New Peoria Fire Station Dedicated
Date Published: Jan 03, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Discovery Center
DEDICATION OF NEW PEORIA FIRE STATION CEMENTS A LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH VISTANCIA
The Peoria Fire Department will officially dedicate its newest fire station, located within Vistancia, on Jan. 6. But the dedication of Peoria Fire Station No. 196, as the $3.5 million facility has been designated, doesn't tell the whole story of the department's involvement with Vistancia.
Long before construction on the first homes began in the 7,100-acre community, situated northwest of
Lake Pleasant Roadand
Happy Valley Parkway, the fire department was there, serving and protecting.
The relationship between Vistancia and the Peoria Fire Department stretches back to the beginning of 2003, when Vistancia's developers initially funded a brush truck and two firefighters to help protect the workers building the community. Vistancia paid the firefighters' salaries for a full year as the crew worked eight-hour shifts from a mobile trailer provided by the community. The department has been stationed in the area ever since.
"We recognized the importance of establishing a fire department presence in the community early on," said Curt Smith, chief operating officer of Sunbelt Holdings, which is developing the master plan in a partnership with Shea Homes. "Our commitment to the people of Peoria meant protecting the area and the people from Day 1. And we knew as we grew, so would the department."
The new 10,000-square-foot facility will continue that commitment and will serve
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PEORIA FIRE STATION OPENS IN VISTANCIA
both Vistancia and the surrounding area, utilizing a fire engine and a brush truck to provide service. The three-bay station is designed to accommodate future growth in the area as well as staff expansion. In addition to fire services, it will host a Peoria Police patrol office.
"In order to maintain a high level of service as Vistancia grows, we advanced the money needed to fund the station and donated the land as well, providing a permanent facility ahead of schedule," Smith said. "We will also continue to contribute to the operational expenses of the station."
With more than 100 sworn personnel and nearly two dozen volunteers, the Peoria Fire Department serves a total of 185 square miles in Peoria. Peoria Fire Station No. 196 is located at
28251 N. El Mirage Road.
The public can get its first glimpse of the station when it opens its doors Jan. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., for an open house.
"We're proud to welcome the Peoria Fire Department into the Vistancia family," Smith said. "Like the department itself, this facility will be a great asset to the community."
The opening of the fire station is the first in what will be a long line of public facility debuts at Vistancia. The community's first public school, Vistancia Elementary, opens in fall 2006 and will be followed by two more elementary facilities and a high school.
Named "America's Best Master Planned Community" in January by the National Association of Home Builders, Vistancia is the largest master-planned community in north Peoria and features the main Vistancia Village, age-qualified Trilogy at Vistancia and the recently unveiled Blackstone Country Club.
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PEORIA FIRE STATION OPENS IN VISTANCIA
Amenities include the Discovery Center, winner of a 2005 Gold Nugget Award for "Best Public/Private Special Use Facility," the Mountain Vista Club and the Discovery Trail, a linear park that is the centerpiece of the community.
For information on Vistancia, call 623-933-6233 or visit www.vistancia.com.
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