What can a community do to ensure growth and development? For one group of Holbrook residents, it means investing in its youth. Last week Holbrook Mayor Kathleen Smith met with a handful of residents to learn what is important to them as city plans for future growth and development.
She explained to those present that she wanted to spend the time to gain a better understanding of community interests, not just her own perceptions, especially with the budget and the strategic plans being discussed. She noted that she plans on hosting more small sessions with different groups and interests, but for this session it was young families.
Those attending the session included Adrian Padilla, Cisco Lerma, Zach Sulu, Cierra Myers, Tyler Myers, Brian Reid and Peggy Reid. All of have children are involved in coaching the local youth in athletics. Everyone agreed that there is a need to not only improve the city parks but to create opportunities for youth to be creative, healthy and active.
As a whole, the group suggested that more soccer fields and baseball fields be developed. “We have six (baseball) teams this year and it’s hard to even find a place to practice,” pointed out Brian Reid, adding that he would be happy for anything that would get kids outside playing. He noted that the ball field at Lewis Park has a backstop but no defined field but that all the fields need overall maintenance for the safety of the kids. “Over the last three years we’ve been gaining a team in each division, so it’s getting bigger and bigger. They’re hosting All-Star games here, which we’ve never had before,” he added.
The city is currently in the process of adding lights to Barrow Field, which not only provides the opportunity for more games for the youth, it can also be an economic boost, with the city able to host other communities and state tournaments.
The park that was of greatest concern is Lisitzky Park, which lacks playground equipment, and the basketball court is in desperate need of improvement. “Why isn’t this fixed? The basketball court has water in it, both of the rims need to be fixed, the swing sets, everything up there is all broken, it’s horrible,” stated Lerma. It was noted that Lizitsky Park is located right next to the ball fields on the north end of town, and that if it was improved it would be used more as families attend the sporting events. Brian Reid added that the bathrooms at that park need improvements also.
All were aware that vandalism takes place, and it can be frustrating. “But that should be expected that these spaces will get vandalized. The city needs to be more responsive to repairing the damage,” Brian Reid said. It was also suggested that more cameras placed at the parks could serve as a deterrent to vandals.
Another concern was the locks on the racquetball courts. To keep them protected, the courts require a passcode to be used and those wanting to use them have to get that code from the city offices. The city offices are only open until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. “It makes it tricky to get in for the people who want to use it,” said Cierra Myers. “I know that the older kids would utilize it if they were open,” added Peggy Reid. In response, Smith said that perhaps they could be open in the evenings and closed at 10 p.m. or have doors with timed locks. It was also suggested that adding more lighting to the park in the evening would be a deterrent to those who may misuse the facility. Adding pickleball courts and cornhole games would be a nice addition for both the older youth and the adults. Other suggestions included zip lines and fun curving cement biking paths within the parks that would be fun for the little kids and an inexpensive addition that would bring more enjoyment in the parks.
While Hunt Park is a more popular park in the community, it hasn’t been upgraded in years and has the space to add more, smaller gazebos, corn-hole games, and interactive outdoor activities. Lewis Park is the nicer of the parks but could also use some of the same improvements. Zach Sulu added, “We go to Show Low we go to the park, we go to Pinetop we got to the park. We see zip lines, updated equipment and these kids are having a blast.”
A list of needs was provided by Nicole Young who was unable to attend the meeting due to youth activities she was involved in. It included a need for a daycare as Ortega’s Daycare will be closing soon and an urgent care center. Also on the list was a bowling alley or rec center with games and activities so that youth can spend time with their peers. Indoor batting cages. Indoor volleyball, basketball and pickle ball for adults. She also added affordable housing, and kid-friendly jobs.
As the topic turned to a youth center Lerma spoke, “My goal is I’m going to build a youth center for these kids. I grew up in one. I will make one, I will put it in my brother’s name, and I will die happy.” He said it would be a place where kids could do their homework, have access to computers, a pool tables, ping-pong tables, a basketball court, basketball court, and perhaps arrange fun trips. “I just want somewhere they can go, have a tutor and play. I think it would work, it worked for us.”
Smith informed the group that she recently met with the Boys and Girls Club and they are working with the city to get started on something. She is also looking into grant funding to develop a rec center. The group all agreed that it’s not just the city that has work to do, the citizens would also need to step up and take ownership as a community, so that these public places would have less restricted use. Tyler Myers said, “It would be great for kids, but great for adults as well.”
The group was also in support of the pond planned for the west end of town, north of Hopi Drive. A design is already complete, and in addition to a pond, the site will include an amphitheater, walking and bike paths. The hope is that it would eventually be able to tie into the Hidden Cove Golf Course and Petroglyph Park, as well as the aviary pond by the park, which has a diverse bird population. This led to a conversation about paddle boats, fishing and live music performances or the community and tourists to enjoy.
The topic of the pond will be addressed at the council meeting tonight (Wednesday) and Smith encouraged anyone interested to please attend and voice their support or any concerns they may have.
As the session completed, those present noted that along with any suggestions for improvement, action has to be taken on the dilapidated buildings in the community, whether to improve or remove them in order to ensure that the city reflects the efforts being made.
Smith promised follow-up with the ideas presented and stated they would be shared with administration and the council as they move into budgeting and strategic planning.
