Scottsdale Update - April 24, 2023

HEADLINE NEWS

Scottsdale Parks & Recreation is launching a master planning process for Indian School Park, and your input is critical. We will be hosting the first community workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, in the Indian School Park Baseball Clubhouse, just west of the Club SAR entrance.

What's on your wish list for Indian School Park? More open space? Fitness opportunities? Sports fields? Pickleball courts? Come learn about the process and share your ideas with us. Details are coming soon about more workshops and other ways to share comments. Learn more about the park

Scottsdale named No. 1 “Healthiest Employer in the Valley.” Free financial planning and easy access to onsite mental health counseling are just two reasons why the Phoenix Business Journal awarded Scottsdale first place in the “large companies” category (1,500 to 4,999 employees).

The award is a nod to the city’s culture of wellness through programs that motivate, engage and support employees beyond exercise and nutrition. This award-winning level of care and dedication to health and wellness comes from the top and is supported by employees across the city.  

If you or someone you know is looking for a career with our outstanding organization, browse our job openings or attend tomorrow’s Career Convention (see details below).

Job seekers: Mark your calendars for the Career Convention from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Scottsdale Stadium's Fieldhouse. Meet dozens of local employers who are ready to hire, including the city of Scottsdale and many more. Whether you're seeking your first job, or getting back into the workforce, this free event is valuable for all ages. Need help with your resume? Our career coaches will be on-site providing resume assistance, mock interviews and more. You won't want to miss this opportunity to land your dream job! Learn more.

Blue Zones Project launches in Scottsdale, the first in Arizona. This program helps residents live better, longer lives by transforming environments where people live, work, learn and play. Research shows that where people live has a bigger influence on their health than their genetics. Blue Zones focus on the area close to home where people spend 90% of their time, working with communities to optimize public policies, social connections, and the places and spaces where people spend the most time to help make healthy choices easier and more accessible.

Participating communities have seen double-digit drops in obesity and smoking rates, economic investment in downtown corridors, grant funding awards to support policies and programs to improve health equity, and measurable savings in healthcare costs.

The launch of Scottsdale’s Blue Zones Project represents the beginning of a multi-year collaborative effort that involves the entire community working together toward one common goal – to support and build a culture of community health and well-being. HonorHealth, Cigna Healthcare and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona are partnering with the city on this project. Find more information about the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale.

Take note - Scottsdale Jazz Festival comes to Old Town Scottsdale. The Scottsdale Jazz Festival, a tribute to the Annual International Jazz Day, runs 1-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 29-30, on Scottsdale Civic Center. This year’s lineup includes Molina's 32nd All Stars, Donald Harrison, Azar Lawrence Experience, Neamen Lyles, Incognito and more. Don't miss your chance to experience the best jazz music in one of the most beautiful cities in the country.


PUBLIC MEETINGS

Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host. Here’s what’s coming up: 

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


THINGS TO DO

Don’t miss out on Scottsdale Earth Week activities. From guided nature walks in our beautiful preserve to an edible garden presentation and xeriscape garden tour, Scottsdale has a full lineup of events for everyone looking to recognize our planet. Get details: Earth Week flyer (pdf)

Tuesday, April 25:

  • Hike with a Natural Resources Coordinator, 6 a.m., Gateway Trailhead Saguaro Loop, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Parkway. Spend 1-1.5 hours on an easy hike with natural resources coordinators who willshare their knowledge about the preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert.  

Wednesday, April 26:

  • Hike with a Natural Resources Coordinator, 7-9 a.m., Brown's Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road. Spend 1-1.5 hours on an easy hike with natural resources coordinators who will share their knowledge about the preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert.

Thursday, April 27:

  • Earth and Arbor Day ArtWalk, 6:30-9 p.m., Scottsdale Art District. Enjoy a beautiful evening perusing the Scottsdale Arts District. Stroll along Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School Road on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue, listening to live music, sampling refreshments and more. Learn more

  • Rewilding your Gardens and Landscape, 6-7:30 p.m., Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Environmental artist and master gardener Joan Baron invites you to a lively, hands-on experience around food and wildflowers. Learn about sustainable practices for year-round success. Walk-ins welcome.  

  • Bike to Work or Wherever Day, 6:30-9 a.m., various locations. Scottsdale encourages you to take this opportunity to go for a nice bike ride. Enjoy free t-shirts, stickers and breakfast snacks. Get details.

