Yuma County approves $1.48 million Foothills park expansion

Yuma County supervisors approved a $1,484,334.50 expansion of Foothills Community Park on October 5, accepting a federal recreation grant administered by Arizona State Parks & Trails and authorizing an equal contribution from County funds.

Phase II is planned to add a dog park, extend walking paths, expand parking and improve accessible facilities. The approved funding provides a way to complete those improvements, but the public records reviewed do not establish a construction start or park-opening date.

The County’s posted meeting action record marks consent item 9 “Approved as presented.” The action accepted the $742,167.25 grant, authorized the General Fund match, adopted Resolution 2026-43 and authorized the County Administrator or a designee to execute the grant documents.

Where the work will happen

Foothills Community Park is at 13340 S. Frontage Road. The County parks directory lists a 10-acre park with a quarter-mile walking path, playground, two ramada and picnic areas, grass picnic and play areas, barbecue grills, restrooms and dog waste stations. Those are existing facilities, rather than a list of everything the new grant will buy.

In September 3, 2025 meeting minutes, Grants Division staff reported that Phase I had been completed by June 30, 2025. Supervisors then approved the Phase II application, matching funds from General Fund reserves and signing authority in separate 5–0 votes.

What Phase II will add

The October 5 staff report describes an expanded walking path, additional benches and park amenities, more parking, an ADA-accessible bathroom addition and a dedicated dog park.

The National Park Service award’s approved scope adds detail: a grassy area and new dog park; additional parking and pathways; exercise equipment; an adult changing station; and site furnishings. The attached budget includes two ramadas, ramps, lighting, landscaping and irrigation, along with dog-park equipment and seating. These are planned improvements, not facilities already built under Phase II.

Budget notes describe the dog park’s fence and gate, a concrete walk, water feed, and gravel and grass surfacing. A separate amenities allowance includes dog play equipment. The documents do not establish the finished layout, number of new parking spaces or length of the completed path extension.

Half grant money, half County money

The financing is evenly divided: $742,167.25 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and $742,167.25 from the County General Fund. Each pays 50% of the $1,484,334.50 project budget. The full expansion is therefore not grant-funded.

The federal Notice of Award was issued August 26, 2026, to Arizona State Parks & Trails for the Foothills project. The National Park Service provides the federal assistance, the state agency administers it, and Yuma County receives the subaward. The County memo says the Grants Division received award notification August 31.

The staff report identifies the County match as already budgeted in the FY2026/27 Adopted Budget. October’s approval authorized that budgeted match and implementation of the award. It does not establish that the County has paid the full amount or that the grant has been fully reimbursed.

The itemized budget attached to the award assigns $1,309,395 to construction, $40,000 to design, specifications and permits, and $134,939.50 to contingency. Those amounts add to the approved total.

Selected estimates include $215,000 for landscaping and irrigation, $180,000 for two ramadas, $60,000 for an adult changing station, $38,000 for the dog park and another $10,200 for dog-park amenities. They are budget estimates, not verified contractor bids, contract awards or payments.

The grant period is not an opening date

The federal award’s project period runs from August 26, 2026, through August 25, 2029. That defines the authorized grant window; it does not mean construction began in August or that residents must wait until 2029 for the improvements.

The County’s attached project sponsor agreement is explicitly labeled “NOT FOR SIGNATURE DRAFT V1.” It states that development activities must begin within six months of the fully executed participant agreement and that the agreement becomes effective upon the state agency’s signature. A signed copy was not located, so a specific six-month start deadline cannot yet be calculated from the posted draft.

Resolution 2026-43 authorizes execution of the agreement. That authorization is a separate step from confirming execution, selecting a contractor, beginning construction and completing the work.

As of October 8, no Phase II contractor award, bid results, notice to proceed, construction schedule or payment ledger was verified in the records reviewed. The County’s current public procurement listing did not identify a Phase II award, but that limited listing is not proof that no contract exists.

Accessibility, maintenance and accountability

The accessible bathroom addition and adult changing station are practical parts of the plan for residents who need accessible facilities. The draft agreement also requires compliance with federal and state disability laws. Final design and completed-work records would establish how those requirements are met.

The draft sets out reimbursement safeguards: a minimum 50% match, supporting receipts and proof of payment with reimbursement requests, and detailed quarterly progress reports. Final reimbursement is withheld until a final status report and completion letter are submitted.

The grant conditions require the assisted area to remain available for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity and require the improvements to be maintained for public use. Yuma County is identified as the project sponsor. No Phase II-specific annual estimate for maintenance, irrigation, electricity or staffing was located. The capital budget should not be presented as a complete account of future operating costs.

Information for park users

The County lists park hours of 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and first-come, first-served park and ramada use. Residents can call Facilities Management at 928-817-5100 for current park information.

The records reviewed do not specify construction closures, detours or whether existing amenities will remain available throughout the work. Those details, along with the executed agreement, contractor selection and schedule, are the next documents needed to tell residents when and how the expansion will affect their visits.