Scottsdale is celebrating 75 years of “The West’s Most Western Town.” In 2026, the city of Scottsdale will proudly mark its 75th anniversary — a milestone honoring the people, progress and spirit that shaped our community since its incorporation in 1951. Throughout the year, we invite you to join us in celebrating the vibrant history, unique culture and exciting future of “The West’s Most Western Town.” From community events and historical highlights to opportunities for reflection and fun, this anniversary is more than a celebration — it’s a tribute to the city we all call home.

Visit Scottsdale75.com for updates, event details, stories from the past and ways you can be part of Scottsdale’s 75th year.

Scottsdale Police Department highlights a year of safety, innovation and community trust. The Scottsdale Police Department highlighted a strong 2025 focused on safety, innovation and community trust, reinforcing Scottsdale’s status as one of the safest cities in the nation. Scottsdale ranked among the top 15 safest large cities nationwide, with reported Group A crimes down 24.3% compared to 2024, reflecting significant reductions in serious violent and property crimes. Targeted traffic enforcement addressed resident concerns and led to a 24% decrease in traffic complaints, while long-standing backlogs, including photo enforcement cases, were dramatically reduced to improve responsiveness. The department also marked major investments in training, compensation and officer wellness, including the reopening of the modernized Thomas A. Hontz Police and Fire Training Facility and enhancements that strengthened recruitment and retention. Throughout the year, Scottsdale police employees earned state and national recognition, underscoring the department’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and community trust.

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How Scottsdale’s technology team enhanced city services in 2025. Scottsdale’s Information Technology team delivered a standout year in 2025 by improving customer service, strengthening cybersecurity and setting national standards for responsible artificial intelligence. The city was named the No. 1 Digital City in the United States for the third consecutive year, with judges citing its AI governance framework, modernized citizen contact systems and enterprise data strategy. Scottsdale earned national recognition for its Short-Term Rental Map Tool, a transparent, user-friendly platform that integrates geospatial data and received major awards from CIO 100 and Gartner. The city was also honored with the 2025 Golden GOVIT Award for leadership in responsible AI, highlighting its governance council, employee training and structured review process. City leaders say these achievements demonstrate how people-first technology investments are helping deliver secure, efficient and accessible services for the community.

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Scottsdale volunteers contribute more than $4.3 million in service value in 2025. Scottsdale volunteers made a major impact in 2025, with 4,695 individuals contributing 129,109 hours of service across city programs and departments. Using Arizona’s established volunteer value rate, those efforts equated to more than $4.3 million in community value, comparable to the work of 62 full-time employees. City leaders emphasized that volunteers not only extend city services but also provide valuable community insight that helps keep Scottsdale responsive to residents’ needs. The Adopt-a-Road program drew the largest participation, engaging 1,930 volunteers to help keep streets clean and support environmental health. Volunteers also played critical roles at the Scottsdale Food Bank and the Scottsdale Public Library, particularly through teen volunteer programs and the Summer Reading Challenge. Together, these efforts underscore Scottsdale’s strong culture of service and the city’s continued commitment to expanding meaningful volunteer opportunities.

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Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host.

Week of Jan. 5:

• Veterans Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7
• City Council Special Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7
• PSPRS Police Local Board Regular Meeting: 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8
• PSPRS Fire Local Board Regular Meeting: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8
• Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board: 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8
• Human Services Advisory Commission:  5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8
• McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission Special Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8
• Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8

Week of Jan. 12 - Check back next week for the full list:

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve.

Find more public meetings.

Explore The Merchantile's vibrant outdoor market! Immerse yourself in a bustling atmosphere with 100+ vendors, engage in hands-on make & take experiences, sip on your favorite beer or cocktail while you groove to live music, eat delicious food, and let the kids in your life partake in free activities tailored especially for them.

• 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 and Sunday, Jan. 11, at Scottsdale Civic Center
• Learn more.

