City of Mesa Sold-Off 132 Acres of Land Long-Promised For A Public Park

Why did that city-owned $25-Million "Land-Auction Deal" on the pristine desert site purchased for $4 million in 1998 really matter to someone like Verl Farnsworth, now an elder member of The Farnsworth Family who developed of lot of residential real estate here in Mesa for more than four decades? 
It might have been the traditional value-issue of "Promises Made Are Promises Kept" for him. For the City of Mesa it's a wind-fall $21-Million profit to pay-off some major debt . . .

For what? Residents of Red Mountain Park, a large and long-establish adjacent subdivision, have strongly and actively objected to "the deal" made on 132-acre neighboring land in northeast Mesa. 
They expected a park made in a promise by the city in the original intent.

Did the city listen to residents? NO. That action speaks the truth to what the current City Administration pays only "lip-service" to:"The Mesa City Council believes that its people, not leaders, are what makes a City great and actively works to encourage citizen participation in the decision-making process. Whether it is through neighborhood meetings, advisory boards and committees, telephone calls and letters, or email, the Mesa City Council sets policies based on the input and needs of its citizens."  [click or tap here ]
_________________________________________________________________________

On May 20, 2019 the Mesa City Council OK'd the deal with Desert Vista 101 LLC.
That's only the beginning of a one-to-four year process for "feasibility studies" where the property needs both a zoning change and a site plan approval before the company can close on the sale.
Wait - there's more to the story.
What to do with that $17-Million "windfall' gain and appreciation in value?

City Manager Chris Brady has said publicly that $4M (the original cost in 1998) from the "one-off" deal would be held 'in reserve" so that the city can deliver on the original intent of buying the property, even in the park and recreational facilities are scattered in other locations.
Although, no mention was made of how the city plans to use the $17-Million profit windfall from that land deal. It is clear to some it can go to underwrite plans to finance ASU in downtown Mesa. The same sales-scheme used by the city manager back in 2010 to pay off the $198-Million in public debt to build Sloan Park for a Chicago billionaire.
Brady calls that "leveraging" while sticking taxpayers with bills
Nobody is telling Brady where "he can stick it" where the Sun don't shine since the city's books have been scrubbed, but a few people are trying to shine some more light and transparency on what's been kept-in-the-dark from the eyes of the public. . . until now.
Here's what seems like an innocent announcement at the same time that "Land Auction Deal" selling off 132 acres promised-for-a-park got sold to a high-end developer of high-priced luxury housing was up for discussion.
On May 25th it was also announced that the City of Mesa was ranked in last place by The Real Park Source Index 2019 as best cities to live in for people who want to live nearby a park. (Subject of a featured post on this May 25, 2019)
Note in the city's press release, just five days before the city council approved the sale of publicly-owned property promised as parkland to a private real estate developer, who/what has been the sponsor - Musco Lighting LLC
________________________________________________________________________________
City of Mesa Newsroom:

Mesa announced as finalist for 2019 National Gold Medal Awards in parks and recreation

May 15, 2019 at 12:33 pm

Source: https://www.mesanow.org/news

The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), is pleased to announce the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department as a finalist for the 2019 National Gold Medal Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.

> Musco Lighting, LLC has been a proud sponsor of the Gold Medal Awards program for over 10 years.
Founded in 1965, the Gold Medal Awards program honors communities in the U.S. that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition.
Applications are separated into seven classes, with

• five classes based on population
• one class for armed forces recreation
• and one class for state park systems awarded on odd numbered years.

Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities is a finalist in the Class I (population 400,001 and over) category. Mesa joins three other finalists in their class that will compete for grand honors this year. The other finalists are from Chicago; Baton Rouge and Fairfax County, Virginia.
Agencies are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of community members, staff and elected officials.
"Being named a finalist with other outstanding agencies from across the country is quite an honor and a tribute to our dedicated staff who work hard to provide top notch facilities and programs for our residents," Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Director Marc Heirshberg said. "It also recognizes City management and our elected leaders who provide us the vision and support we need to carry out our mission."
A panel of five park and recreation professionals reviews and judges all application materials. Judges are chosen for their considerable experience and knowledge in parks and recreation on both the local and national levels. The City of Mesa was a Gold Medal finalist in 2014 and 2015 and won the Gold Medal in 1978, 1992 and 2000.
This year's finalists will compete for Grand Plaque Award honors this summer, and the seven Grand Plaque recipients will be announced live during the NRPA General Session at the 2019 NRPA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland Sept. 24-26.
For more information on the Gold Medal Awards, visit www.nrpa.org/goldmedalor www.aapra.org.

_________________________________________________________________________
Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov