The City of Scottsdale has a great selection of sports, recreation, and leisure activities for your
Operating as usual
09/16/2023
Our are making a splash at the Special Olympics Arizona Four Peaks area swim meet this weekend 💦🏊🏼♀️
Time to , earn some medals, and make some memories 🏅💜
Image: Fans and athletes cheer on the Scottsdale Bobcats Special Olympics swim athletes from the bleachers
09/15/2023
Scottsdale Civic Center has been our city's civic, arts, and events headquarters for more than 50 years 🌟
The space has continued to evolve to fit our city's changing needs, with the latest major renovations completed this summer. These voter-approved 2019 bond election upgrades recently earned state and regional awards from both the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association and Engineering News-Record 🥇
Image: An aerial photo circa 1975 looking northeast, with City Hall in the center and the Scottsdale Public Library to the south. West of the library, the Center for Performing Arts is under construction.
09/13/2023
Our crews have been out since early this morning cleaning up damage from the storm last night. Please exercise caution if you’re using our parks today and be mindful of path closure signs. ⚠️
We will have more updates on specific closures as we assess damage.
09/11/2023
Calling all pickleballers 📢
We’re hosting a focus group this Wednesday, Sept. 13 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Mustang Library and want to hear from you! Learn more about our master planning process and share your feedback to help
During this session, you can share your thoughts on pickleball locations, amenities, and future facilities to help guide our planning over the next 10+ years
Can’t make it on Wednesday? No worries - over the next few months, we’ll be hosting more community workshops and virtual sessions to capture feedback for our master plan. Visit ShapeScottsdaleParks.com to learn more and take our online questionnaire!
Image: Pickleball courts at Horizon Park in Scottsdale
09/08/2023
Chaparral Aquatic Center has been serving up good times and tan lines since 1974 🛟☀️
The facility opened Labor Day weekend of September 1974 as the largest freeform pool in Arizona at the time (279 feet long) 🏊🏻♀️
Image 1: A young boy walks the pool's high dive during the 1974 opening weekend
Image 2: A young man does a back flip off the high dive during the 1974 opening weekend
Image 3: A young lady climbs up the high dive during the 1974 opening weekend
08/30/2023
That’s a wrap on our free August swim lessons! 😀💦☀️
A total of 42 classes, 336 lessons, and more than 200 participants rounded out the month of free learn-to-swim lessons at the aquatic centers, thanks in part to the USA Swimming Youth Learn to Swim Grant. Thank you to all who participated!
08/26/2023
We don't like to throw shade, but we know it's a high priority for our field users and youth and adult sports partners... so we're doing just that!
Our team recently completed a project where eight shade structures were installed over the bleachers in the "quad" behind the baseball and softball fields at Chaparral Park. ⚾️🥎 The install was completed just in time for our fall programs and we can't wait to play ball!
08/20/2023
Adaptive programming was in full force this week throughout the community🔥
🧗🏻♀️We reached new heights with our visit to Ability360 and their 35-foot indoor rock wall. The state-of-the-art sports and fitness center located in Phoenix is designed specifically for people with disabilities and their families
📚Our friends from Scottsdale Public Library showed us why we have the the best library system in the nation (as if we had any doubts!) with a tour of Civic Center’s world-class services and offerings
💜Our very own athlete, Junior, was invited to participate in a Special Olympics Arizona basketball camp with Formula Zero - a community of elite basketball players led by Damian Lillard
08/18/2023
Be a cactus in a world full of delicate flowers 🌵
Celebrate Scottsdale's glory days at the 80s Night! This free event takes place at Scottsdale Civic Center on Sept. 2 from 6 - 9 p.m. and features live music, food and drinks, a vintage market, and so much more. See you there!
