Located in the historic Verde Valley of central Arizona, the Town of Clarkdale was established as a mining community for the United Verde Copper Company. Known for its copper deposits, the Town has established itself as a desirable community due to its small-town feel and dedication to providing its residents with services on the cutting edge of sustainability. Considered the first master-planned community in Arizona, the Town retains much of its original structures and its projects often pay homage to the Town’s rich history.
As a central point of pride for the community, the Selna Ballfield and Mongini Park, also known as Selna-Monigini Park, is a community staple. The park is split into two sections, with the Town-owned Selna Ballfield sits on 1.66 acres and the Town-leased Mongini Park sitting at the bottom of the ballfield. Due to its advantageous location in the community, the Town of Clarkdale seeks to redevelop and revitalize the space with activity areas, state-of-the-art landscaping, and educational features that emphasize sustainability and STEM education.
In the fall 2021 semester, the Town of Clarkdale partnered with the SOS 498/594 Urban Sustainability Best Practices Application course to research and recommend STEM & sustainability park features that the Town can implement in Selna-Mongini. The two graduate students split their research into three sections: STEM education, sustainability features, and funding opportunities for the park’s revitalization. The students recommend a series of improvements to the park and provide recommendations for new features that seek to revitalize the park’s existing infrastructure.
Recommended features are based on six topical recommendations: recycling, native plants, reduced paved surfaces, composting, reusing existing infrastructure, and rainwater capture. The topical recommendations capture a variety of potential STEM & sustainability-related features and the opportunity to use park signage and tours to educate community members and visitors about the park’s features. As the Town embarks on its design process for the Selna-Monigini Park, the student recommendations seek to equip Town leadership with the knowledge and resources to develop an educational hub and recreation site for the local community and establish itself as a sought-after destination in Clarkdale.