Friday, April 28:

  • Arbor Day Celebration, 8 a.m., Chaparral Park, 5401 N Hayden Road. Scottsdale is proud to have been recognized as a Tree City USA community for the 41st year – more times than any other Arizona community. Mayor David D. Ortega will read the Arbor Day proclamation and there will be a tree-planting ceremony.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West hosts two authors events.

  • Jana Bommersbach and Bob Boze Bell: “Hellraisers & Trailblazers – The Real Women of The Wild West.” Both authors will discuss their latest collaboration, followed by a brief, moderated Q&A. The program, which begins at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, is free with museum admission. Attendance is limited. Email [email protected] to register.

  • “Family Fun Day” with children’s author Jean Ekman Adams. Adams will share here book, “Clarence Goes out West and Meets a Purple Horse,” then create an illustration. The program takes place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the museum. Attendance is free with museum admission. Register.

Horizon Community Center hosts a free discussion on the Phoenix Lights Phenomenon and additional insight on UFOs. The event takes place from 6-8 p.m., Saturday, April 29. Learn more

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park kicks off Summer Concert Series. Enjoy free concerts 7-8:30 p.m. Sundays, April 30-June 25, with a variety of local bands. Bring a blanket or chair and pack a picnic or enjoy something tasty from Hartley’s General Store or one of the onsite food trucks Admission is free; train and carousel rides are $3 each with children two and younger ride free with a paying adult. Get details.

Ongoing:

  • The Rich Legacy of Scottsdale Spring Training. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through April, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library. This new exhibit provides a whimsical and thought-provoking journey through more than six decades of baseball at Scottsdale Stadium and its home city. 

  • Scottsdale ArtWalk: Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month. 

Get more events information

Holland Center commemorates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May) with “Baseball at the Gila River Incarceration Camp: Spotlight Series.” Learn about Executive Order 9066 – signed and issued during World War II by President Roosevelt on Feb. 19, 1942 – authorizing our military to force more than 120,000 Japanese Americans into 10 prison camps across the United States. Presenter Bill Staples Jr. is an award-winning baseball historian and member of the Society for American Baseball Research The program is from 4-5 p.m. Monday, May 1, at the center. A $10 donation is requested at the door.


PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Learn how Scottsdale assists “bread and butter” businesses during National Small Business Week, April 30-May 6. The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes the hard work, ingenuity and dedication of America’s small businesses and celebrates their contributions to the economy.

In Scottsdale: 

  • Small business owners not only make a living for themselves, but they also make our neighborhoods vibrant places to live and work.

  • Small businesses play a crucial role in the community by promoting economic growth, job creation, innovation and community development.

  • More than 95% of businesses employ fewer than 50 employees.

Learn about the Choose Scottsdale HUUB, a free platform that gives businesses access to advisors, funding opportunities and other digital learning tools. It also provides a place to connect with other small business owners for support and collaboration.

Small business highlight: ORSA Technologies is service-disabled veteran-owned defense contractor headquartered in Scottsdale. Arizona’s Small Business Association named Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Woodruff the Small Business Person of the Year. He will be recognized this week during the National Small Business Week awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.


FYI

Investing in Our Scottsdale: Chaparral Aquatic Center’s lap lane expansion. The project, which is expected to be complete at the end of May, involves converting the underutilized dive well area of the pool into eight competition lap lanes. Learn more about the aquatic center. 

National Library Week (April 23-29) highlights the valuable role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. Honor this week by designing a bookmark using the theme “There’s More to the Story.” Various age categories are available, including one for adults. Print out a blank bookmark page (pdf) or pick up one at your favorite library branch. Drop off your designed bookmark to any library branch by Saturday, April 29. A winning design from each age group will be printed as limited-edition bookmarks.  

Scottsdale seeking board and commission members. Residents wanting to volunteer their time and institute a positive change in Scottsdale are invited to apply to serve. Openings are available on four boards and commissions: 

  • Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (one opening) 

  • Historic Preservation Commission (one opening) 

  • Library Board (one opening) 

  • Tourism Development Commission (one opening for a Scottsdale hotelier) 

Get information about the functions of these boards and commissions. Interested applicants must submit an online application by Thursday, June 1. Submitted applications are valid for one year.  

Discover what boards and commissions are meeting this week and find out what they’ll be discussion by reviewing the Public Meetings section above.


QUICK LINKS:

  • City Call Center – 480-312-3111    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottsdale What Works Cities 2023 Gold certification

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