In the early days when Fountain Lake was filled with potable water people could swim in the water for special events. Now there is a move to revert back to those days with at least a portion of the approximately 30-acre lake.

At a study session last week the council had a consensus agreement to instruct staff to proceed with a feasibility study to convert about five acres to a lagoon with a beach for swimming and other water activities.

An informal work group led by Councilman Art Tolis, with Mayor Linda Kavanagh and Councilman Cecil Yates also participating, has been working on the project proposal since the beginning of the year. The group includes others in the community with real estate, development and financial experience.

It was a project that even other council members were unaware of until just prior to the meeting.

Crystal Lagoons, a company with world-wide experience developing and creating technology for resort and recreation lagoons has prepared a preliminary concept plan that was presented to the council last week.

Tolis said the work group based its objectives on the Downtown Area Specific Plan created for the town by Swaback Partners in 2009.

The Swaback plan includes a waterfront district with restaurants, some commercial use and water-related activities, according to Tolis.

Extensive commercial development on the park property could be problematic for the town, but the swimming and boating lagoon maintains the recreational amenities appropriate for the park property. It is noted that the Arizona State Parks Department has given a tentative green light to the plan based on preliminary information provided by staff.

Tolis said the Fountain Hills Sanitary District was also consulted and officials see no problems or concerns with the project.

“The consensus of the work group is that the swimming lagoon, beach and other amenities will energize Fountain Park and will create an activity hub to support downtown business,” Tolis said.

Detail

The plan calls for the five-acre lagoon to be isolated from the remainder of the lake with a dam-like structure that would include a walkway across the top. The area encompasses the several inlets at the northwest corner of the lake closest to the existing amphitheater.

The beach area would extend back from the water to the base of the hill that drops from Saguaro Boulevard. The beach area would also encompass the existing island in that area.

There would be what is described on the plan as a clubhouse, possibly for restrooms and/or concessions. A small boat house and dock would be built near the dam. The idea is to allow for small, non-motorized boats, kayaks and wake boards and stand-up paddle boards.

The water would be crystal blue using technology developed by Crystal Lagoons.

The company uses a cost estimate for construction of $600,000 per acre, or in this case about $3.5 million to $4 million. That does not include the cost of developing the site for dining, concessions, event space, boat house, restrooms, the beach and other improvements.

They also estimate $200,000 a year for operating costs.

Town Manager Grady Miller said the feasibility study would bring things more into focus related to development details and financial options. However, Miller said he suspects the town would need to look at a bond proposal going to voters to finance the project. He said there are other items that could be included in the bond related to the lake and fountain including updated control equipment, water quality enhancements and funding for future replacement of the lake liner.

Council input

A couple of council members remained skeptical of the proposal.

Vice Mayor Alan Magazine said he congratulates Councilman Tolis for thinking outside the box on the project, but he has serious financial concerns. He does not see the project as the potential revenue generator others do, and he noted the funding needs of other items.

“We are going to want to look at bonds for additional street improvements,” Magazine said. “A project like this could be self-defeating for both proposals.”

Working in commercial real estate Yates said there is a development perspective for this plan.

“The concept of the anchor based retail has not changed over the years,” Yates said. “But the concept of the anchor has, and it is now entertainment.

“This is not a short-term trend, and not limited generationally. If you look at what can be done to make the anchor entertainment based, this is right on the money.”

Councilman Henry Leger is also skeptical.

“This is a cool project and I appreciate the work that has gone into it,” Leger said. “I agree (with a Crystal Lagoon presentation) that this is something that would work better in Las Vegas.

“The estimate is $4 million and we know it is going to be more than that. How do we pay for this?

“I’m not sure it fits the mission of Fountain Hills and I don’t feel it fits the culture of Fountain Hills. We have significant other needs.

“It would take $160 million in (retail) sales to cover the cost at $4 million.”

Mayor Linda Kavanagh supports the study.

“I remember raising our kids here, people always wanted to use the lake for something more,” Kavanagh said. “I don’t think it is up to us to speak for the vision of the town.

“I would like to give the people the opportunity to decide whether this is what they want.”

Miller estimated the cost of the feasibility study at $40,000 and said they should be able to bring the report on that back to the council by late summer or early fall, at the same time the council will be discussing other revenue options.