As we move into August, the summer sun is still shining strong here in Surprise! While we begin to look forward to the changing seasons, it's important to remember that the heat will be with us a little while longer. If you're hitting the trails or spending time outdoors, be sure to stay cool, carry plenty of water and know your limits. And if you need a break from the high temps, don’t forget that Surprise offers several heat relief stations around the city to help you stay safe and comfortable. Let’s continue to look out for one another and finish out the summer season strong!

Inside This Issue

Save the Date

• Backyard Bash
• Diamond in the Desert Event
• Live at Asante

Economic Development Update

• Now Open in Surprise!

Current Events

• City Council Meeting
• Community Meeting
• Water Workshops
• Fire First Fridays
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Appointments

News & Updates

• Neighborhood Grant Program Applications Now Open
• Free Diaper Support Program
• Legal Kiosk Now Available to Residents
• Heat Relief Stations

SAVE THE DATE

Backyard Bash

Mark your calendars and rewind the time – it’s gonna be all that AND a bag of chips! We’re throwing it way back! Join us at Mark Coronado Park, 15960 N. Bullard Ave., on September 26, at 5 p.m., for our first-ever Backyard Bash: 90s Edition—a nostalgic night full of flavor, fun and fly vibes for the whole fam. Get ready to relive the raddest decade ever!

Event highlights include:

• Half pipe skate shows that’ll blow your scrunchies off
• Rad local food trucks
• Retro gaming zone
• Live DJ spinning your favorite 90s tracks
• Totally tubular 90s photobooth
• Market vendors

Whether you were team Lisa Frank or Game Boy, rocked JNCOs or jelly sandals—this party is for YOU!

Diamond in the Desert Event

Join us for Diamond in the Desert, the White Tank Mountain Conservancy’s (WTMC) signature fundraising event, on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at The Corral at White Tank Ranch, 20300 W. Olive Ave., Waddell, AZ 85355, for an unforgettable evening under the stars!

Enjoy a lively night of country music and dancing, delicious food and drinks and the thrill of both live and silent auctions, all in support of a meaningful cause. Your participation helps advance WTMC’s mission to promote sustainable development and protect the vital wildlife corridors and rich biodiversity of our treasured White Tank Mountains.

At their inaugural event, they welcomed 150 guests and raised $68,000. This year, they’re aiming even higher, with 300 attendees and a goal of raising $90,000!

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with community leaders, make lasting memories and contribute to a cause that protects one of Arizona’s natural gems.

Early bird tickets are now available for general admission until August 31! Click here to get yours!

Live at Asante

LIVE at Asante is a free and casual outdoor performance series at Asante Library for all ages. This America’s 250th celebration series runs the third Thursday of each month from September 2025 through May 2026 from 6 - 8 p.m. at Asante Library, 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr. Each event will feature a different genre and include a brief history of its importance in America’s music. Featuring live music provided by On Stage Now, free arts activities and food trucks! Bring your lawn chair, your friends and your family for an evening of entertainment. RSVP recommended at surpriseaz.gov/ArtsSignUp.

Upcoming Performances

• September 18 | Alternative Indie Rock | Cierra Rei (opener) and Loveyoubye (headliner)
• October 16 | Country-Pop | Anjanette Indelicato (opener) and Rhonda Jo and Shawn Royer (headliner)
• November 20 | Acoustic Pop | Abby Walker (opener) and Kenyon France Duo (headliner)
• December 18 | Acoustic Indie Folk | Jerry Scarsbrook (opener) and Jacobe Reinartz Duo (headliner)
• January 15 | Country Roots | JT Sheets (opener) and Cole Clark Duo (headliner)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Now Open in Surprise!

• Academy Bank - 16324 W. Pat Tillman Blvd.
• Aldi - 13723 W. Bell Rd.
• Azona Nail Salon - 17865 W. Bell Rd., Suite 117
• Brother’s Market - 12801 W. Bell Rd., Suite 109
• Boot Barn - 14073 N. Prasada Pkwy., Major C
• Chase Bank - 16380 W. Waddell Rd.
• Dentists of Surprise - 16853 N. 145th Ave., Suite 173
• Elements Massage - 16825 N. 145th Ave., Suite 117
• Express Oil Change - 14234 N. Litchfield Rd.
• Goodwill - 16531 W. Bell Rd.
• In-N-Out Burger - 16440 Cactus Rd.
• Jimmy John’s - 17865 W. Bell Rd., Suite 105
• Mission BBQ - 14487 W. Bell Rd.
• Pure Barre - 13580 N. Litchfield Rd.
• Quik Trip - 12294 N. Prasada Pkwy.
• Ronin Kombat Club - 16551 N. Dysart Rd., Suite 119
• Starbucks at Greenway Crossing - 16610 W. Greenway Rd.
• Surprise & Shine - 11294 W. Bell Rd., Suite 100
• The Joint Chiropractic - 17865 W. Bell Rd., Suite 113
• Tropical Smoothie Café - 16324 W. Pat Tillman Blvd.

CURRENT EVENTS 

City Council Meetings

The next City Council Meetings are on September 2 and 16 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Government Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11. 

Community Meeting

Please note that I will not be holding a Community Meeting in August. Join me for my next one on September 17 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.

