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Cataract Lake redevelopment approved by Williams and Coconino County P&Z Commissions
Overhaul of recreation area to go before Williams City Council Thursday before landing in front of County Board of Supervisors for final approval

The west side of Cataract Lake is closed for the winter. Renovations will likely begin next spring.

The west side of Cataract Lake is closed for the winter. Renovations will likely begin next spring.

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - Cataract Lake is set to receive an overhaul thanks to a collaboration between the city of Williams and Coconino County Parks and Recreation Commissions. The proposed plan for the recreation area eliminates overnight camping and would transform around 15 acres into an enhanced day-use park.

The $1.5 million redevelopment of Cataract Lake County Park will be funded by the Coconino Parks and Open Space Program (CPOS), a sales tax initiative approved by Coconino County voters in 2002. The funding is the result of a capital projects tax of one-eighth of one cent per dollar on all sales within Coconino County over an estimated term of 10 years.

Proceeds from the tax are dedicated to land acquisition and park development.

Public review meetings were held Sept. 14 and Nov. 4 in Williams and Nov. 9 in Flagstaff.

According to Williams Parks and Recreation Commission (WPRC) Chair Carol Glassburn, the WPRC approved the design concept during the Nov. 4 meeting. The Coconino P&R Commission approved the concept Nov. 9. The plan will go before the Williams City Council Thursday for approval before a final stop before the County Board of Supervisors.

"There is still more work to go in this process," Glassburn said. "The input I have had so far from everybody is they like it. They didn't really see any problems. A couple people wanted a dog park out there."

Landscape architectural firm Olsson Associates presented the project's key design elements at the Williams meeting. These elements include an entry drive off Country Club Drive, boat launch, parking areas, playground, trail system, horseshoe pits, shade rarmadas and a shoreline recreation zone.

A dog park has been ruled out and existing camping areas will be removed with an effort to enhance lake edge visibility.

The project is anticipated to break ground in Spring 2012. For more information or comments, email parks&rec@coconino.az.gov.


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