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April 11, 2008, Florence News,
Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc.

Local Amusement park is one team's big dream (page 1)
by Mark Cowling, editor

Roller coasters and other thrill rides, a toddler town, family shows and other attractions typically found in a major amusement park are all part of one team's big dream for the corner of Arizona 79 and Florence-Kelvin Highway. Kim L. Tucci, CEO of One Dream, One Team said the state's rapid growth in recent years has yet to bring everything a population needs, including a major theme park. The complete development will encompass three corners of the intersection. After the park, the team hopes to build a related "CityWalk" with retail, dining and family amusements such as bowling and Imax movies on another corner, then a hotel on a third corner. The complete plan could cost $600 million.

"Something like this will bring in so many people, this town will probably liven up a little," Tucci said in an interview last week.

She expects Coyote Canyon Theme Park to someday draw 10,000 people a day from
Arizona and other southwestern states. The group's Web site is expected to be up tomorrow
at www.coyotecanyonthemepark.com.

Tucci said the park could employ between 800 and 1,500 people, about 25 percent of whom would be in salaried positions.

A consultant is currently at work on the park's master plan, which the group hopes to present to the Town Council in about three months. The team hopes to break ground in the fall.

Tucci, 43, of Magma Ranch in Florence, describes herself as a single mother whose previous business ventures have included a restaurant and a swimming pool company. She and the four other women in One Dream One Team haven't done anything on this scale before. "We're ordinary homebodies, blue collar workers who work every day." Tucci and one of the partners, Carolyn Helm, have been working on the future theme park for 10 years. The other members of the team are Melinda S. Martinez, LouVelle Poncho and Maria E. Puente.

The group isn't asking for the government's help in the form of tax dollars, but hopes to build the park from private fund raising, investments and sponsorships.

Kim Tucci,
CEO, One Dream, One Team (520) 450-3746
E-mail One Dream One Team

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