Surprise District 6 City Councilmember Chris Judd.

City of Surprise

Surprise City Council District 6 map.

City of Surprise

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Goodbye winter, welcome spring! This month we kicked off the 2024 Spring Training season, and we can look forward to Out of the Park Music Fest! As we experience beautiful weather and flowers in bloom, I encourage you to enjoy the outdoor events and amenities our city has to offer.

CURRENT EVENTS

Out of the Park Music Fest

The City of Surprise will host Out of the Park Music Fest on Saturday, March 23, from 2 - 10 p.m. at Mark Coronado Park, located at 15850 N. Bullard Ave., next to Surprise Stadium. The festival will close out the Spring Training season in Surprise and feature local and national headlining music acts, a beer garden, food trucks, yard games, a cornhole tournament and activities for the whole family. Featured artists include multi-platinum country entertainer Chase Rice; Paul Russell, whose viral song “Little Boo Thang” took social media by storm; stars from NBC’s hit show The Voice - Jake Hoot, Huntley, Mara Justine; local country favorite, Kyle Mercer; and more! Artists are still being added to the lineup and will be announced on the website and social media.

Tickets On Sale Now!

• General Admission - $20
   General Admission (GA) tickets start at only $20. Tickets include entrance to the festival and general admission viewing of the stage.
• Special Surprise Resident Promotion - Two for $20
   Surprise residents can get two GA tickets for only $20! Purchase tickets by March 8 to take advantage of this special deal. Use coupon code: SURPRISE! Resident tickets will also be verified by credit card zip code.
• VIP - $50
   Enjoy the festival like a VIP! Ticket includes catering, two beverage vouchers for alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, a private bar and VIP viewing area of the stage. VIP tickets are limited!

Get general admission and VIP tickets here.

• Spring Training Game & Music Fest Ticket Bundles - Starting at $23
   Get the best of both worlds by bundling Spring Training and Music Fest tickets. Bundles start at just $23 to catch a game and the concert! Make a day out of it on March 23, by enjoying the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals at 12:05 p.m. and the music fest afterward. To add a discounted festival ticket to your Spring Training ticket purchase, go to SurpriseStadium.com/Tickets, add any game to your cart and then you’ll be prompted to add on the $15 festival ticket during the checkout process. If you’ve already purchased your Spring Training ticket and want to add Out of the Park Music Fest, please call or visit the Surprise Stadium Box Office.

Tickets can also be purchased through the Surprise Stadium Box Office in person or over the phone at 623.222.2222. Service charges and processing fees may apply to online and phone orders. For box office hours, check SurpriseStadium.com. 

For more information on Out of the Park Music Fest, please visit OutOfTheParkMusicFest.com.

Fishing at Surprise Lake

Did you know the Game and Fish Department keeps our community lake filled with catfish and trout most of the year? This is an excellent time to get outside and go fishing at our local lake. A fishing license is required for anyone aged 10 and up. A youth license is only $5 for the entire year and is available up to age 18. Licenses are available at azgfd.gov.

Here is a schedule of when fish will be stocked into Surprise Lake (Bullard Avenue/Paradise Lane):

Stockings will occur randomly Monday through Saturday during the week indicated. Grab a friend or your kids and catch a few!

2024 State of the City

Mayor Hall is looking forward to presenting the 2024 State of the City alongside City Council on March 28, from 6 - 8 p.m. at Surprise City Hall, 16000 N. Civic Center Plz. We're sharing the legacy of Surprise – from what’s already built to what we strive to leave generations to come! The event includes a video presentation sharing the story of Surprise and a celebration with refreshments, entertainment and a showcase of the City's programs and services.

Want to look back at 2023?
Click to watch the 2023 State of the City video
Click to view 2023 event photos

Eggstravaganza

Join us for Eggstravaganza, taking place on Saturday, March 30, from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Surprise Stadium, located at 15850 N. Bullard Ave. This event is free and features fun for the whole family. Residents will enjoy inflatables, face painting, a special appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Bunny and a series of egg hunts filled with fun toys and treats. Hop on over to surpriseaz.gov/Eggstravaganza for egg hunt times by age group.

Youth Scholarships for Residents

The City of Surprise has created an annual scholarship program to help outstanding local students who are active in their community afford further educational opportunities at an accredited college, university or trade school. These scholarships are open to high school seniors and homeschool students graduating in spring 2024 who currently reside in Surprise.

