RFI - Public Private Partnerships for Mohave County Parks

A Public Private Partnership, or a P3, is a collaborative agreement between a public agency and a private sector entity that grants a private sector entity the privilege and responsibility of providing a public good, facility, or service that has traditionally been provided and managed by a public entity. The goal of a P3 is to provide benefits to the public through value-added private sector engagement. In the case of Mohave County Parks – an exclusively enterprise funded organization deriving its revenue from park user fees – there remains sensational opportunity to develop and operate recreational, park, and adventure-based facilities and related services. P3 affords an approach where the public and private sector can share skills, assets, resources, risks, and rewards in bettering and popularizing the Mohave County Parks recreational experience.

Mohave County Parks (the County) hopes to cast a wide net and encourage the submission of interesting and innovative concepts and ideas that will support its regional parks – Hualapai Mountain Park and Davis Camp – toward greater self-sustainability and establish these jewel locations in the Hualapai Mountains and on the shores of the Colorado River as the very best in Arizona.

In this specific Request for Information (“RFI”), the County formally invites private sector entities to submit their project ideas to add or improve facilities and/or services at Hualapai Mountain Park and Davis Camp.

Hualapai Mountain Park:

Hualapai Mountain Park at 2,271 acres offers the only high-elevation (6,000 – 8,000 feet) forest park within an 80 mile radius. Cabins and campsites provide for overnight stays, the group-picnic areas are used for family, business and church gatherings, the trails and primitive dirt roads are used for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, the rocky crags are used for rock climbing, and at the east edge of the park an Off Highway Vehicle trailhead, with camping, provides access into thousands of acres of surrounding Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

Hualapai Mountain Park is a Fodor’s Choice nature destination in Arizona – “The Hualapai Mountains are considered a "biological island" surrounded by high-desert terrain. The park offers excellent hiking trails as well as picnic areas, cabins, RV and camping areas on more than 2,300 wooded acres.” Summer encapsulates Hualapai Mountain Park’s peak season though winter snow proves a significant local attraction. The Park welcomes 35,000 visitors annually.

Potential P3 revenue generating ideas include, but are not limited to:

• Adventure zip line(s)
• Outdoor performance amphitheater
• Park shuttle for accessing for accessing high-elevation Aspen Valley area and Pine Lake

Davis Camp

Davis Camp is located one mile south of Davis Dam, 32 miles west of Kingman and 98 miles south of Las Vegas. The park is situated within the City of Bullhead City limits and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The park's primary entrance is located at the intersection of McCormick Blvd. and Arizona Route 68, just ¾-mile north of the Laughlin Bridge. A major benefit for Davis Camp guests is that the park is located directly upriver from the hotel/gaming center of Laughlin. A string of eight major casino/hotels, stretching along the west banks of the Colorado River for nearly two miles is directly south of Davis Camp Park.

Davis Camp Park is located on Federally-leased land operated by Mohave County under a 25-year Recreational Land Use Permit with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) that expires in 2047. Davis Camp Park must comply with all federal laws and policies of the BOR. In addition, the Park must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act. Development below the ordinary high water mark of the Colorado River requires U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.

Davis Camp Park is Mohave County's most popular park. From the busy summer season river activities through the snow bird winter season, Davis Camp is a popular year round park. Davis Camp welcomes 150,000 visitors annually. Presently, Davis Camp maintains one concessionaire contract for jet ski rentals.

Davis Camp has six development zones: Park Central, North Beach, South Beach, The Island, Davis Camp East, and Park Entry. The Island is the least developed of these zones.

Potential P3 revenue generating ideas include, but are not limited to:

• Community center building (Park Central)
• Recreation and special events building (North Beach)
• Volleyball recreation and tournament complex (The Island)
• River tubing (The Island)
• Pickleball sport court complex (Park Central)

Davis Camp Map

(Davis Camp Developments Zone)