March was a month filled with excitement and festivities for our community. We celebrated the end of our Spring Training season, highlighting the hard work of our Sports & Tourism team! As we transition into April, our City staff and council will continue to hold conversations in our upcoming City Council meetings pertaining to our Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility remains a top priority for Surprise. Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in the future of our city!
CURRENT EVENTS
Surprise Founders Day
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.
Sunday in the Park
Come enjoy this fun family event on Sunday, April 7, from 3 - 7 p.m. at Mark Coronado Park with live music from Host and Mahogany & Steel and delicious food. Event admission is free; food and drink are available for purchase. Also, support local vendors by shopping at the outdoor market!
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 event promises a night of diverse performances spanning three age groups: youth, teens and adults. Join us for 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 call 623.222.2000.
Summer Camp Sign Ups Now Open
The City of Surprise is thrilled to announce our Summer Break Camp, an engaging program tailored for youth entering 1st through 8th grade. Summer Camp 2024 will be held May 28 through July 31; Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Countryside Recreation Center, located at 15038 N. Parkview Pl. for children entering grades 1st through 4th and Sierra Montana Recreation Center, located at 14861 N. Spring Ln. for participants entering grades 5th through 8th.
Fees for Summer Camp
Registration fee: $30 per child (resident) | $50 per child (non-resident)
Daily fee: $30 (resident) | $34 (non-resident)
Weekly fee: $150 (resident) | $170 (non-resident)
We have a limited number of spots available, and they will fill quickly, so please register early. For more information about Summer Break Camp, please call 623.222.1031 or email shelby.fenwick@surpriseaz.gov.
City Council Meeting
The next City Council Meeting is on April 16 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.
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!
Vice Mayor Haney and I had the pleasure of meeting Arizona Department of Transportation Director, Jennifer Toth, on Tuesday, March 5. We discussed the US 60/Loop 303 traffic interchange improvements ADOT has planned for the future and the short-term improvements the City has taken so far. It is extremely important for us to continue these conversations and build these relationships to ensure our needs are not forgotten.
Fix-A-Leak Week Proclamation
On Monday, March 18, at the City Council Meeting, I issued a proclamation recognizing March 18 - 24 as Fix-A-Leak Week. The annual campaign reminds residents about the importance of checking for leaks and helps to stop more than one-trillion gallons of water wasted annually by household leaks nationwide!
State of the City Address
Thank you to everyone who attended the State of the City on Thursday, March 28. The event included a video presentation sharing the legacy of Surprise – from the legacy that’s already been built to what we strive to leave generations to come!
I am honored to have been a part of such an incredible legacy during my time on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Council and as Mayor.
If you were not able to attend the event, you can watch the video.
Spring Training Wrap-Up
It was a local, regional, national and even global Spring Training season this year! Thank you for being part of our Spring Training tradition and making Surprise a great place to enjoy America’s favorite pastime.
Out of the Park Music Fest
Out of the Park Music Fest was one for the books! This festival featured local and national headlining music acts, food trucks, yard games, cornhole and more! It was truly the best way to close out the Spring Training season here in Surprise. Thank you to Sports & Tourism Director, Kendra Pettis and her team for putting on such an incredible event. Follow Out of the Park Music Fest on social media to see a wrap up of the event and be the first to know about details for next year!
In an effort to save lives on our roadways, West Valley law enforcement agencies created a West Valley Speed and Aggressive Driver Task Force. It will focus on enforcing Arizona’s speed and aggressive driver laws and will also produce a “Safe Speeds Save Lives” traffic enforcement campaign.
Despite widespread efforts to educate drivers about the importance of safe speeds, motor vehicle collisions continue to be the leading cause of death and serious injuries in Arizona. The “Safe Speeds Save Lives” campaign will deliver high-visibility traffic enforcement with a zero-tolerance approach towards speeding and aggressive driving on West Valley roadways.
The enforcement mobilization is in effect through July 31, 2024.
Participating agencies include:
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Avondale Police Department
Buckeye Police Department
El Mirage Police Department
Glendale Police Department
Goodyear Police Department
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Peoria Police Department
Surprise Police Department
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Surprise was one of the first cities in Arizona that adopted a Distracted Driving Ordinance. That ordinance, that made it illegal to utilize mobile devices that were not hands-free, went into effect here in September 2018. The state legislature approved the Arizona Hands-Off Law that began in January 2021, making it illegal to use a stand-alone electronic device while driving unless it is in hands-free mode. Please don’t drive distracted.
Spring 2024 Progress Magazine now available
The spring edition of Surprise Magazine will hit resident mailboxes this week, but it is also available to read online anytime and anywhere! In this issue you’ll find the latest happenings in Surprise, including our summer recreation guide, the latest pool and park designs, transportation improvements and much more!
Surprise Stadium Voted a USA Today “Best Spring Training Facility”
We're excited to announce our very own Surprise Stadium earned top rankings in the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Spring Training Facility! Surprise Stadium was the top ranked Arizona stadium and the #2 stadium among all facilities in Arizona and Florida.
Surprise Stadium was also recently recognized as the “Top Sporting Event in the West Valley” by the Daily Independent in their fan-voted rankings.
Thank you to all residents who have signed up to receive my monthly newsletter. Your engagement is essential, and I'm happy to keep you informed about community updates, events and items that may be of interest to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me at skip.hall@surpriseaz.gov, 623.222.1313. Also, feel free to visit my webpage at surpriseaz.gov/Mayor. Follow me on Facebook facebook.com/SurpriseMayor and X @SkipHall2.
