This project was approved by Scottsdale voters as part of the 2019 Bond Election and officially began in April 2020 when the City Council hired a design consultant to begin evaluating the proposed field locations and provide options for each site.

This project will acquire land, design and build six, lighted multi use fields at what will be known as the Bell Road Sports Complex located on Bell Road, just west of 94th Street, and five, lighted multi-use fields at what will be known as the WestWorld Sports Complex located at Thompson Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. Both locations will include parking lots, restrooms, maintenance facilities to support the recreation users and limited neighborhood amenities for park users.

The Bell94 Sports Complex is complete and opened in early 2022.  The new facility is located on Bell Road just west of 94th Street. This location includes six full-sized multi-use sports fields, parking, lights, restrooms, a plaza and covered ramada, a walking path and maintenance facility.

To irrigate the six fields at the Bell Road Sports Complex, an irrigation lake was built just north of the facility at DC Ranch Neighborhood Park. This lake holds reclaimed water from the nearby water treatment plant which will be used to irrigate the fields. It has not been determined what will be the other amenities at this location, but the city is working with the DC Ranch Community Association on a collaboration for any further improvements.

The first virtual public meeting was held in August 2020 and the following materials were provided:

Project costs include purchasing land, designing, and constructing necessary reclaimed water, sewer and drainage improvements and service lines to accommodate water delivery to the recreation fields. Additionally, any unimproved street frontages, sidewalks, etc. will be completed as a requirement of improving the fields.

Field design and construction will utilize latest lighting, water and drainage technology to minimize light visibility, maximize water conservation and minimize down time due to rain events. The field design and construction will provide optimal growing conditions for turf grass and provide an exceptional playing surface for the recreational users.

The new multi-use sports fields are needed to meet the increased demand for lighted sports fields in the community, support a variety of increasing youth and adult recreation requests and create the ability for Scottsdale to host larger tournaments and increase revenue.

Trust lands currently owned by the Arizona State Land Department are currently used for temporary parking for special events, and as these trust lands will be sold in future years, the parking will become unavailable. These recreation, sand-based fields can be planned, designed, constructed and utilized to accommodate special event parking for a limited usage of up to 4 weeks each year, in a similar fashion to the fields at Scottsdale Sports Complex.

Creating additional sports fields in proximity to Scottsdale Sports Complex will allow the City to pursue more and larger tournaments to the area, increasing revenue and positively affecting the economy with tournament visitors.

How many fields will be built, what size will they be and what types of sports can be played on them?

Eleven full-size multi-use ball fields will be built. The fields will be 120 yards by 75 yards and, in general, will be used for flat-field sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey and rugby.

What type of surface will the fields be?

The fields will be natural turf. Field design and construction will utilize the latest lighting, water and drainage technology to minimize light visibility, maximize water conservation and minimize down time due to rain events. The field design and construction will provide optimal growing conditions for turf grass and provide an exceptional playing surface for the recreational users.

Why are these facilities needed?

The new multi-use sports fields are needed to meet the increased demand for lighted sports fields in the community, support a variety of increasing youth and adult recreation requests and create the ability for Scottsdale to host larger tournaments and increase revenue. Additionally, creating additional sports fields in proximity to Scottsdale Sports Complex will allow the city to pursue additional/larger tournaments to the area, increasing revenue and positively affecting the economy with tournament visitors. Trust lands currently owned by the Arizona State Land Department are currently used for temporary parking for special events and, as these trust lands will be sold in future years, the parking will become unavailable. These recreation, sand-based fields can be planned, designed, constructed and utilized to accommodate special event parking for a limited usage of up to four weeks each year, in a similar fashion to the fields at Scottsdale Sports Complex.

How many soccer/multiuse fields do we have in Scottsdale and are there requests for fields that the city cannot meet?

There are approximately 37 fields in Scottsdale that are either a part of the parks system or are used through an intergovernmental agreement with the school district to host these types of flat-field sports. There is a waiting list throughout Scottsdale for these types of facilities by youth sports leagues.

Where will the new fields be built?

Six fields will be built at what will be known as the Bell Road Sports Complex located on Bell Road, just west of 94th Street. Five fields will be built at what will be known as the WestWorld Sports Complex located at Thompson Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road.

How will the fields be paid for?

This project was approved by Scottsdale voters as part of the 2019 Bond Election and will fund the project. Project costs include purchasing land, designing, and constructing necessary reclaimed water, sewer and drainage improvements and service lines to accommodate water delivery to the recreation fields. Additionally, any unimproved street frontages, sidewalks, etc. will be completed as a requirement of improving the fields.

Will all the sports fields be built at the same time?

No. Construction is underway on the Bell Road Sports Complex which is located on Bell Road just west of 94th Street. Construction work began at this location in December 2020 and is scheduled to be complete in January 2022. The second phase of the project will focus on the WestWorld Sports Complex located at Thompson Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road. This location is currently being designed. Construction is scheduled to tentatively begin in Fall 2021 and be complete in January 2023.

Will all the fields have lights?

