Queen Creek horse-park construction starts

When it comes to Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre, Queen Creek isn’t horsing around.

Construction has begun on the long-anticipated project, which awaited closure of the Queen Creek landfill to commence, said Troy White, the town’s parks and recreation planning and development manager.

“On-site construction has now started,” White said. “We’re still on schedule and on budget.”

The park near Riggs and Hawes roads is expected to cost $17.5 million.

The town plans to have the park completed in December 2008.

“The construction is moving along so well and so smoothly, we’re able to focus on management and operational issues,” Town Councilman Jon Wootten said. “Staff is working on staffing, management, liability and insurance issues — all of those things that are behind the scenes where if you don’t take care of them early, you can really be in a bind.”

Wootten said the town is also able to work ahead on arena access, parking and traffic flow for the park’s opening.

“We’re in an outstanding place to be,” he said. “All I’ve seen are good things out there.”

The first phase of construction will include a covered arena, barn, maintenance and business office, restroom and meeting room. It will also include a community arena for use by Queen Creek residents only. A second phase will include trails.

White said the town’s partnerships with area governments have been helpful in getting the park under construction. Maricopa County provided the land for the park and leveled the land for the overflow parking lot as they closed the landfill, saving time and money, White said.

The overflow parking lot “was originally going to be part of phase two, but with their help we were able to move that up and put it in phase one,” White said.

Another partner, Arizona State Parks, provided a $1 million grant for the center.

With dirt moving and underground utilities being installed, people won’t start seeing “horizontal” construction until the end of January or the beginning of February, White said.

“It feels really nice to finally start seeing things moving on site,” White said, noting that the first plans for the park were created in 1998. “It’s nice to finally see it actually happening.”