Provide input on the Scottsdale Shade & Tree Plan to help cultivate a greener, healthier, and more vibrant city for generations to come. By strategically placing shade structures and planting/preserving trees, Scottsdale can create cooler, more inviting urban environments, reduce energy consumption, and enhance property values, all while fostering a stronger sense of environmental stewardship. Learn more and comment at one of two meetings:
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1-3 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road
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6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road
Following a brief project overview, representatives will collect your input. Learn more.
The City Council will consider the Community Sustainability Plan at its Tuesday, May 21, meeting. This plan is an important part of the city's commitment to a more sustainable future as it carries out creative solutions to solving environmental challenges. It provides a roadmap and specific action steps for achieving long-term goals.
Adopting a sustainability plan is part of the city's 2024 Organization Strategic Plan, and part of the General Plan 2035 implementation. The public is welcome to comment on the plan at the 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, City Hall Kiva. It is the last item on that evening’s regular agenda (PDF).
Scottsdale Water has opened its water rebate program for residents, homeowner associations and businesses. With increased demand and popularity, the program - which typically launches in July - is now open early to eligible participants.
Key highlights of this year's rebate program include:
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Residential grass removal rebate of $2 per square foot, up to a total of $5,000 per property. Participant must receive pre-approval before removing grass.
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Residential in-ground pool or spa removal rebate t up to $1 per square foot of water surface area, along with an additional $400 incentive.
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Multifamily, HOAs and commercial businesses may qualify for a grass removal rebate of up to $40,000, with a bonus of up to $10,000 for removing strips of grass adjacent to the street.
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Residential and businesses can also receive rebates for installing water efficiency and monitoring technology, or WaterSense-labelled irrigation controllers.
Investing in Our Scottsdale: Learn about 68th Street improvements at a May 15 meeting. Design is underway for sidewalks that will be built on both sides of 68th Street from the Arizona Canal to just south of Camelback Road next year. Learn more at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, at Scottsdale Stadium.
The new sidewalks will fill a gap in pedestrian accessibility and provide a consistent paved sidewalk to improve safety. The project will include asphalt improvement and restriping. Additionally, the streetlights along 68th Street will receive new energy-efficient LED fixtures. The project is scheduled to be built in conjunction with storm drain improvements along 68th Street in 2025.
This project was identified as a need in the Transportation Action Plan and was accelerated in response to a citizen petition. The City Council added the project to the Capital Improvement Plan. Learn more.
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 May 20 (Posted so far; check back next week for the full list):
May’s Civil War Roundtable features Dr. Mark Bielski discussing “The Fall of New Orleans, 1862.” New Orleans is the subject of Bielski’s recent book, “A Mortal Blow to the Confederacy.” The Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable meets Tuesday, May 21, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The lecture starts at 6 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. for book sales and a speaker meet and greet.
Pac-12 Baseball Tournament swings back into Scottsdale Stadium. Nine teams will compete May 21-25, with the championship game taking place Saturday, May 25.
The Pac-12 will announce participating teams as the regular season wraps up. Tickets are on sale.
Join local veterans organizations Memorial Day to honor those who lost their lives in military service. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, at the Scottsdale Memorial for the Fallen, located adjacent to the Chaplain sculpture on the Civic Center Memorial Lawn, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. Then known as Decoration Day, the holiday was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War.
Official recognition as a holiday spread among the states beginning with New York in 1873. By 1890, every Union state had adopted it. The world wars turned it into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as “Memorial Day” and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.
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Indian Bend Wash Celebration: Paws in the Park: 8-10 a.m. Sunday, May 19, Chaparral Dog Park; Dive-in Movie: 7-9 p.m. Saturday, May 25, Eldorado Aquatic Center; Indian Bend Wash Historical Presentation.
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McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park's Summer Concert Series: Enjoy free concerts 7-8:30 p.m. Sundays through June 23, with a variety of local bands.
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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.
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Old Town Scottsdale's Farmers Market: Find a variety of organic and pesticide-free produce, and seasonal specialties such as cider and apples, flowers, natural pork, beef, fish and free-range eggs. The market runs 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays in May; and 7-10 a.m. Saturdays, in June, at 3806 N. Brown Ave.
