Construction to begin on 272-acre regional park in Gilbert this year
Jan 30, 2018, 4:41 AM | Updated: 7:35 pm
PHOENIX — Residents in the East Valley will soon have one more place to visit during the warm Arizona summers.
The city of Gilbert will begin construction on a 272-acre regional park later this year. The park, according to Gilbert Parks and Recreation Director Rod Buchanan, will be built near Higley and Queen Creek roads.
Buchanan said the first phase of the park will open in 2019 after about a year of construction. That will include courts for pickleball and tennis, a playground, restrooms and parking.
The city hopes to open a series of sports fields, an aquatic center and an amphitheater on the site by 2022. Buchanan said the site could also be big enough to hold weddings.
“It’s going to be a beautiful venue,” he said. “A great lawn will look out at the amphitheater, the amphitheater will be in front of a lake. Beyond that lake, the property will drop off to a basin and you will be able to see the San Tan mountains.”
The park is expected to cost about $100 million and will be paid for by the sale of about 60 acres of city-owned land near Germann and Greenfield roads and another 80 acres of land near Chandler Heights and Greenfield roads.
There could also be a bond measure in 2020, Buchanan said.
KTAR News’ Bob McClay contributed to this report.