08/16/2023
Casting call: part-time Communications Specialist wanted 📱🧑🏼💻🗣
It's oh-fish-al: we're trying to reel in our next big catch to help manage our social media accounts, create engaging content, and share all the awesome things we're doing! It's a pretty amazing oppor-tuna-ty, if you ask us 🐠
Drop us a line at https://bit.ly/47BY9IT - applications will be accepted through Aug. 28 🎣
08/15/2023
It’s Day, but us Parks & Rec folks prefer the playground 🛝
Engaging Local Government Leaders
City of Scottsdale - Government
08/12/2023
What types of programs and amenities do you want to see in Scottsdale over the next 10+ years?
We just kicked off a master plan process to map out our future - and we want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on our interactive map to tell us exactly what you want and where you want it by visiting https://bit.ly/3OTRu5t
We're counting down the days until the 80s Night! Don't miss this free event at Scottsdale Civic Center on Sept. 2 from 6 - 9 p.m. featuring live music, food, arcade games, vintage market, cocktail garden and more
08/08/2023
We’re sending kids home with way more than just homework 📚✏️
Our after school programs are back in full swing and we’re ready to serve more than 400 K-6th grade students across our six sites 👩🏻🎓🧑🏽🏫
Wishing all Scottsdale students, parents, teachers and administrators a successful school year - and can’t forget our amazing program staff!
08/08/2023
Catch a movie under the stars this Saturday night ✨🎥
We’ll be screening the new animated Super Mario Bros movie at Scottsdale Civic Center! Cool off at the new splash pad, play games, and grab a bite to eat from our food vendors.
This free event runs from 7-9 p.m. and the movie will start shortly after sunset around 7:30 p.m.
08/07/2023
Never met a sunset we didn’t like here in Scottsdale 🌅
08/03/2023
Join our team!
Our Sports Field Reservation Office is looking for its next coordinator of field reservations and policies. This positions works with city programs, youth partners, and the school district! The application is open until August 8th.
Find it here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/scottsdaleaz/jobs/4134755/recreation-leader-senior-coord-of-athletic-fields-youth-org?page=3&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
We're one month away from the 80s Night! Don't miss this free event at Scottsdale Civic Center on Sept. 2 from 6 - 9 p.m. featuring live music, arcade, kids activities, vintage market, food trucks and more
08/02/2023
Fall Class registration is underway!
Have you ever wanted to begin a new activity? Improve your skills? Or burn off those calories? 🤔🧠💪
We are offering a variety of new classes this fall including
🎁Gift Wrapping 101
🎨Guided Painting: Inspired by Mondrian Squares
🏋️♀️Senior Cardio, Stretch and Strength Training
🖍Young Rembrandts - Cartoon
🧘♀️Yoga Stars for kids
To check out all of our classes, new offerings and our best classics, you can view our Scottsdale Life online, or browse classes via our online registration system. 💻
07/31/2023
We need your feedback to parks, programs, and amenities over the next 10+ years! Citizens have proposed some of our city's greatest assets - like the Indian Bend Wash - and we're looking for your ideas for the future 🌳🚴♀️🛝
We're going through a system-wide master planning process that will guide future investments and priorities for our open spaces, facilities, and recreation programs. Visit https://shapescottsdaleparks.com/ to take our online survey, leave comments on our interactive map, or learn more about the process!
Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Master Plan The City of Scottsdale is planning the future of its Parks and Recreation system over the next 10 years and is looking for your input on how to Shape Scottsdale!
07/30/2023
What should our parks and programs look like 10+ years down the road? 🌳🚴♂️🛝
We just kicked off a system-wide master planning process to and want to hear from you! This master plan will be a roadmap that guides future investments and priorities for our open spaces, facilities, and recreation programs.
Visit our website to take a quick survey, comment on our interactive map, and share your big ideas!
Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Master Plan The City of Scottsdale is planning the future of its Parks and Recreation system over the next 10 years and is looking for your input on how to Shape Scottsdale!
