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Prescott panel approves Ken Lindley Park upgrades including digital signs, sculptures and restrooms
Summary
The Prescott Preservation Commission on March 13 approved improvements at Ken Lindley Park — two new digital displays, a converted and an expanded scoreboard, bronze sculptures, safety netting, a 5-foot concrete walking path and high-end portable restrooms — moving the project to the permitting phase.
The Prescott Preservation Commission voted March 13 to approve a package of improvements at Ken Lindley Park, part of the Prescott Armory Historic District, that will add two new digital signs along Gurley Street, convert an existing scoreboard to digital and install a larger digital scoreboard, bronze sculptures, a 5-foot concrete walking path, a long safety wall with netting and new restroom facilities.
"It is the intent of these design criteria that the owners of the structures be encouraged to preserve and restore their structures in harmony with the original intent of the builder," Tammy DeWitt, community planner, told the commission as she laid out the general design criteria and said the applications are not intended to alter the site's historic architectural character. DeWitt said the proposed new illuminated sign on the grandstand façade measures about 20.53 square feet and that final dimensions and locations will be set through permitting.
Glenn D'Autilo, president of OJBFC and a donor on the project, said the proposed bronze sculptures will depict children playing soccer and will be high quality. "The sculptures are bronze sculpture, high quality, and they're of kids playing soccer," he said, and added that sponsor panels on the scoreboard help underwrite costs: "We're getting donations of $25,000 a piece ... and we've sold 2 out of the 4 so far." D'Autilo said sponsor displays will face into the facility rather than onto the street.
Commission member Jim McCarver questioned whether sponsor panels would amount to off-site advertising under downtown rules and warned against setting a precedent. DeWitt and applicant representatives said the site is a city park and the sponsor panels are intended to advertise events at the park only. "We are exempt from a lot of those regulations," DeWitt said, noting the displays face inward and are for on-site events.
Planning manager Alex Bramlett confirmed staff reviewed the application against the land development code and said the digital displays as proposed comply with size requirements and will continue through the permitting process for final placement. "It complies with our land development code in terms of size," Bramlett said.
The applicant also described site improvements aimed at safety and accessibility: a 5-foot-wide concrete walking path (applicants said flagstone tends to undulate and crack, creating trip hazards), a 70-foot-long by 10-foot-tall concrete wall with netting along the soccer field's east boundary, and high-end portable restrooms sited to reduce long walks for elderly spectators. "We wanted to put in really high end porta potties," the applicant said, arguing the location will better serve those in the stands.
Commission member Diane Travis asked that the digital displays be muted and not distract from the historic setting. Staff and the applicant said permitting will address brightness and nighttime dimming; DeWitt said the displays "have to be turned down at night."
Diane Travis moved to approve HP26-001; the motion carried. The commission's approval advances the project to the city's permitting stage, where final sizes, exact sign locations and installation details will be set.
Votes at a glance: HP26-001 — motion to approve by Diane Travis; the commission voted in favor and the motion carried.
