COOLIDGE, AZ — Arizona Public Service (APS) previewed plans for a six-figure beautification grant for sport courts at the new Coolidge Regional Park at the March 23, 2026 Coolidge City Council meeting. Richard Rosales, an APS representative, shared the informal preview during the Chamber of Commerce report before a formal public announcement has been made.
APS Previews Six-Figure Grant for Coolidge Regional Park Courts
“It’s not been made public yet, but I wanted you all to know,” Rosales told the mayor, vice mayor, and council members.
The funding would come through APS’s 140-year beautification grant initiative.
“With our 140-year beautification grant, we’re going to be supporting the City of Coolidge and the regional park,” Rosales said. “We’re looking at putting more than six figures into it for the basketball courts. We’re going to be doing two basketball courts at the regional park, maybe more, maybe some pickleball courts depending on how Ricky can spend that money.”
Rosales identified City Community Services Director Ricky LaPaglia and City Manager Gilbert Lopez as the staff members working with APS behind the scenes.
APS Calls Courts a Beautification Project
Rosales described the regional park site as currently graded dirt. He also said APS will do some volunteer work with the project.
Rosales noted that APS has maintained a longstanding partnership with both the City of Coolidge and the Chamber of Commerce. This year, the company marks 140 years since its founding.
Councilmember Hudson on Park Progress
The Coolidge Regional Park is a 66-acre site at the southeast corner of Coolidge Avenue and Skousen Road, planned for development in phases. Phase One includes amenities such as a dog park, playground, sport courts, picnic areas, and walking trails.
Later in the meeting, Councilmember Steve Hudson shared his own observations about the park’s progress. He said the earthwork is nearly finished and estimated the grading could be complete within a couple of weeks.
“I think that is the biggest thing that the City of Coolidge has done for the citizens and the youth of Coolidge in the over 40 years that I have been here,” Hudson said.
Hudson noted the park is being funded through impact fees, grants, and contributions such as those previewed by APS. He also said the park will take multiple phases to complete.
He visited Kenilworth Park on a recent Saturday and found it packed, even before Little League season began. “We gotta realize there’s 20,000 people in this town now, and everybody has a kid it seems like,” he said.
Hudson listed the amenities expected at the regional park: basketball courts, pickleball courts, softball fields, soccer fields, a walking trail, and archery. He encouraged fellow council members and residents to drive by the site.
Sport Courts Among Planned Phase One Amenities
According to the 2023 Coolidge Regional Park Master Plan, Phase One sport courts are planned to include four tennis courts, 17 pickleball courts, and three basketball courts. Later phases will add soccer fields, softball fields, an amphitheater, and a community center. Phase One covers just under 10 acres.
Regional Park Funded Through Impact Fees, Grants, and Donations
The city previously approved a $1,998,810.53 earthwork contract with Ellison-Mills Construction, funded entirely through impact fees.
According to an earlier Pinal Post report, city leaders had discussed a potential municipal bond to accelerate development and were pursuing additional grant opportunities, including a $1.5 million State Parks application that was on hold at that time.
