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Duffy: District 3 Newsletter — January 2021

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Happy New Year. We have made it to 2021, and there are still many great things happening in the city of Surprise.

As we ring in the New Year, I’d like to share some updates with you on new parks, new roads, and new businesses here in Surprise! As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have. You can email me directly at patrick.duffy@surpriseaz.gov.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration & Service

Please join us on Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a virtual program, leading into a day of service. Tune in to Surprise TV, Facebook or Instagram to see a variety of local musicians, performers and speakers. The city of Surprise is also organizing community service projects that will be in person. Advanced registration is required due to COVID-19 gathering limitations. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Larry Garcia at larry.garcia@surpriseaz.gov, or call 623-222-1522.

Esports Tournaments

Surprise Parks and Recreation and Bravous Esports have teamed up to offer online video game tournaments. Participants play multiplayer video games in a competitive, elimination-style tournament from the comfort of their own homes.

  • Rocket League “Back to School” Tournament
    (7-17yr) – January 9, 4-9 p.m.
  • Among Us Unmasking
    (7-17yr) – February 20, 4-9 p.m.

Registration is $10 per tournament for Surprise residents and $12 per tournament for non-residents. Sign up at bit.ly/3gClzDN.

New Park and Park Enhancements

Council voted Dec. 15 to fund more than $8 million in park-related projects that will advance the goals of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Council was able to fund these projects thanks to strong growth in housing permits and retail sales collections that resulted in better-than-expected one-time revenue from fiscal year 2020. The projects include, finishing Gaines Youth Baseball Field ahead of the original timeline, a new eight-acre park at Greenway Road and Parkview Place, and a $3 million budget for enhancements to Surprise Community Park. Enhancements could include paving the north parking lot, adding a restroom, improving dog park drainage, and exploring new lighting in the area and will be finalized following design and submittal of actual costs. The new eight-acre park will provide additional programmable and rental field space.

Greenway Road Improvement Project

The voter-approved Greenway Road improvement project began last month, and is anticipated to be completed in November 2021, weather permitting. When completed, the project will add two additional travel lanes, turn lanes, drainage infrastructure, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, street lighting and landscaping. The Greenway Road project is a part of the 2017 voter-approved Decide Surprise Obligation Bonds.

Surprise Small Business Relief Grant

The Surprise Small Business Relief Grant provided funding to help local businesses that were impacted by the current public health crisis. Grant dollars were intended to be used to assist with rent, utilities, payroll expenses and other necessary operating costs. Through this program, 79 local businesses have been served and 483 jobs retained! The funds for this program have been fully utilized, but the City of Surprise Economic Development team has other resources available to help local businesses. For more information, please visit the COVID-19 Business Resource page on the City’s website.

Development in District 3

The following projects are under development review in District 3:

  • Kentucky Fried Chicken, 15166 N. Cotton Lane
  • Prasada multi-tenant shops, southeast corner of Waddell Road & Prasada Parkway
  • Black Rock Coffee, southeast corner of Waddell Road & Prasada Parkway

Meet and Greet

My next meeting will be held on Feb. 6 at 9 a.m. at Spencer’s Place, 15341 W. Waddell Road #B101. Due to the uncertainty regarding COVID-19, please check surpriseaz.gov for updates and cancellations to my Meet and Greet schedule. As always, please feel free to email me at patrick.duffy@surpriseaz.gov with any questions or concerns you may have.

City Council Meetings

The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. Please tune in on surpriseaz.gov/surprisetv, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/cityofsurprise, or on Cox channel 11 and Century Link channel 8513.

Closing

Please continue to check the City of Surprise website, at surpriseaz.gov for updates to meeting schedules and other important announcements.