Description
What is the story with Welcome Home Veterans Park adjacent to the Gilbert Police and Fire buildings? I remember the groundbreaking for it and now construction is at a stand still for well over a year. How is it that two other much larger parks in south Gilbert are being completed but this very important one honoring our service members is in limbo? It’s a disgrace.
15 Comments
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)
Display Name Blocked (1544403) (Registered User)
The non-profit pulled out. They published an article about this in Gilbert News newspaper a few months back. You can read about the story here as well if you like.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/10/19/gilbert-took-chance-build-welcome-home-veterans-park-stuck-mess/4026523002/
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Engineering - David F. 🚦 (Verified Official)
Bruce,
Thank you for sharing that information. We agree that it is unfortunate that the organization was unable to complete the project. The Town was looking forward to having that facility to honor and support our veterans.
Unfortunately, the Town needs to return the site to a safe and appropriate condition. We are currently working to procure professional and construction services to effect that direction. We are anticipating that in the next few months that work will begin and will take approximately 6 weeks to conclude once begun.
Jon Holston (Registered User)
應答 Engineering - David F. 🚦 (Verified Official)
Thanks for reporting this issue to Gilbert 311! We are anxious to get the tarps and fencing down too. This situation is more complex than it appears it should be.
There is a large excess amount of dirt on the lot now that was intended for construction of the proposed park. That dirt needs to be removed. It has proven to be unsuitable for structural fill dirt which means it will be going to an inert landfill or to a need that is for landscaping. We had several projects that were interested in coming and getting the material if it was suitable for structural fill. Unfortunately that was not the case.
We are trying to find a project/projects that are happening in the community where someone would want to receive the dirt for their non-structural fill uses. If the Town is able to find a user for the material, the cost of removing it may be eliminated. If no user for it is found, we will be hauling it off.
Whatever the situation is, there should be some activity on that site within the next several months. The Town is in the design phase now for renovations, repairs and improvements in the Town Hall building. Current plans have that project starting around the end of 2020 or early 2021. Temporary accommodations for the staff in that building will be needed. This site will be used for those temporary working accommodations.
Daniel Fox (Registered User)
Kerry Fowler (Registered User)
Display Name Blocked (1762486) (Registered User)
Engineering - David F. 🚦 (Verified Official)
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)
Office of Digital Government - Derek (Verified Official)