Scottsdale Western Week activities take place Jan. 24-Feb. 1. Every year, Western Week stokes the embers of our rich heritage and ensures our western legacy glows as brightly as it did a century ago. The celebration includes:

• Gold Palette ArtWalk
• Pony Express
• Parade del Sol Parade
• Trail's End Festival
• Arizona Indian Festival

Ongoing Events

• Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, live performances throughout the year.
• Find McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events.
• Discover Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West activities.
• Get Scottsdale Sister Cities events.

What’s in my backyard? Get answers to that question at a relaxed community open house with food, kid-friendly activities, a fire station tour and the chance to talk one-on-one with city staff. Learn about projects, services, and events happening in your neighborhood while connecting with friends and neighbors close to home. The event takes place 5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Fire Station 603, 8191 E. Indian Bend Road. This is the second in a series, each tailored to a specific area. Register online.

Recycle your natural Christmas tree through Jan. 9. Look for the yellow collection bins available at the following city parks:

• Cactus Park: 7202 E. Cactus Road
• Chapparal:  5401 N. Hayden Road
• Eldorado Park: 2301 N. Miller Road
• Horizon Park: 15444 N. 100th St.
• Scottsdale Ranch Park: 10400 E. Via Linda
• Scottsdale Sports Complex: 8081 E. Princess Drive
• Thompson Peak Park: 20199 N. 78th Pl.

Only real, untreated Christmas trees and wreaths (unwired) are accepted for composting, conserving landfill space. Artificial trees, stands, and ornaments aren't accepted.

Single-family home residents can place Christmas trees in their green waste pile —separate from bulk trash — for collection during their scheduled Brush and Bulk service week.

Learn more at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “Christmas Tree Recycling.”

Arizona Canal maintenance begins Jan. 8. Salt River Project will begin maintenance of the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale on Jan. 8. The work area runs from 68^th Street east to the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community border, including the Scottsdale Waterfront. During the dry-up, portions of the canal will be drained, allowing crews will perform construction and maintenance activities in and around the canals. Residents and visitors who use the canal banks for recreational activities should expect to see construction vehicles and work along the canal banks. The canal banks will be closed or restricted during construction. Residents are advised to pay close attention to detour signs, and under no circumstances should any unauthorized person enter the canals. Dry-up work is scheduled outside of SRP’s peak season, when demand for irrigation is lower.

Job of the Week: Scottsdale Management Fellow. This position is a paid, full-time opportunity for graduate students and recent graduates who are ready to step inside city government and help shape the future of a vibrant community. Over an eight-week period, fellows work side by side with city leaders on real projects—researching challenges, analyzing data, engaging with the public, and developing recommendations that support effective and responsive city operations. Fellows also receive one-on-one mentoring from City Manager’s Office staff, gaining valuable insight into leadership, management skills, and career pathways in public service.

Learn more and apply.

Your library card does more than you think. Scottsdale Public Library is sharing a helpful reminder about just how much you can enjoy with a library card. Cardholders can check out up to 30 items at a time and place up to 15 items on hold, making it easier than ever to explore books, movies, and more. See how to make the most of your library card!

A big year for Scottsdale Parks and Recreation. In 2025, Scottsdale Parks and Recreation made major strides to enhance parks, programs, and public spaces across the city. From improvements funded by the voter-approved Parks and Preserve sales tax (Proposition 490) to the opening of Ashler Hills Park and expanded access to youth and adaptive sports, the department continued its commitment to a greener, more inclusive Scottsdale. Check out the highlights and milestones that made 2025 such a standout year!

Prepared together: emergency response training. Scottsdale Police recently partnered with multiple agencies for a large-scale emergency response exercise simulating a mass-casualty incident. The training focused on coordinated response while operating in self-contained breathing apparatus, reinforcing the importance of readiness, communication, and teamwork to protect lives during rare but critical events. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how agencies train for the unthinkable.