Over the last year, several incidents at the Mike Jacob Sports Park have raised safety concerns among county officials and one of the facility’s operators.
Those included a netting pole snapping and falling onto a volleyball court, electrical issues nearly causing a fire and metal roofing blown off by the wind and onto fields, according to a county parks and recreation report.
With up to $1 million approved Tuesday by the Pima County Board of Supervisors for improvements, those conditions are set to improve in the near future.
“Our view is that we have some significant exposure in regard to potential safety issues,” County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry told the board before the vote.
“We don’t want anybody out there to get hurt,” he said after the vote.
The deal also calls for switching to a month-to-month lease for up to six months with Championship Sports, which handles sports leagues and tournaments, as well as some maintenance at the park, near Ina Road and Interstate 10.
In the interim, the county would put out a request for proposals seeking a single operator — instead of the current three — to run the entire operation, including maintenance responsibilities currently covered by the county.
Pinnacle Concessions runs food and beverage sales at the sports park and USA BMX runs the track. In a recent memo to the board, Huckelberry described the arrangement as “not the best model” and recommended a return to a single operator for all services.
While Pinnacle previously told officials it did not intend to renew its contract, Chris Cawein, county parks and recreation director, told the Star the company would be willing to carry on with a month-to-month arrangement like Championship’s.
For the time being, Lou Ciurca, Championship’s CEO, said a month-to-month arrangement is unworkable for sports leagues and tournament planning, adding that the facility “is going to have to shut down” as a result.
“That just shows (the board’s) ignorance, their lack of understanding of how this facility works was shown today,” he said of the vote.
Ciurca said his company’s contract allows for four one-year contract renewals, and that it would have been wiser to simply let the company continue instead of potentially bringing a new operator, especially with long-term and disruptive closures coming soon as part of the Interstate 10-Ina Road interchange construction project.
“We’re the best suited to handle it,” he said.
After the meeting, Huckelberry said it would be “inappropriate … to substantially invest public money without giving others the opportunity to propose operating the facility. We can’t be basically favoring one operator over another.”
Championship’s attorney Edward Laber said the company would like to work together with the county to come up with an arrangement that works for all parties. He declined to comment on whether the company intends to submit a proposal for the new contract.
In reference to the snapped pole specifically, as well as with other incidents, Laber said Championship notified the county of the problems but did not get prompt repairs. Championship is not legally obligated to undertake those repairs, which are the county’s responsibility, Laber said.
The costs associated with those repairs are difficult to predict, leading to “budget overages” for parks and recreation, according to the report written by Cawein.
Cawein said his department is already in touch with a contractor to perform a stem-to-stern inspection of the Sports Park to determine which repairs and improvements to prioritize. He said that will likely include work on the electrical system, gas line, roofs, poles and ADA-compliance issues.
Sports Park is the second largest lighted softball complex in the area, and hundreds of youth and adult teams use the facility every year.
Whoever ends up getting the new contract, Cawein said it’s important that a facilities renewal fund be included so that the Sports Park doesn’t face a comparable situation three decades from now.
“We are looking for the best unitary operator for that site that will reinvest in that facility and have a vested interest in serving patrons as best it can,” he added.
Rental agreement, Carroll’s last meeting
In other business:
- The supervisors unanimously approved a $96,000-per-year rental arrangement with Vector Space Systems Inc., which intends to build a rocket manufacturing facility on 15 acres of county-owned land south of the airport.
- The board approved a significant reworking a 3,200-acre specific plan known as Swan Southlands to allow for significantly more commercial and industrial development.
- It OK’d an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation regarding effluent.
The meeting was also the last one for outgoing Supervisor Ray Carroll and Public Works Director John Bernal. colleagues shared memories of the two, who served for 20 and 30 years, respectively.
Carroll’s adopted schnauzer, Simon, was also recognized by the board. Carroll did not seek a sixth term in office in November’s election.