07/29/2023
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Recreational Swim and Dive Championship meet today! Special thanks to Scottsdale Aquatic Club for helping us run the swim meet so smoothly. We look forward to seeing everyone next summer! 🏊♀️
07/27/2023
What a storm last night! ⛈
Parks staff have been out since the early morning to clean up from last night's storm. There are many fallen trees and a lot of debris to be picked up. 🌿
Use caution when enjoying the parks today and be mindful of path closure signs.
07/27/2023
As , so does demand for amenities 📈🏊🏼♀️
Lucky for us, Scottsdale residents and community leaders pushed early on for continued investments in open space and recreation facilities - even setting a goal to develop one acre of park land for every 100 residents.
📸 Pictured here is the construction of Chaparral Park’s Aquatic Center in 1974. Planning of the 74-acre park, then known as Jackrabbit Park, began in 1967. The city later received federal grants in 1971 to begin development, then renamed the park to Chaparral and broke ground on the project in 1972. The aquatic center opened Labor Day Weekend of 1974 as the largest free-form pool in Arizona at the time (297 feet long).
We’ve continued to build on that investment, just completing major upgrades this month to add eight USA Swimming-certified competition swim lanes, LED pool lights, new starting blocks, an in-ground aeration system, and expanded deck space and shaded areas!
National Recreation and Park Association
07/26/2023
Congratulations to class 23 for graduating from our Aquatic Management Academy! 👩🎓🧑🎓
The Aquatic Management Academy is a professional development program where participants take a closer look at our city values and how they relate to aquatics and the city overall. Special thanks to all of our guest speakers including our aquatics maintenance staff, and our own Parks and Recreation Director. We’re already looking forward to next year’s class!
07/25/2023
The only thing hotter than the Arizona summer is our Fall activities and classes lineup! 🥵😆
Registration is open for fall fitness classes, adult sports, kids camps and more! To see all of the fun we have planned, you can view Scottsdale Life online, or browse classes via our online registration system. 💻
Our afterschool program registration begins next week on July 31! 🖍🎨🤹♀️⛹️♂️
Parks and recreation programs provide places for health and well-being that are accessible by persons of all ages and abilities, and our facilities are often the places that people go to get healthy and stay fit. 🎾🥅🛝
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that creating, improving and promoting places to be physically active can improve individual and community health and result in a 25 percent increase of residents who exercise at least three times per week.
🤸♂️🏋️♀️🧘🏾
07/25/2023
Over the last year, we've moved forward multiple voter-approved 2019 Bond projects to replace aging infrastructure and build new spaces 🔨🦺
❤️ Scottsdale Civic Center reopened after completion of renovations that began in October 2021. The project updated aging infrastructure at the city's signature special event and gathering space and added new amenities like the Children's Garden, playground, and splash pad
⚽️ Construction began on the new Reata Sports Complex, completing work on the five new lighted fields, parking lot, and landscaping. The project is scheduled for completion in January 2024 after the construction of the site's restrooms and operations building. Reata will join the Bell94 and Scottsdale Sports complexes as the city's competitive tournament venues driving sports tourism and creating economic impact. These venues are also multifunctioning and accommodate parking and rideshare for the city's largest tourism-generating events including Barrett-Jackson and the Waste Management Phoenix Open
💧 The first phase of repairs to lakes and irrigation in the Indian Bend Wash started at Eldorado Park in March. Work included conversion of non-recreational, passive turf to xeriscape around the community center and removal of lake sediment in preparation of a new lake wall and pump station. Improvements will save an estimated 651,702 gallons of water per year
National Recreation and Park Association
07/24/2023
Enjoy FREE learn-to-swim lessons in the month of August! 💦
In honor of Drowning Impact Awareness Month, Scottsdale Aquatics will be offering free swim lessons for all ages and abilities. Drowning Impact Awareness Month began in August 2004 in collaboration with Phoenix Children's Hospital and is now the largest collaborative water safety effort in the state of Arizona. Starting Tuesday, July 25, Scottsdale residents can sign up for lessons, and non-residents can sign up Tuesday, August 1. Visit Recreation.ScottsdaleAZ.gov to see class times and locations.
