Scottsdale adds heat relief locations. Maricopa County identified 425 heat-associated deaths in 2022; a 25% increase from 2021. In an attempt to decrease these statistics and save lives, the city has increased access to heat relief by providing four hydration and four cooling stations.

Hydration stations, offering drinking fountains and/or free bottled water, are available at the Granite Reef and Via Linda senior centers, Vista del Camino Community Center and Paiute Neighborhood Center. Cooling stations provide refuge from the heat and are available at all four city libraries: Appaloosa, Arabian, Civic Center and Mustang. People can stay in these stations during regular business hours.

The city also partners with nonprofits to provide day relief centers which give refuge from the outdoors, meals and water, showers, and navigation for additional services: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays, South Scottsdale Presbyterian Church, 3421 N. Hayden Road; and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays, Vista del Camino Community Center, 7700 E. Roosevelt Dr.

Inflation’s impact on Scottsdale’s Capital Improvement Program. When Scottsdale voters approved 58 bond projects in November 2019, project budgets were based upon the best estimates available at the time. Since then, the ripples of a global pandemic have impacted city construction projects significantly—projects cost more to build—much more in some cases.

While 11 of the 2019 bond projects are already complete, and 20 more are in progress with no additional funding currently needed, the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Capital Improvement Program budget proposes to use about $54 million in one-time funding to add money to 10 projects to cover the cost of inflation. The additional funding comes from unanticipated revenue above projections and savings from other areas. Read more. View an interactive map with project details and cost breakdowns.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week May 8-12 by offering educator discounts. We value teachers and want to make it easier for them to see incredible artists from around the world by offering a limited number of $10 tickets to many shows. Learn more.

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. 

Find more public meetings. 

THINGS TO DO

May’s Civil War Roundtable features Historian Garry Adelman. Adelman is the American Battlefield Trust’s chief historian and an award-winning author. His lecture, “Battlefield Preservation Extravaganza,” will highlight how the trust is preserving Civil War battlefields.

The Scottsdale Civil War Roundtable meets Tuesday, May 16, at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. The free lecture starts at 5 p.m.; doors open at 4 p.m. for book sales and a speaker meet and greet. You can also join via Zoom. This is the season’s final program.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Youth and Family Services Behavioral Health hosts National Prevention Week – a celebration of possibility. This week’s National Prevention Week is a national public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance use prevention.

Fill-a-Cruiser to help seniors “Beat the Heat.” Bring your donations to the Scottsdale Police and Fire departments’ event from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. "Beat the Heat” provides care packages to vulnerable homebound seniors during the summer. We need bottled water, nutritional drinks, snacks, ice packs, fans, hygiene items, gift cards and books of stamps. Learn more.

FYI

The Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s Sunrise Trail overflow parking lot will be temporarily closed through Friday, May 12. The city is paving the entryway with concrete, repairing the entry gate and installing a new vehicle counter. The upper Sunrise Trailhead Parking lot remains open, and hikers also can access the trail from the Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street. See trail information.

Watch the latest Fast Five. Summer concerts at the railroad park, the city’s community Juneteenth celebration and a new online community for Scottsdale residents – these are just a few things happening in our community right now and highlighted in this month’s episode of Fast Five. 

Get the latest episode of Veterans AZ – The Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. This episode of Veterans AZ focuses on a unique partnership between veterans of the United States Marine Corps, and veterans of Federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI. Learn how Scottsdale helps veterans. 

Maricopa County seeks residents’ input on how Scottsdale helps keep our community healthy. Your responses are needed to ensure inclusive representation of all residents in all communities. The survey is open to Maricopa County residents ages 12 and older through May 31. Responses are anonymous, and personal information is not collected. Learn more. Take the survey. 

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