The City of Surprise Scholarship Selection Committee will award scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Funding will be paid directly to selected recipients’ chosen educational institution for the upcoming school year. Must be enrolled full-time.

All applications and supporting documents must be received no later than Monday, March 25, by 5 p.m. Scholarship award winners will be notified by April 29.

Full details, qualifications and application information can be found at surpriseaz.gov/YouthScholar.

2024 Surprise Retail Survey Now Open

Do you have a favorite restaurant you’d like to see open in Surprise? What about a unique shopping experience you want added to your hometown? Now is your chance to tell us in our 2024 Surprise Retail Survey! 

We want to know how we can make our city a one-stop shopping and dining destination. The survey will help the City identify retail strengths within the community, as well as pinpoint opportunities to bring additional amenities closer to home. Every response helps the Surprise Economic Development Department better reach the retailers you want the most.

We also have a youth-only survey to better understand what our younger generation wants to see. The Youth Survey is for those under the age of 18 who live in Surprise.

It’s important to us that we attract businesses you want, because the money you spend here, stays here. In fact, local sales tax makes up nearly 40 percent of our City’s General Fund revenues, which support public safety, clean parks and street maintenance.

The Surprise Retail Survey runs through Sunday, March 17, and is available online at surpriseaz.gov/RetailSurvey.

Surprise Youth Council Recruitment Now Open

Surprise Youth Council is excited to announce the opening of its recruitment process for new members. This dynamic group of young individuals is committed to promoting civic engagement among youth in Surprise. Through community service, advocacy and activism initiatives, the council aims to develop leadership skills and empower peers to actively participate in shaping the future of their community. Joining Surprise Youth Council is not just about civic duty; it's an opportunity to volunteer, meet new friends and form lasting connections with those who share a passion for making a positive impact.

The application process is open now for students currently in 7th-11th grade. An application and a short video are required to be considered. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2024. For more information, head to surpriseaz.gov/SYC or call 623.222.2000.

Council Meetings and Agenda

The next City Council Meeting is on Monday, March 18 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the Surprise City Gov Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11.

If you see something on the agenda that concerns you, please reach out before the meeting so I have time to address your concern. I may even ask your questions during the City Council presentation. The best way to reach me is chris.judd@surpriseaz.gov.

Community Meeting

Join me for my next D6 Community Meeting on March 20 at 6 p.m. at Tap House Sports Grill, located at 13699 N. Litchfield Rd. Let's discuss the latest City issues and answer any questions you may have.

Please check my webpage at surpriseaz.gov/District6 for updates to my meeting schedule.

Arts & Culture Events

The City has many ways you can enjoy the arts and culture scene in our community. From theater performances, gallery tours, poetry readings and more, there is something for you to explore!

Lunchtime Theater | We3: Jazz and Blues Trio
March 14 • Noon - 1 p.m.

AZ Speaks | Hellraisers and Trailblazers, The Real Women of the Wild West
March 27 • 11 a.m. – noon

Outdoor Art Sketching Tour
April 6 • 10 a.m. - noon

Registration required for events listed above. Find details and sign-up information at surpriseaz.gov/ArtEvents.

Economic Development Updates

Railplex Update

When driving past Cactus and Dysart, you’ve likely noticed the huge buildings that have seemed to pop up overnight! This is all part of the growing Railplex, and with it, comes over two-million square feet of industrial space. As of right now, these spaces are speculative, or “spec” buildings, which are built by developers with the goal of attracting tenants during or shortly after construction. Keep your eyes peeled for more to come! 

Tricolor Auto

One of the biggest businesses to land in Surprise is just a few months away from beginning operation in the City. Tricolor Auto, a business-to-business used auto seller (think Carvana but for businesses) will be opening their largest vehicle reconditioning plant, one that will employee 500 people in our community. Since the announcement in 2023, Tricolor leadership has been working closely with the City of Surprise to develop strategies to meet their workforce needs. Recently Tricolor participated in the City of Surprise job fair that was held at the Surprise Regional Library, and Surprise has introduced Tricolor to local technical schools such as West-MEC, Glendale Community College, Universal Technical Institute, Estrella Mountain Community College and Dysart School District CTE programs. Together, Tricolor, the City of Surprise and our West Valley educational institutions are finding new ways to locate and develop high quality employees that will guarantee the company’s success in Surprise. Tricolor Auto plans to begin operations in early summer 2024 and will hire 200 auto mechanical experts during phase 1 of their operations.

