Schoaf: Get ready for special events, progress on City Center

As our summer heat finally wanes, and as many of our residents return from their summer sojourns in cooler climates, our special events season begins once again. City staff has planned an action-packed year of events.

October kicked off the season with Oktoberfest and the first Arts in the Park Outdoor Concert. November started with our annual Litchfield Park Festival of Arts and another concert happens later this month. December features our hometown parade and Christmas in the Park. The New Year roars in with the Native American Art Festival, our Winter Trout Fishing Derby and another free concert.

Free concerts, several art festivals, the Kiwanis Litchfield Park Fun Run, the Litchfield Home & Garden Tour, Rotary Taste of the Park and our Memorial Day Ceremony continue throughout the season. Our staff will once again bring you fabulous special events to suit every interest and taste. Please attend and enjoy life in “the Park.”

We are also making progress on our City Center. The basic plan has been set with various buildings in our unique southwest style bordering on a large central park. We intend to encourage our new businesses to incorporate the park into their themes and products. The park will have a stage for concerts and will serve as the center for our special events whenever possible.

While several businesses have expressed interest in building in the City Center, we cannot begin the process until we complete an amendment to our General Plan, adopt a new zoning ordinance applicable to the City Center and draft a model development agreement. Staff is working diligently on these prerequisites with a completion target by year end. We will keep you updated as the process continues.

Contact our city staff, me or a council member with any questions or comments. You can reach me at 623-935-5033 or at tschoaf@litchfield-park.org.

Editor’s note: Tom Schoaf has been the mayor of Litchfield Park since 2006.