Update as of January 25, 2018
At its January 25 public meeting, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board approved for city staff to proceed with a formal public notification process regarding the proposed land exchange with Grand Canyon University, pursuant to Parks Board Policy 3.9. That process includes a minimum of two community meetings and a Village Planning Committee meeting, and a public hearing and report of findings to the Parks and Recreation Board.
The dates and times of those meetings will be provided when available.
---
Update as of January 23, 2018
There is an item on this week's Parks and Recreation Board agenda regarding Grand Canyon University's proposal related to Little Canyon Park. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 25 at 5 p.m. in the Phoenix City Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St.
The item on the agenda is the first step in a five-step process. The Board will be voting on whether to allow the process to proceed to the next step, which is the public notification process. The public notification process will include two additional community meetings.
Questions can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Department at 602-262-6862. Please ask to speak with James Orloski or Gregg Bach.
Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
Thursday, January 25, 2018; 5 p.m.
Phoenix City Council Chambers
200 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
---
Update as of January 8, 2018
Grand Canyon University (GCU) has informed the city of Phoenix that it would like to continue the productive dialogue with neighbors and discuss possible revisions to the original proposal to address concerns raised in the first three neighborhood meetings.
To further explore these new ideas, GCU will be hosting an additional neighborhood meeting, as listed below. It will be a two-hour open house style meeting, which will allow GCU representatives to interact individually with neighborhood members and ensure all voices are heard.
Meeting 4 - Monday, January 22, 2018
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (come anytime during this two-hour window)
Helen Drake Senior Center
7600 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85051
GCU will send out an invitation by mail to the same notice boundaries used for the previous mailer. Click this link to view a PDF of that invitation in English and Spanish.
---
Update as of December 22, 2017
Earlier this year, Grand Canyon University (GCU) contacted
the city of Phoenix to propose constructing a new neighborhood park at 29th
Avenue and Missouri Avenue and a new trail adjacent to Missouri Avenue. Under
GCU’s proposal, in exchange for GCU constructing the new park and trail, the
city and GCU would engage in a land exchange in which GCU would convey the new
park and new trail to the city. GCU would then receive the land where Little
Canyon Park currently sits and a portion of Little Canyon Trail owned by the
city (and the release of trail easements), effectively relocating and improving
the park and trail.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department held three
neighborhood meetings to gather the community’s feedback on GCU’s proposal and
to discuss the features residents would want to see in a new park, should that
proposal move forward. GCU representatives were in attendance at those meetings
to hear neighborhood feedback. The Parks and Recreation Department also relayed
the written comments from the community to GCU (without anyone’s personal
identifying information).
GCU has reviewed all of the community members’ feedback that
it received and gathered and has informed the city it is planning on holding a
follow-up open house meeting in January to continue the dialogue with the
neighborhood and to discuss potential changes to the proposal in order to
address neighbors’ concerns. GCU intends to hold that meeting around the middle
of January. When the details of that meeting are confirmed, GCU will send out an invitation by mail to the city's required notice boundary. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation Department will post
those details on this page and e-mail those who provided their address to the department at the previous neighborhood meetings.
Questions can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Department at 602-262-6862. Please ask to speak with James
Orloski or Gregg Bach.
---
Update as of August 2017
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department invites residents to attend upcoming community meetings to discuss a proposal by Grand Canyon University (GCU) involving Little Canyon Park and Little Canyon Trail.
GCU contacted city of Phoenix to propose constructing a new neighborhood park at 29th Avenue and Missouri Avenue, and a new trail adjacent to Missouri Avenue. Under GCU's proposal, in exchange for it constructing the new park and trail, the city and university would engage in a land exchange in which GCU would convey the new park and trail to the city. GCU would then receive the land where Little Canyon Park is currently located and a portion of Little Canyon Trail owned by the city (and the release of the trail easements), effectively relocating and improving the park and trail.
The purpose of these community meetings is to gather feedback on GCU's proposal and, if the community is supportive, discuss amenities for the new park. Residents can attend one or more of the meetings of their choice. The details of the community meetings are as follows.
Meeting 1 - Monday, August 21, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Helen Drake Senior Center
7600 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85051
Meeting 2 - Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Helen Drake Senior Center
7600 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85051
Meeting 3 - Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 6 p.m.
Helen Drake Senior Center
7600 N. 27th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85051
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department understands that neighborhood parks are important to the community and public input is a critical part of this process. These meetings are only one step in a public process that will include multiple opportunities for community input and feedback, including meetings of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board and the Phoenix City Council, before any change would be made.
