Town residents were NOT demanding a community center as stated by Mayor Hiremath, and Council members Hornat, Snider and Waters.
In spring of 2013 the Town of Oro Valley published the Town Strategic Plan for 2013 -2014. The Strategic Plan is a carefully developed document by the Mayor and Council guiding Town actions and resource commitments over the next two years. It addresses the areas of the General Plan where the Mayor and Council feel action is required, and has sections addressing areas of importance Fiscal Responsibility, Communication, Economic Development and Community Services.
In the Community services area NO mention was made of a Community Center, rather the Mayor and Council focus was to:
* Establish funding for the implementation of the Steam Pump Ranch Master Plan and
* Establish a funding and Phased Development plan for implementation of the Naranja Park Master Plan
View the 2013 Strategic Plan here
In 2013 the Town conducted a Statistical Survey of resident attitudes and desires regarding Town direction. In the Parks and Recreation Section residents were asked to identify “additional recreational amenities or services that Oro Valley should provide”.
Residents responded with the following:
| Rank/Amenity | |
| 1. Soccer/multi-use fields | 6. Ramadas |
| 2. Baseball/softball fields | 7. BMX track |
| 3. Dog park | 8. Basketball courts |
| 4. Skate park | 9. Tennis courts |
| 5. Play equipment | 10. Parks |
A community center was NOT identified by residents as a Town need. 30% of residents responded “can’t think of anything else.”
In the spring of 2014 the Town established a Naranja Park Update Team led by Parks and Recreation Director Ms Diaz-Trahan and consisting of several Town staff professionals. The Town retained McGann and Associates to consult on the project. This was a well conducted study to identify resident recreational needs to plan the future build out of the Town’s 213 acre Naranja Park.
The study involved public meetings, outreach to residents and key users (Little League baseball / football, softball, soccer, lacrosse etc).
In addition, an extensive survey was conducted to determine resident needs. In this survey specific amenities and facilities were listed to develop resident rankings of importance. McGann and Associates interpreted the data to develop a ranking of 34 different options. Here are the top 10 items residents chose.
| Rank/Amenity | |
| 1. Playground and structures | 6. Multi-purpose fields |
| 2. Ramada & picnic areas | 7. Youth softball fields |
| 3. Paved walking paths | 8. Aerobic, yoga rooms |
| 4. Youth baseball fields | 9. Natural surface trails |
| 5. Indoor court facilities (basketball, pickle ball) | 10. Outdoor Basketball |
The Naranja Park Update team developed Park plans for a future Community Center and an adjacent small 4 court tennis complex to share restrooms and food service facilities Because these were 2nd tier needs the team laid out a footprint so that the building and courts could be added after the fields, and playgrounds were built.
These plans were approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in September and the Town Council in October.
The recalled incumbents current story is that Oro Valley residents have been talking about a Community Center since the 1990s. Probably true, but when asked to rank what they wanted residents said playgrounds, youth fields, ramada, paved paths and basketball courts.
The groundwork for the “essential” Community Center was laid during the 2014 reelection campaign of Mayor Hiremath, and Council members Hornat, Snider and Waters following campaign contributions by Humberto Lopez of HSL Properties.
HSL wanted to sell the loss making El Conquistador Resort Golf Courses and Mayor Hiremath [using his dental training and experience] negotiated the purchase of the facilities on behalf of Town residents with his largest campaign contributor. However, he needed a credible reason to buy three loss making golf courses.
Ignoring the Town’s surveys in 2013 and 2014, but saying that this is what residents were demanding, Mayor Hiremath negotiated with HSL to buy facilities least desired by residents:
- Three golf courses ranked #33 out of 34 facilities (On track to lose over $2 million in the 1st 12months)
- 8 racket ball courts ranked #28 out of 34 facilities (Oro Valley has 4 unused racket ball courts at JD Kreigh Park)
- 31 Tennis courts ranked 11 out of 34 facilities (The Naranja Park Update recommended 4 courts)
- Two non-competition pools unneeded after the Town’s $5.5 million Aquaplex expansion at JD Kreigh park.
- A full service restaurant that lost $37,000 in July.
This “distressed property” will cost residents over $13 million in the next 5 years and since it’s purchase in April has been bleeding cash at over $300,000/month.
All this without any public hearings to solicit and listen to resident concerns and alternatives for addressing this secondary recreational need, and ignoring a 6 month Naranja Park study recommendations.
Jack Stinnett
Oro Valley