete after a five‑month construction run, delivering permanent tennis, basketball and eight pickleball courts, LED lighting and new landscaping; staff said only punch‑list furnishings remain.
City staff reported that work to reconstruct the sports courts at Bushmaster Park is substantially complete and the facilities are open to public use.
During a presentation to the Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Commission, staff played a site video and described the project’s scope and timeline, saying the job ran "5 month and 1 week" and converted two old basketball and tennis courts into four post‑tension slabs that now accommodate two tennis courts, two basketball courts and a six‑plus‑two arrangement of pickleball courts for a total of eight permanent pickleball courts. "Those were the courts originally... that's pre construction," the presenter said while showing before and after footage.
Staff emphasized new LED lighting that reduces lateral light spill, noting the fixtures "go straight down" and that pole placement was optimized to serve multiple play areas. The presenter also flagged future neighborhood conversations about noise related to activity at the site.
Commissioners asked about community complaints during construction. Staff said the principal complaints—mostly from two individuals—were about truck traffic during demolition and concrete pours and about start times; staff provided a direct contact for concerns and said they had not received any complaints since substantial completion as of the meeting.
The project included landscape work: staff reported 21 trees were removed and 21 replacement trees were planted, plus installation of 74 shrubs. Staff said some specialty ornamental trees (described as Japanese cherry varieties) remain on order and may be installed when available.
Only minor work remains. Staff described non‑contractor 'furnishings'—benches, trash receptacles, signage and other site furnishings—as outstanding punch‑list items that will be completed internally before final acceptance.
Staff noted community activation at the ribbon cutting, with the new city manager and local youth participating alongside Flagstaff Pickleball Association and Flagstaff Tennis Association volunteers; staff said school partnerships (including outreach to Thomas Elementary) are under discussion for programming.
Next steps: staff will manage the remaining punch list and furnishings and monitor park use and any follow‑up neighborhood concerns.