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Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West: Immerse yourself into the unique story of the greater Western region with unique exhibits and events.
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Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, diverse events throughout the year.
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Find McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events.
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Get Scottsdale Sister Cities events.
Teens! Apply now to join the 2024-25 Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council. Get the inside scoop on local government and find valuable ways to positively impact your community. Applicants must be a sophomore, junior or senior during the 2024-25 school year, live in Scottsdale or attend a Scottsdale school, exhibit an interest in local government and civic responsibility, be willing to learn, participate, and have fun. Get details.
Street maintenance projects continue through June 10 on Scottsdale Road between Indian Bend Road and Gold Dust Avenue. One travel lane in each direction remains open, and business access is being maintained throughout the project. The finished road will be striped in the former configuration with three travel lanes each north- and southbound and existing left- and right turn bays. Transportation & Streets crews are working overnight 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend work will be scheduled if needed. Learn more about Transportation Network Improvements.
Youth and Family Services hosts National Prevention Week to help combat substance abuse. This week’s National Prevention Week (PDF) is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance use prevention. Visit us to learn more at the following locations:
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9 a.m.-noon Tuesday, May 14, Civic Center Library
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9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, May 15, Granite Reef Senior Center
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9 a.m.-noon Thursday, May 16, Paiute Neighborhood Center
ADOT advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) Improvements. Princess Drive/Pima Road will be closed at the Loop 101 nightly from 9 p.m. Monday, May 13, to 5 a.m. Thursday, May 16, and then continuously from 10 p.m. Friday, May 17, to 5 a.m. Monday, May 20. All ramps and the north- and southbound Loop 101 frontage roads will remain open and access to businesses and local streets will be maintained during the closure.
In addition, the northbound Loop 101 will be closed at Princess Drive/Pima Road from 10 p.m. Thursday, May 16, to 5 a.m. Friday, May 17, for striping work. The northbound Loop 101 on-ramps at Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Raintree Drive will also be closed.
This is part of Arizona Department of Transportation’s two-year project to add lanes and improve interchanges on Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/ Pima Road. “Stay in the Loop” by subscribing to project updates on ADOT’s website.
Listen to the latest Podsdale: Rolling out Scottsdale’s new ambulance service. Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon emphasized the critical need for comprehensive “door-to-door” care, considering that more than 18,000 residents and visitors were transported to hospitals by third-party ambulance services last year alone. From cutting-edge technology to specialized training, learn how this service will enhance emergency medical care in Scottsdale. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or listen now on YouTube.
Watch Fast Five. Celebrate the Indian Bend Wash with free events, learn about the railroad park upgrades and Transportation and Streets Department is kicking off its yearly road shoulder maintenance cycle. These are just a few things happening in our community right now and highlighted in this month’s episode of Fast Five. Watch now.
Scottsdale by the numbers:
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More than 1,000 people attended Scottsdale Airport’s inaugural movie night
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Seventeen acts charmed about 200 attendees at the senior center’s annual Entertainment Extravaganza variety show.
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A record-breaking 85 groups, representing 533 volunteers, collected more than two tons of trash along 170 miles of Scottsdale roads at the spring Adopt-a-Road citywide cleanup.
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Blue Zones Project Scottsdale and Clearway Energy volunteers helped Vista del Camino staff pack more than 200 food boxes and made about 1,200 healthy packs for students. The food bank provides 40,000 pounds of food each month (approximately $68,000 worth) to local people in need.
Learn about Valley Metro’s new fare fees at a Scottsdale Town Hall. Following the presentation. you’ll have a chance to ask questions. While there, apply for reduced fare – check requirements. The town hall runs 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 18, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library. Learn more.
Job of the Week: Human Service Case Worker. The city is offering a new part-time opportunity at the Via Linda Senior Center. In this role, you'll be responsible for providing professional social services activities, including crisis intervention, support group facilitation, and home visits, at our recreation and social services centers. This position often involves working with vulnerable and at-risk populations. If you're passionate about making a difference in people's lives, learn more and apply!
