Although currently stalled, an approved Urban Working Farm is still an option for the west end of Los Olivos Park (photo courtesy of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department).
In late May, temporary orange fencing began popping up around the perimeter of Los Olivos Park at 2802 E. Devonshire Ave. By early July, residents began to wonder on social media what was going on. If this was a simple grass reseeding, why was it taking so long? Was the park being prepared for redevelopment? Was the Urban Working Farm approved in 2018 finally going to happen? We spoke to the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, and they were able to clear up some of the confusion.
First, repairs to the turf were indeed taking place and the fencing was to protect the hydroseeding. The park is home to a popular disc golf course and the city planned repairs to the turf in three stages, beginning with the east portion in late May. The final segment, on the west portion of the park, along 28th Street, was expected to be completed by July 28. The city told us that fencing is anticipated to be removed on Aug. 1.
Second, while the park is not going to be redeveloped at this time, the urban farm project, which began its journey in 2017, is still in play.
“The Urban Working Farm project is still planned for Los Olivos Park and will commence once the department has finalized the process to secure an approved replacement property,” a Parks representative told us.
The project has been stalled since the Parks and Recreation Board at its March 22, 2018, meeting approved staff to enter into lease negotiations with Greenbelt Development LLC to develop and manage an urban working farm and concessions in a 4.5-acre portion on the west end of the 26.5-acre Los Olivos Park. Stalled because the park is a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) assisted site. LWCF is a federal grant program that preserves public outdoor recreation in perpetuity. LWCF allows assisted sites to be “converted” when a non-recreational use on the LWCF site is proposed.
Conversion is a procedure that replaces the LWCF site with another appropriate site for public outdoor recreation use. The city began the process of finding a replacement site in 2018 and by October 2020 had come up with a potential candidate – an approximately 470-acre vacant parcel 17 miles to the north and adjacent to the city-owned Sonoran Desert Preserve and the Cave Buttes Recreation Area.
In late December 2020, an environmental assessment and public comments were submitted by the city through the Arizona State Parks and Trials to the National Park Service, according to a timeline on the project website. By August 2023, the website stated, “The Parks and Recreation Department learned that the initial replacement property owned by Arizona State Land and identified in the October 2020 update was no longer a viable option.” Adding that they would continue to pursue alternatives. The project website was updated in July after we spoke with the department.
So, what changed in the area from the time of the environmental assessment to the pause in 2023? A 473-acre parcel immediately to the west and bordering the proposed replacement site was purchased by Taylor Morrison to build its Verdin community. Originally proposed in 2018, the project was approved by the city of Phoenix at its July 1, 2022, meeting.
Whether that project had any impact on the exchange is unclear, and the city staff who could answer our question whether the farm project would go back to a public hearing if a replacement site were found was not available. To learn more or stay updated on the project, go to www.phoenix.gov and search “Proposed Los Olivos Park Urban Working Farm.”
