Carefree Park started the new year with an exciting announcement! At the January Town Council meeting, Carefree resident, Stephanie Barbour, announced that she and her husband, Ian, were making a pledge to the nonprofit organization in the amount of $100,000!
Ms. Barbour notes the reason she and her husband felt compelled to make this generous pledge is because they want a park that is accessible to everyone. “Looking ahead, we are an aging population and we need a safe place to still be able to get out and feel we are in nature. The 48-acres is relatively flat so it is kind to those of us that are getting older. Carefree doesn’t have a proper hiking park and there is pent up demand to have something accessible in our own town.” The close proximity of the land to downtown Carefree makes it ideal.
As we know, the 48-acre parcel can only be acquired through Arizona State Land Department auction. An interested party can submit an application and must then go through the rigorous and expensive process of completing the due diligence (including appraisal, ALTA, Phase 1 report, etc.) leading up to the auction.
Because it is a public auction, there is always the possibility that one or more developers with deep pockets and the desire to develop this last remaining large parcel of accessible land in Carefree may also come to the auction to bid.
Those who are interested in supporting the preservation of this land can either make a financial donation to Carefree Park, or they can make a pledge in any amount. There is no minimum amount. (The pledge form can be found on the website. www.CarefreePark.org/donate).
If Carefree Park is outbid by a developer at the auction, then all pledge forms will be returned to the donor. Any cash donations will be forwarded to another qualifying 501(c)3 organization, per IRS rules.
Ms. Barbour stated she is also encouraging everyone she and her husband know to make a donation or a pledge to this important initiative.
Wendy Mattes
Carefree Resident
