Celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of Naranja Park!
The Town of Oro Valley is excited to invite you and your family to the grand re-opening of Naranja Park! Join us on Saturday, May 18, starting at 9 a.m. The park is nestled at 810 W. Naranja Drive, just a bit east of La Cañada Drive.
This free celebration highlights the park’s new features, including a splash pad, skate park, and a pump track for biking enthusiasts. We’ve also added two new multi-purpose fields, four pickleball courts, and over 440 parking spaces. Plus, we’ve made important upgrades to the power, water, and irrigation systems. These additions complement Naranja Park’s existing attractions like the archery course, dog parks, sports fields, and a landing strip for drones and remote-controlled aircraft.
At the kick-off at 9 a.m., Mayor Winfield and town officials will share some thoughts on the park’s development before cutting the ribbon. Stick around for skills demonstrations at the skate park, pump track, and RC flyer landing strip. The event will take place at the park’s north end, near the skate park and pump track. Don’t worry about getting lost—signs will point you in the right direction. Parking is available throughout the park, with ADA spots close to the festivities. You can access Naranja Park from both Naranja Drive and Tangerine Road.
We’ll have refreshments, cookies, and cool giveaways for everyone! There’s exclusive Town of Oro Valley 50th Anniversary merch, kid-sized t-shirts, bucket hats, towels, stickers, pickleball gear, and multi-tools for skate and bike lovers.
“This event marks a milestone for our community,” said Mayor Joe Winfield. “From its start as a gravel pit to the vibrant space it is today, Naranja Park’s journey is truly amazing. Join us on May 18 as we celebrate this achievement together.”
During the park’s transformation, we moved nearly 1.2 billion pounds of earth and planted hundreds of new trees and plants. This includes 477 trees, 204 shrubs, 42 succulents, and almost 40 acres of native plant seeding. Plus, 55 saguaros will be added this summer.
This phase of improvements represents an investment of over $20 million. Although much of the park is now complete, we’re still exploring new opportunities for future amenities as funds become available.
Naranja Park’s New and Existing Amenities
The newly upgraded Naranja Park offers something for everyone! Whether you’re into sports, nature, or just a day out with family, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
The Evolution of Naranja Park
Naranja Park’s journey began when the Town purchased the land in November 2000. The first Master Plan in 2002 paved the way for its future. The archery range, built in 2012 with donations and a grant from Arizona Game and Fish, was one of the early additions.
In 2014, construction began on the initial phase, which included multi-use fields, dog parks, parking lots, and more. This phase, completed in 2015, marked the beginning of the park’s development. Over the years, more features have been added, including additional fields in 2017 and a new playground in 2020.
In 2021, the Oro Valley Town Council approved $25 million in bond financing for Parks and Recreation improvements, with a significant portion allocated to Naranja Park. These funds came from sales taxes, not property taxes. Additionally, a $1 million grant from the Arizona State Parks Land & Water Conservation Fund supported this final phase of construction.
On June 1, 2022, we broke ground on this last phase, and in February 2023, work began on the Arizona Heroes Memorial, set to grace 2.5 acres within Naranja Park.
Special Thanks
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who made this project possible. We appreciate the community’s patience and support during these two years of transformation. Your dedication helped bring the Naranja Park Expansion to life!
Sources
– Google Maps for Naranja Park Location
– Oro Valley Parks and Recreation