Path Nears Completion

City grant enhances construction and may lead to final completion of remaining segments by Circles 4 and 5.

Views from the start of the newly completed path upgrades show widened path, the new entryway (top middle) and a little welcome sign

The Los Lagos Vistas Perimeter Pathway project, begun approximately five years ago, is nearing completion, thanks to volunteers, focus, and new city-funding support for water conservation.

The project began under former HOA President Jack Iverson as a community amenity to provide a walking path for residents. Jack said several pedestrian near misses by speeders instigated speed bumps and speed-limit signs.

“We wanted to do something more so people could walk the complex without getting hit by a car,” Jack said.

At first, people didn’t like the path because it might come close to patios or doors, but Jack said the utility and ability of people getting to meet their neighbors overcame most objections. It’s also a convenient way to get some exercise and avoid Lake Havasu Avenue traffic and car fumes, he said.

About a mile in length from beginning to end, the path starts near the entrance to Iverson Park, wraps along the wash near Circles 1 and 2, and the eastern property line, around Circles 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, terminating near the tennis courts in the Circle 7 parking area.

The first phases of the new path upgrade have been completed up to Circle 4. People can walk the entire perimeter now, but grassy and gravel areas remain. The recent work widens the path up to Circle 4 from Iverson Park. The next targeted phases are around Circle 4 to Circle 5, where some gravel and grass remain. The existing pathway will be widened, overgrowth cleared, and xeriscape and rockscape added.

Much of the path is compacted minus dirt. Minus dirt is a mix of smaller crushed rock, dust, and dirt that bind gravel together for better compaction, durability, and walkability.

Some areas have been bordered with scalloped edging, such as along Circle 5 where John Graham funded and installed the edging.  This spring, Randy Baker, Bob Litza, and Joe Schweighardt improved and scalloped the path along Circle 6 and behind Circle 7, trimmed bushes and transplanted aloe vera plants.  Bob has been working on rock borders for the path along the property line to the dog area for some time. The goal is to remove all wood or metal pathway borders.

Other grass-reduction areas are targeted but no plans or decisions have been made on them.  A common-area architectural review was submitted for the big grassy area by the Circle 7 maintenance and dog areas, but no final plan has been determined. The first phase work with city grant funding is a pilot to see how the process works, speed of reimbursement, and total project costs.

Grass removal became a major strategy to reduce water bills after the city kept increasing rates in recent years. After two years of HOA dues increases to cover the costs, past HOA boards worked to attack skyrocketing water and sewer rates by reducing grass irrigation. Several large grassy areas were rocked over by Circles 4 and 5, and rockscaping areas have been completed by the pool, along Montana Vista, and several circles, some of which have attractive planters with desert plants.

Last fall, the Board decided not to re-seed for winter grass to save money, but while it saved some money it also had a detrimental effect on overall landscaping and summer grass health. The board resumed winter re-seeding this season after an assessment by a landscaping expert.

HOA Vice President and former Architectural Chair Jim Corbett began the city-grant process and new Board member and Architectural Chair Doreene Shaffer is helping now. A bid has been received to begin work on the Circle 4 phase, but the board won’t decide to move forward until the first phases are completed and paid for.

Corbett and the volunteer “Dirt Crew” dug out most of the initial path with some help from the maintenance team’s Bobcat.

Jack Iverson said he is happy with the path progress, calling it a “wonderful amenity for the complex.”

Jason Hart, current HOA president, said he is looking forward to when the HOA can call grass removal complete. He said the Board has heard residents’ concerns about how attractive the complex’s grass is and their desires to keep the grass we have healthy and attractive.

He said the city grant will go a long way to balance aesthetics and high-water bills.