“The Desert Ridge HOA board is proposing to spend approximately $500,000 of association funds to contract significant improvements to a city of Phoenix owned park. Cashman Park will be the recipient of these capital improvements.
Further, the estimated $500,000 capital improvement cost does not comprehend additional considerations upon completion of the capital improvements. Some of those include:
1. This is a city park which makes the park facilities available to anyone from any area of the city. Cashman Park usage cannot be limited to Desert Ridge residents.
2. Special event use would bring traffic, neighborhood congestion, litter, etc. The city of Phoenix would be the decision-maker on any special event use; not the Desert Ridge HOA.
3. It has not been defined who will incur the costs of maintenance and repair.
It would be a nice addition to the Desert Ridge community to have a more family friendly park. But, if Desert Ridge homeowners are going to pay for it, then Desert Ridge homeowners should own it.
It seems the Desert Ridge HOA board and/or the Cashman Park Exploratory committee should be applying efforts to identify possible Desert Ridge HOA property ownership through some combination of annexation, grants, and/or purchase. Dedicating substantial HOA funds to capital improvements on a city owned park seems like a gross misappropriation.
Homeowners will receive voting material to approve approximately $500,000 of Cashman Park improvements to be funded by the Desert Ridge HOA reserve fund. This is not a sensible proposal for the Desert Ridge community. The damaging fiscal effects and intrusions on the nearby neighborhoods will linger for many years.
The eagerness to have an improved park is understood, but let’s develop a more family friendly park that can be enjoyed as a private park by those who paid for it. The Cashman Park proposal does not fit that interest.”
David Wiles, Desert Ridge Resident
“I live on the East side of Tatum and it’s important to me to have an inviting place where I can go to celebrate this beautiful Arizona weather in all seasons with my family. I want my money to go towards improving our community especially in ways that will add value and attract people to this place we call home.”
Ann G. Torres, Desert Ridge Resident
“In December you will be asked to vote on an important issue. No matter how the ballot is worded, the essential question you will be asked to decide is whether or not our reserve funds should be used to improve public land.
Our Board of Directors wants to spend approximately half a million dollars ($500,000.00) of our reserve funds to improve public land; specifically a public park – Cashman Park. Unfortunately, our Desert Ridge Board of Directors, has already spent $14,000 plus (the next time someone asked) of our money on this project. By advocating this huge expenditure, in spite of clear opposition from homeowners, the Board has placed itself in an adversarial position.
As an aside: Recently tons of decomposed granite was replaced in the washes. It looks great. This was a proper use of our reserve funds. As our community ages, more of these projects will be required. Let’s preserve our reserve funds!”
Suzanne Miles, Desert Ridge Resident
