Barbara’s Park close to Realization
Sedona, AZ (March 9, 2012) I’m sure many of you have heard the name Barbara Antonsen, and wondered who she was. Barbara was the quintessence of volunteerism in Sedona and brought with her a lifetime of community service.
When Barbara and her husband, Lee, retired to Sedona in 1984, they built their home with community in mind. It was a beautiful Sedona home with red rock views, but it had something extra: a large meeting room suitable for group gatherings. Because Barbara had a vision of this community’s potential, she made sure she could accommodate gatherings, large and small. Some of the groups visiting her home were Citizens for Incorporation, the Sedona Arts Center, the founding committee and original facilities Committee for the Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District, the Yavapai County Community Association and the Sedona Arts Festival, originally called the Sedona Apple Festival. That name morphed into the Sedona Arts Festival, which is still celebrated each year in the fall. Profits from the festival are given to local arts charities for the benefit of young, emerging artists.
Barbara recognized the need and sought the support for a community park at the Posse Grounds. 
The 8.63 acre parcel was state owned when the Yavapai College had its eye on the land for a college Communications Center, gaining ownership through an Institutional Taking. However, the city’s master park plan called for the acquisition of the site for a community park. It was considered one of the city’s priority projects. In 1994, after a citizen movement discouraged the Institutional taking of the property, the City of Sedona purchased the property. Barbara Antonsen spearheaded the movement to preserve the land for the people of Sedona. Recognizing Barbara’s dedication and hard work in preserving the property, the parcel was named in her honor. Then, in 2004, the city requested a volunteer group be formed to raise funds to create a modest covered structure and necessary improvements. This group continues to work with the city toward making Barbara’s Park a reality.
Barbara Antonsen died in 2003, a few months after the park was named in her honor. She was loved by many and made things happen in Sedona that continue to remind us of who she was. Her legacy will live on in the park named in her honor: Barbara’s Park.
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3 Comments
As a neighbor to Posse Grounds Park, I fully support the installation of a small venue for day-time use only to accomodate 120-150 people without amplification to honor Barbara’s dedication to Sedona in in memory and her good work.
I do not support the installation of a monolithic dome to accomodate 300-350 people inside and the same number outside because of its scale and its lack of context-sensitive design. I have opposed that since the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and the Development Review (DEV) were permitted in 2007. Since that time the “Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park and Pavilion” moniker has been changed and is incorrectly referred to as “Barbara’s Park.”
Two years ago, its’ architect, Frederick Crandall was served with a lawsuit based on damages of $50K-$2 million yet, the City staff and “The Friends” never reported that to the public. Instead, “The Friend of Posse Grounds Park” reported in the 07/26/12 City Council meeting packet that the architect was “unavailable.”
From my experience of having a brother-in-law who is an architect as well as from my art school days, I know that any plans/blueprints/ created for a client remain in the possession of the architect and not the client. How could the City ever legally use Crandall’s plan?
Here is more info on the lawsuit:
January 27, 2012
MEMORANDUM ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Excerpt:
“Crandall’s contractual comparative causation claim is dismissed. Crandall’s negligence and breach of contract claims shall remain.”
North Central Texas College v. Crandall Design Group et al – Document 129, September 15, 2011
Court Description:
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE for 122 Report and Recommendations, DENYING 89 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Cuthbertson Mechanical Engineers. Signed by Judge Michael H. Schneider on 9/15/2011. (baf, )
https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/4:2010cv00037/120707/129/
Full Document:
February 1, 2010 – Texas college sues architect, engineer over design of performing arts center – This article explains the buildings’ deficiencies. Also, a jury trial has been requested (see the contents of the article)
https://setexasrecord.com/stories/510612535-texas-college-sues-architect-engineer-over-design-of-performing-arts-center
For the record, the approved City of Sedona Conditional Use Permit has a condition on the use of the facility. The total capacity of the facility is not allowed to exceed 300 people.
John O’Brien, Director
Community Development Department
City of Sedona
Update . . . The City cannot apply the $1 million Developer Impact Fees toward construction of this “dome” as last year, the AZ Legislature redefined how Developer Impact Fees may be applied. Instead, such capital improvements now need funding through the city’s general fund. We were not made aware of this until recently.