Yes, all the fields will be lit using the latest LED lighting technology. To learn more about the types of lights Scottsdale uses to light ballfields please watch the following video on ballfield lighting.

Who will have the opportunity to use the fields and how will they be reserved?

In general, the fields will be used by youth and community sports leagues. The fields will be reserved on a first-come, first-served allocation and the reservation process will be similar to that of the Scottsdale Sports Complex. There will be a seasonal allocation for hourly events and a full facility rental process for special events.

How many parking spaces are being provided for the fields and will that number accommodate tournaments?

Both facilities will provide approximately 100 parking spaces per field which should accommodate parking for tournaments and larger events.

Will the sports fields be used as parking during major seasonal events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Barret-Jackson Auto Auction?

Yes, these recreation, sand-based fields can be planned, designed, constructed and utilized to accommodate special event parking for a limited usage of up to four weeks each year, in a similar fashion to the fields at Scottsdale Sports Complex. Trust lands currently owned by the Arizona State Land Department are currently used for temporary parking for special events, and as these trust lands will be sold in future years, the parking will become unavailable and these fields will replace that temporary parking.

What has been approved so far?

Voters approved the funds to pay for the fields as a part of the 2019 Bond Election. The Bell Road Sports Complex and DC Ranch Neighborhood Park have both been through the public hearing process and are under construction. The city is in the early stages of processing a Municipal Use Master Site Plan for the WestWorld Sports Complex portion of the project.

What are the next steps in the project?

Bell Road Sports Complex is under construction and will be complete in January 2022. The DC Ranch Neighborhood Park is also under construction and the first phase of the facility will open in late 2021. The WestWorld Sports Complex is currently under design and will go through the public hearing process during the summer of 2021.

When will the fields be ready to use?

The goal is to open the Bell Road Sports Complex in early 2022 and the WestWorld Sports Complex in January 2023.

Where will the WestWorld Sports Complex be located?

The facility will be located at the east end of Westworld between Thompson Peak Parkway and McDowell Mountain Ranch Road.

How many fields will be built at the West World Sports Complex?

Five full sized multiuse sports fields and one small turf area for open recreation.

What has been approved and what are the next steps?

Voters approved the funds to pay for the fields as a part of the 2019 Bond Election. The project will move through the public hearing process during the spring and summer of 2021 where it will be reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission, Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council.

When will the WestWorld Sports Complex open?

January 2023

How will you provide water for the WestWorld Sports Complex fields?

The fields at the WestWorld Sports Complex will receive water from the CAP canal, just like the polo field and the golf course.

Will the WestWorld Sports Complex Fields be used as a drainage basin?

Yes, most of WestWorld is a water storage facility for major storm events. However, the fields at the WestWorld Sports Complex will be above the water storage level for the vast majority of storms that take place and will not typically be impacted.

Will parking be allowed on the streets around the WestWorld Sports Complex?

There will be enough parking onsite to accommodate players and spectators, even during larger tournaments. No parking will be allowed on Thompson Peak Parkway or McDowell Mountain Ranch Road.

Is there an anticipated increase in traffic on Thompson Peak Parkway or McDowell Mountain Ranch Road as a result of the project?

A traffic study on is underway and the results will be available during the summer 2021.

Will there be any improvements to the streets surrounding the WestWorld Sports Complex?

Yes. As part of a separate project, improvements will be made to the intersection of 98th Street and the McDowell Mountain Ranch Road intersection. Funding for the design of these improvements becomes available in July of 2021 and for construction in July of 2022.

Will we be able to use the Bell Road Sports Complex during major storm events? Will the fields be used as drainage basins?

These fields are not being designed to retain or hold water. The fields will be designed to drain as quickly as possible and if the fields are safe for players to use and the fields will not be damaged, the facility will be open.

How will you provide water for the Bell Road Sports Complex?

The fields will be watered with the City of Scottsdale’s reclaimed water distribution line. This type of reclaimed water is also used to water several golf courses in North Scottsdale. A storage reservoir is being designed north of Bell Road at a future community park and will serve as a lake feature at that facility.

Will the powerlines stay on the Bell Road Sports Complex site?

Yes. The powerlines are a major part of the Arizona Public Service power grid and will stay in place.

What will happen on the city owned land on the east side of 94th Street across from the Bell Road Sports Complex?

These 40 acres are owned by the City of Scottsdale. The city is currently exploring a range of options that include city use of the property and possible sale of the property or portions of the property. The city will initiate a public process for review of any city use or propose a public process for sale of the property in the future when it has been determined what the facility needs in the area will be.

Will sidewalks be built on 94th Street?

Yes. An eight-foot wide sidewalk will be constructed along 94th Street from Bell Road to the existing sidewalk.

Will parking be allowed on 91st Street and 94th Street?

Parking is not allowed on 91st Street and 94th Street. Both streets have bike lanes and curbs, and do not accommodate on street parking. The project design is sizing parking to accommodate parking needs on-site, if any large tournaments are scheduled requiring more parking, WestWorld parking lots will be used. We understand that there is currently some overflow parking on 91st Street from the buildings in the Corporate Center at DC Ranch. We are working towards a solution, one element of which is eliminating the dead-end street and continuing 91st Street into the park site, which should help with this issue.

