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Riverview Park emerges as choice for Cubs spring-training facilities

Chicago CubsFascinated by its potential as a retail site where fans can buy all things Cubbie year-round, the Chicago Cubs front office and Mesa officials have settled on Riverview Park, in the northwest corner of the city, as the site of a new spring-training complex.

The site emerged as a favorite after a study indicated it would be the best site in Mesa to support retail — a key component for the Cubs, who envision a Wrigleyville of shops and restaurants anchoring the site. Baseball-fan considerations, like access and local amenities, were not part of the evaluation process: this site was chosen because of non-baseball factors. The site’s availability was in question because a water-park developer had development rights to the property, but yesterday the developer backed down on his need for the entire 125-acre Mesa-owned property.

Mesa voters will go to the polls on Nov. 2 to decide on two questions that will lead to public funding of the complex.

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