I dont remember exactly what the $50k grant process is, but one thing i remember is that if the neighborhood gets it one year, it will not get it the next. or for that matter possibly 100 years, (the approx total number of neighborhoods, associations, etc, in Tempe)

that doesnt mean not to apply, but i think it does mean to make it count. one idea that has been floating for several years is an informational center, maybe a 'kiosk' at the park. it could also be combined with a public art project, such as 'the spine'. combining the kiosk with a public art project may add up to about $75k.

submitting for public art grants require alot of planning. i was on the Arts Commish 10 years ago. it was difficult then, cant imagine it's much easier now. so would a kiosk. but i dont think we should forget that Mitchell Park is scheduled to undergo a 'masterplanning' process in the next couple years, and construction to be finished within 2 years after that. So if the kiosk is rolled into the master plan, the cost of it would be borne with the money already set aside for renovation, about $3m. Therefore the $50k could be rolled into it or maybe something else. One thought is that it would show good faith by the neighborhood association to combine grant money into the city cap money. that is what other neighborhood associations have done, by obtaining grants to fund the master planning process. (this use for grants has been dis-allowed by the city)

One of the issues that came up for discussion with the association was soccer play at Mitchell Park. One issue was soccer itself as a noise generator, the other was soccer tournaments. The city parks said that no reservations were required to use the park for the tournament. But one problem was the availability of restrooms for the magnitude of people at the park for a soccer tournament.

'More' is not always 'better'. when you have 100 people or more at a soccer tournament, or anything else, and many of whom are not residents, there needs to be restrooms facilities. you've seen the porta johns for the various events, like the cancer walk at the park. But Mitchell Park is a 'neighborhood park' and not a larger more complete 'community park'. The reason restrooms are not provided, and this was decided by the association 20 years ago, was to keep it a neighborhood park. If a person is a user of the park, they are more likely a resident of the surroundiing neighborhoods, or a guest of a resident, and are typically withing 10 minutes walking, and 5 minutes driving to their home.

the upcoming master plan process will provide the community input for the park. what uses and elements suggested will then be vetted publicly and voted upon by the association members in a process guided by professional designers and informed by city staff.  for example, 100 people playing chess at the park does not resemble 100 people playing frisby football at 10pm. thinking about the differences of activities of the same number of people enjoying the park and you begin to get an idea of what the master plan process can do for us. Daley Park will have a 'hummingbird oasis' especially planted to attract hummingbirds with benches to observe them, in the shade of trees.  

Having permanent restrooms opens up a whole bag of different issues. Clark Park residents can serve as a resource for those issues. For that matter, Clark Park is nearby and has permanent restrooms, so that is already available for larger more populous events. The master planning process at Clark Park is well along, and will continue to have permanent restrooms.

it was suggested that Childsplay deed back a portion of one building to provide restrooms. The legal logistics of that are almost beyond comprehension. It may be simpler to just ask Childsplay if they want to open up restrooms at their building, on their private property, to the public. They would control the restrooms, opening and closing them as they saw fit.

-mark, resident