The Town Council met in special session Nov. 13 to hear a staff proposal for ball field refurbishment and dam and wash improvements following extensive flood damage at Golden Eagle Park in October.

The staff objective is getting the ball fields back in playing condition as quickly as possible and making improvements aimed at preventing such severe damage by a similar flood event in the future, according to Town Manager Grady Miller.

On the night of Oct. 2, up to three inches of rain fell within an hour on the watershed that drains from the McDowell Mountains down the washes into Golden Eagle Park. Since the ball fields at the park are within an area designed as a flood detention basin the excess water was not unexpected. What was surprising, however, was the erosion caused by the rapid down-pour that deposited tons of mud and debris on the fields behind the detention dam at the park.

Parks staff suspended all recreational activity on the ball fields but has had to wait for the mud to dry out before beginning any repair activity. During the delay staff was busy getting information from contractors and engineers before deciding how to proceed with restoration.

On Nov. 6, the council initially authorized Miller to execute a contract to begin work on the sediment removal on the ball fields. A week later on Nov. 13, Miller and staff brought a more detailed proposal to the council as to how staff wants to proceed in making the repairs. What is proposed is a near complete rebuild of the ball fields and related facilities.

Short-term

Community Services Director Rachael Goodwin explained to the council that the work related to the ball field restoration has three distinct areas; turf, including irrigation, grass mix and mowers; soil/dirt including field mix, warning track mix, bases, plates and pitching rubbers; and the perimeter which is fencing, back stops, dugouts, bleachers and electricity.

Goodwin said the dirt and debris removal is proceeding on fields two, three and four (field one received only minor damage and has been reopened for use). Fences around fields two and three have been removed due to the severe damage and dirt and debris removal from pathways is ongoing, and in some areas the pathways have been reopened.

Once the fields are clean they will be laser leveled in the outfield to remove washout areas, ruts and divots. Currently the extent of damage to the irrigation is unknown and it will be inspected and repaired as needed. Fields two, three and four will be re-sodded. Goodwin said if the fields are to be playable in time for little league re-sodding is preferable to seeding.

An alternate option would be to allow the existing Bermuda turf to re-establish in the spring, and delay the playability until summer.

Equipment such as mowers and other mechanical equipment have been taken for repairs or replacement.

Some projects related to the ball fields had already been slated for the near future. That work is related to improvements to walkways between the fields, backstops and fencing and will be incorporated into the repair schedule, according to Goodwin. That includes concrete repairs on walkways damaged by upheaval by tree roots, backstop replacement, tree removal and shade structures.

Drainage work

Public Works Director Justin Weldy outlined his objectives for immediate storm water improvements along with long-term goals to control the flood flow into the park.

Weldy said the short-term work being undertaken at the same time as the ball field improvements incudes sediment removal from the face of Golden Eagle Park Dam as well as from the washes within the park. They will also modify trash racks (structures to retain debris) at the dam to improve storm water flow through the dam. Staff is also proposing a berm along Bristol Wash in the park that is reinforced with rip rap material.

Removal of debris and vegetation from washes that flow into Golden Eagle Park is also in order.

Longer-term plans to address erosion upstream from the park will include an engineering study from a qualified firm that provides a drainage report and recommendations to minimize future damages within the park.

Recommendations from staff include construction of sediment drop basins within the washes, increasing depth and width of drainage channels and the potential of replacing rip rap berm with a flood wall.

Weldy said he will work to identify potential funding sources including partnerships with the Maricopa County Flood Control District, capital improvement phasing or possibly referring the funding to voters.

Funding

Staff has prepared cost estimates for the restoration at Golden Eagle Park along with the budgeted improvements that total nearly $650,000. Funding sources have been identified for the work.

The estimated costs for park repairs total $405,000. That includes all field repairs, irrigation, sod, fencing and backstops as well and electrical and equipment repairs. The total also includes a contingency of $76,000. An additional $241,150 was already in the budget for some of the work at the ball fields.

The money will be transferred from already budgeted projects that can be deferred including $255,000 for alley paving, $50,000 from a Civic Center drainage project and $100,000 from a sidewalk infill program totaling $405,000. An additional $175,000 will be made available from the Environmental Fund for the dam and wash cleaning.

Council members asked that due to pedestrian safety concerns that the sidewalk infill projects not be delayed. The $100,000 for the sidewalk program will be moved from the Street Fund and the money for the park work will be charged to the General Fund.

Vice Mayor Art Tolis said he has concerns about whether staff is rushing this work and it will end up costing the town more than it needs to. He wondered whether there are other options available for some users so the town does not have to go to the expense of using sod to get the job done faster.

Goodwin said the ball fields at Four Peaks Park are currently not playable and she does not believe the School District could adjust schedules to allow for use of its Middle School fields.

Councilman Henry Leger said he does not believe the town should put off any of the users for the fields.

“We are here to serve the public and I feel comfortable moving forward with this,” Leger said. “We are taking steps to lessen the chances this occurs again.

“At the end of the day this is the hand we have been dealt.”