Water Workshops

A beautiful outdoor landscape can be an oasis during the summer months. We can help you turn your outdoor space into an inviting environment with water-wise design, the right variety of beautiful drought-tolerant plants and, of course, some shade. Join us for these summer workshops. 

• DESIGNING A WATER HARVESTING LANDSCAPE | September 3, 6 - 7:30 p.m. (virtual only)
  
   Learn to assess your yard based on integrated design principles and find ways you can shape your landscape to passively harvest rainwater on site. 
• MORE THAN MONARCHS | September 20, 9 - 10:30 a.m.
   Learn how to build a garden space that attracts a variety of butterflies and other pollinators.

To register for a workshop, visit surpriseaz.gov/WaterWorkshops. 

Fire First Fridays

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is offering free life-saving knowledge and training. These classes aim to provide attendees with basic emergency response training in a comfortable and stress-free environment so community members will know how to start helping while waiting for emergency crews. Please note the registration forms below are only open two weeks before the class date.

To register and get more information, visit surpriseaz.gov/FireFirstFridays. Please note, registration forms open two weeks before the class date. The maximum class size is 40 people for each session. Participants must be 12 years old or older, and a registered adult must accompany attendees aged 12 - 17.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Appointments

Surprise has officially moved the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program to a monthly appointment system. Surprise residents can request an appointment for HHW collection pickup right from their driveway during one week each month.

The collection of these materials is split into two types and scheduled separately. One pick-up is for electronic HHW, including flat-screen TVs, computers and cell phones. Another is for all other HHW.

NEW pickup periods through June 2026:

• September 8-11, 2025
• October 13-16, 2025
• November 3-6, 2025
• December 2025 – No Pickups
• January 2026 – No Pickups
• February 9-12, 2026
• March 9-12, 2026
• April 13-16, 2026
• May 11-14, 2026
• June 8-11, 2026

For more information on acceptable items, visit surpriseaz.gov/HHW.

To schedule a collection, residents can use the My Surprise app or call customer service at 623.222.1920. All scheduling is based on availability and is first-come, first-served.

NEWS & UPDATES

Neighborhood Grant Program Applications Now Open

Recognizing an opportunity to encourage community engagement and further build strong relationships with communities in Surprise, the City designated $10,000 to support the Neighborhood Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2026. To be considered, projects must meet the following program criteria:

• Provide a public benefit
• Result in a product, which benefits a neighborhood or the larger Surprise community
• Be feasible for completion by June 2026
• Involve the benefiting neighborhood in project identification, planning and execution
• Emphasize neighborhood self-help; be educational or community-building
• Nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations are ineligible

Interested communities should deliver the complete Neighborhood Grant Program application to City Hall, attention Deb Perry or by email to deborah.perry@surpriseaz.gov, by 5 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025. For more information about the grant, visit surpriseaz.gov/NGP or contact deborah.perry@surpriseaz.gov or 623.222.1623.

Free Diaper Support Program

The City of Surprise is partnering with Maricopa County’s Human Services Department and Wildfire Arizona to offer a free diaper support program for families with children.

The program is available to qualifying families to ensure babies and toddlers stay clean, dry and healthy. Eligible families can receive up to 150 diapers per child each month. While supplies last.  

The Diaper Hub is available at the Surprise Resource Center, 12425 W. Bell Rd. From now through October 2025, the program will be held on the second Wednesday of the month from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. and on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3 - 5 p.m. 

For more information and eligibility requirements, call the Resource Center at 623.222.1600 or email earlychildhood@surpriseaz.gov.

Legal Kiosk Now Available to Residents

The Surprise Resource Center has been selected as one of only eight locations in the state to host a self-service legal kiosk through a partnership with Community Legal Services.

The kiosk is designed as an easy-to-use portal that helps users learn about civil legal issues, find court information and forms, access legal aid providers by appointment and locate community resources.

The kiosk inside the Surprise Resource Center is available to the public during regular hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

The Community Legal Services’ Kiosk Project is part of their commitment to bringing access to legal information, resources and services to community members in areas where travel to one of their offices is too burdensome.

For more information or to set up an appointment to use the legal kiosk, please call the Surprise Resource Center at 623.222.1600.

Heat Relief Stations

The City of Surprise is a Heat Relief Network partner. Through September 30, Surprise has several locations providing free hydration and indoor refuge stations for those needing a place to cool off during the year's hottest months.

Locations:

• Surprise Resource Center - 12425 W. Bell Rd., Building A, Suite 124
• Hollyhock Library - 15844 N. Hollyhock St.
• Surprise Regional Library - 16089 N. Bullard Ave.
• Asante Library - 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr.

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates an interactive map with more than 200 locations countywide where people can find indoor cooling and respite centers, hydration stations or donation sites. The network is available at azmag.gov/HeatRelief.

Anyone can experience heat illness or death, regardless of age, health, fitness level or how long they’ve lived in Arizona. The three stages of heat illness are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and when it’s time to seek medical attention on the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website.

Here are some tips to stay heat safe:

• Stay hydrated; drink water before you feel thirsty. 
• If you’re sweating heavily or active for long periods, consider drinks with electrolytes to help replace salts and minerals.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use air conditioning whenever possible. Fans alone are not effective when temperatures exceed 95°F.
• Check on older adults and people living alone often. If something increases their risk, like losing power or air conditioning, you can help them move to a safer, cooler place.
• Never leave children, pets or anyone else in a parked car.