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

Mayor’s Spring Training Welcome Back Reception

What an incredible evening at the 2024 Surprise Stadium Spring Training Welcome Back Reception! It was a thrill to kick off the Spring Training Season alongside Mayor Skip Hall, Councilmembers Aly Cline, Patrick Duffy and Ken Remley. The City of Surprise Sports and Tourism Department  pulled out all the stops to welcome back our beloved Cactus League Association hometown teams, the Kansas City Royals and the World Series Champions the Texas Rangers Baseball Club!

We were honored to hear from esteemed guests like Royals GM J.J. Picollo, Royals Bench Manager Paul Hoover, Rangers GM Chris Young, Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy, and the unveiling of the World Series Trophy by Rangers Executive Vice President John Blake – talk about a powerhouse lineup both on and off the field! Special thanks to our Surprise Sports & Tourism Director Kendra Pettis, Assistant Director Travis Ashby, and the entire Surprise Sports and Tourism Team for putting together such a memorable event!

Future Business Leaders of America Proclamation

Mayor Skip Hall proclaimed the week of February 19-23, 2024 as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Week at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 20. The proclamation was presented to Clint Martinez, Career and Technical Education teacher at Valley Vista High School.

FBLA is a professional business organization dedicated to bringing business and education together in a positive working relationship, while teaching middle school, high school and college students basic business and leadership principles.

Surprise Stadium Voted West Valley favorite!

Surprise Stadium proudly announces its recent recognition as a 2023 Valley Favorite. In a remarkable display of support, fans voted the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and 2023 World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers, as the top sporting event in the West Valley for 2023.

Surprise Stadium is honored to receive this recognition and extends its heartfelt gratitude, as this demonstrates the unwavering passion and dedication of our fans who have made Surprise Stadium their preferred sporting destination in the West Valley. Come see what the hype is all about!

For more information about Spring Training, please visit SurpriseStadium.com or call 623.222.2222.

Keep the winning streak alive! Vote for Surprise Stadium as USA Today’s best Spring Training facility.

Partnership Day Celebration

Thursday, February 15, marked the 7th anniversary of the partnership between the City of Surprise and Ottawa University, which celebrated the unique relationship and shared civic campus here in the City. Mayor Skip Hall, Councilmember Patrick Duffy and I joined Ottawa University’s Chancellor William Tsutsui and Ottawa University’s Arizona Campus President Dennis Tyner for the festivities. This celebration also included the dedication ceremony for OUAZ's newest campus structure, Veritas Hall, designed by Colliers Engineering & Design and built by Chasse Building Team. This brand new, state of the art residence hall and multi-purpose building includes student suites, dedicated study and gathering spaces, offices, classrooms and more and is (currently) the tallest building in the city at five stories!

Dinner in the Desert

My wife, Jenna, and I, along with Mayor Hall, enjoyed a beautiful sunset and an evening of dinner, dessert and dancing at the Barn at Desert Foothills on Friday, March 1. Thank you to Benevilla for hosting such an amazing event, and a special thank you to Seth and his Human Service & Community Vitality team for sponsoring.

SAVE THE DATE

Surprise Founders Day Event

The Surprise Original Townsite Stakeholders Committee, in partnership with the City of Surprise, is bringing Founder’s Day back to the Original Townsite, a long-time celebrated tradition that occurred from 1970 through 1990. This event will take place Saturday, April 13, at 2:30 p.m. at Bi-Centennial Park, 16705 N. Nash St.

A parade will start at the Senior Center, head north to Paradise Lane, west to Nash Street, then north to finish at the park. Activities will include recognition of the longest tenured residents, food booths (items for sale), car show, games and prizes for the kids, resident softball game and so much more!

We hope you join us in celebrating our heritage and traditions of the oldest section of our city. For more information, please call Sherry Simmons Aguilar at 602.319.5008 or email otschair@gmail.com.

Surprise Talent Show

The Surprise Talent Show is on Saturday, April 27, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Vista Center for the Arts located at 15660 N. Parkview Pl. The Surprise Talent Show promises a night of diverse performances spanning three age groups: youth, teens and adults. Join us for a night of entertainment that will leave you in awe! Tickets for the talent show can be purchased in advance for $5 per person or at the door for $7 per person. For information, visit surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec or contact us at 623.222.2000.