Stewards of McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park offer update in Paradise Valley
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
The roundhouse project at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is officially back on track.
With approvals from Scottsdale City Council in recent weeks — the roundhouse project is part of the capital improvement plan part of fiscal year 2022-23 — William Scarbrough, president of the Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society, provided an update to Paradise Valley Town Council in late February.
Paradise Valley Town Council, in May of last year, approved $50,000 in community services funding for the pending roundhouse project.
“First and foremost I want to say thank you,” Mr. Scarbrough told Town Council during a Feb. 22 presentation at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive. “That partnership last year means a lot to us and I can’t tell you how absolutely, we appreciate that partnership.”
The Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 by Guy Stillman envisioned to provide assistance to the development and stewardship of the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road.
Here is a breakdown of the scope of the pending $15 million project at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park — an arrow’s shot from the Town of Paradise Valley:
Stewards of McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park offer update to Town of Paradise Valley
“Last year the Town Council agreed to partner with the Scottsdale railroad society and city of Scottsdale on a capital project at the McCormick Stillman Rail Road Park,” Paradise Valley Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner said at the onset of the railroad society presentation.
Mr. Scarbrough pointed out to Town Council with recent approvals at Scottsdale City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., construction of the roundhouse project should begin next month.
“This is a roughly a $15 million project of which the society is providing $1.9 million of which your town’s donation is going specifically toward the play structure inside the new roundhouse,” he explained.
“It is really exciting to see this investment this Town Council made on behalf of the community and broader community,” Mayor Bien-Willner said following the presentation for the railroad society. “It is our way of stepping up as a neighbors — this looks like a great amenity for PV kids to use.”
