Somerton to hold park ceremony Tuesday

SOMERTON — The first cobblestone will be placed at the future site of the Centennial Park on Tuesday in a ceremony that coincides with the celebration of Arizona's 100 years of statehood.

City officials don't have a timetable for the park's completion, since they're relying on donations, sponsorships and any grants they can get to fund the entire cost of the project.

Part of the money is coming from the sale to the public of cobblestones that will be engraved with the purchasers' names and then placed in the park.

Tuesday's ceremony is set for 9 a.m. at the site of the future park at the base of the city's long-standing water tower, at Somerton Avenue and George Street.

The city scheduled the park inaugural as one of the area events marking Arizona's centennial. The event also will mark the history of Somerton, established in 1898 and incorporated in 1918, just six years after the state's birthday.

“We're going to have as a special guest the oldest resident of Somerton, Kiefer Shipp, who is coincidentally 100 years old and 5 months,” said City Parks and Recreation Director Louie Galaviz, whose department has been organizing the celebration.

Shipp, who arrived in Somerton in 1920, will speak at the ceremony about the city in his youth, Galaviz said.

Another speaker will be Somerton resident, Ron Rice, who will recall Somerton in the 1960s and 1970s, he added.

Representatives of the Cocopah Tribe, with which the city has forged close ties, will also take part in the celebration.

Also as part of the celebration, city officials will put in place a commemorative plaque for the park next to the first cobblestone.

Aside from the cobblestone plaza, the park's design calls for displays of the city's history and of the area's agricultural economy, benches, green areas and, later on, a museum.

The cost to purchase a commemorative cobblestone is $35. For more information, call the city parks and recreation department at (928) 627-2058.