Is there an anticipated increase in traffic on 91st Street and 94th Street from project?

Most park users are anticipated to use Bell Road for access. Some drivers coming from the north will use 91st Street or 94th Street, but the traffic analysis indicates that these traffic volumes are very low.

Will the speed limits on 91st Street and 94th Street change?

The existing speed limits, 35 mph on 91st Street and 40 mph on 94th Street, are consistent with collector streets that have no direct residential driveway access. The City’s Traffic Engineering group is willing to re-evaluate these if there are concerns.

Will there be stop signs or traffic signal at the intersection of 94th Street and Palo Brea?

Neither a traffic signal nor all-way stop is warranted by the existing traffic volumes, but traffic engineering is aware of the community concern. The additional traffic from the project is not anticipated to be enough to meet the warrants. This location will be evaluated in the upcoming year for a pedestrian crossing.

Will 91st Street be extended south to Bell Road?

The land south of existing 91st street is currently owned by Arizona State Land Department. When this land is developed the extension of 91st street to Bell Road will be required. The City cannot predict when this land will be put up for auction, and it will take time after it is leased or sold for it to be developed. In general, the cost of public improvements surrounding a new development is paid for by the developer and at the time the development occurs.

Is there an anticipated traffic increase to the intersection of Trailside View and Pima Road?

Most park users are anticipated to use Bell Road to access the park. Some drivers coming from the north will use Trailside View and 91st Street, but the traffic analysis indicates that these traffic volumes are very low. Scottsdale’s Traffic Engineering group is currently evaluating the intersection to see if a traffic signal is warranted, or if other modifications are appropriate. It is not anticipated that the park traffic utilizing this intersection will change the result of this analysis.

Is a crosswalk needed at the intersection of Trailside View and 91st Street?

Crosswalks are typically only installed where there is an all-way stop or traffic signal, or if an enhanced pedestrian crossing is warranted. Traffic Engineering is aware of the concern and location will be evaluated in the upcoming year for a pedestrian crossing.

What will be done to prevent cars from short cutting traffic from Bell Road thru the park to 91st Street?

The Bell Road Sports Complex will have gates at both the Bell Road and 91st Street access points that will be closed when the park is closed. Typical park hours of operation are from sunrise to 10:30pm. Additionally, the parking lot will have several raised pedestrian walkways that will serve as a traffic calming element to deter speeding and cut through traffic when the lot is open.

Will the Bell Road driveway accommodate access from both east and west and will the driveway be signalized?

The park driveway on Bell Road will be at a full median opening, allowing left turns to be made to enter and exit the park. The traffic analysis of this specific location has determined that the driveway intersection will not require a traffic signal.

Will the Bell Road driveway create conflicts with Ice Den access?

No. The traffic analysis has determined that the driveway and median design will adequately accommodate the traffic from the Ice Den and the new park. The City’s Traffic Engineering group will monitor the intersection to determine if any traffic control changes are needed.

Will a left turn signal be required at Bell and 94th Street?

Currently the traffic signal on Bell Road at 94th Street does have a left-turn arrow. It is operated as “protected-permissive” (green arrow then green ball). The Traffic Engineering group evaluates locations for protected-only left turn operation when operational issues are reported.

How large will the lake be at the DC Ranch Neighborhood Park and can it be used by the public?

The surface area of the lake will be approximately 1.5 acres. The lake will irrigate the six sports fields at the Bell Road Sports Complex which will be located west of 94th St. and north of Bell Road, have an enclosed pump house and the perimeter of the area will be fenced at this time.

What will be done to control mosquitos around the lake?

Mosquitoes tend to breed in small, confined spaces and in standing water. The lake will have aerators throughout, turning over the water surface through constant movement 24 hours a day. All the city lakes are under contract with a local firm which services and inspects them monthly. They are also monitored by the Parks maintenance staff.

Will the lake smell bad?

The lake will be filled with reclaimed water which goes through a detailed cleaning process in the water treatment plant before it is being sent out for distribution so odors will not be an issue. Several lakes in the City of Scottsdale parks system are filled with reclaimed water.

How often will the lake be maintained?

The City has a contractor that routinely checks our lakes and sprays to control aquatic weed and algae growth. In addition, they compile a comprehensive lake report that includes their spray logs and water quality tests with analysis. They also provide required documentation to ADEQ for our annual lake permit. A second contractor visits the lakes monthly to inspect/maintain the lake aerators, and to clean the irrigation wet well intake screens. Both contractors are available to address concerns between their inspection periods.

Why do we need a lake as a part of the project and is there another way to water the new fields?

The design team looked at several different options to irrigate the fields. Utilizing reclaimed water is both cost effective and a positive conservation method rather than using potable (drinking) water. This helps the City to be stewards of the environment and meet its conservation goals where water is concerned. Because water needs to be available at different times, the lake serving as a holding area was the most prudent direction to follow.