Learn more at: ScottsdaleAZ.gov/news/scottsdale-offering-free-swim-lessons-in-august
07/23/2023
Parks maintenance crews are hard at work at many of our sports fields getting ready for the start of the fall sports season. Our crews use the summer months to grow grass and do field improvements that will last us well into the coming months.
Parks staff maintain 112 sports fields across city parks and Scottsdale schools in our community. These fields will be used by a wide variety of youth and adult sports programs!
It's Parks and Recreation Professionals Day and we're celebrating the skilled work of our employees to keep Scottsdale's World-Class facilities and open spaces beautiful!
National Recreation and Park Association
07/20/2023
Tomorrow is Parks and Recreation Professionals Day, so we're showing some love to the dedicated employees that helped get us where we are today ❤️
Help us celebrate by giving thanks to Scottsdale's parks professionals who selflessly deliver high quality experiences and keep our parks clean, safe, welcoming, and inclusive!
National Recreation and Park Association
07/19/2023
💦 Slide the Rails at and hop on board for a wet n' wild ride on Aug. 5 with inflatable water slides, obstacle courses, a bubble foam pit and more. Visit https://therailroadpark.com for additional information and details to purchase tickets.
07/18/2023
Thank you to Councilmember Tom Durham and Councilwoman Betty Janik for helping us ceremoniously open Chaparral Pool this week with a ribbon cutting! Come by Chaparral pool for free open swim this week and next week to check out the newly renovated pool!
07/18/2023
Kids are lined up for blocks to join our Bricks 4 Kids Class! 🧱🧱🧱
Our Parks and Recreation offers something for every child when it comes to fun, fitness, learning and life-long growing. We offer a variety of programs and classes to fit your needs.
This fall, we will offer a variety of new classes for youth like the STEAM Across the Universe Camp, where our participants will take on a galaxy of cosmically cool challenges, including rocket launch day, moon day and intergalactic day. 👽🚀👨🚀
We also are offering Young Rembrandts classes like our Cartoon Session, packed with hilarious and silly characters and scenes, and our Drawing Workshop, where kids will learn to bring inanimate objects to life! 🎨✏️🖍
Do you need an after-school program? We offer fun, engaging programs at six different locations. Our trained recreation leaders conduct daily activities including arts and crafts, sports and fitness and homework help. 🏀⚽️🧩🎲
To see all of the fun we have planned, you can view Scottsdale Life online, or browse classes via our online registration system. 💻
If you would like a physical copy, feel free to pick one up at a variety of Scottsdale facilities! 🏛
Registration for most fall classes begins Monday July 24. Our afterschool program registration begins the following week on July 31. 📅
Explore all the fun Scottsdale Parks and Recreation has to offer!
07/17/2023
Parks and recreation agencies in the U.S. generate nearly $218 billion in economic activity annually - and we've been a great contributor to that in Scottsdale 💰📈
⚽️ Our sports complexes and fields are host to regional and national tournaments that create significant economic impact, with many out of state travelers booking hotel stays and spending money in Scottsdale. Last year, it was reported that local visitor spending from the monthlong Triple Crown Sports destination baseball tournament totaled nearly $3.4 million across lodging, food and beverage sales, entertainment, retail, and local transportation. The tournament also created 48 jobs and an additional $1.6 million in labor spending and income
07/16/2023
🙌 was recently ranked number six in the WalletHub "Best Cities for Recreation" ranking. The article cited neighborhood parks and a wide range of high quality indoor and outdoor activities that contribute to a city's overall well-being and economy. 🏊🌳⚽️
2023’s Best & Worst Cities for Recreation 2023’s Best & Worst Cities for RecreationAdam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJul 6, 2023Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer Jul 6, 2023 Staying active isn’t just good for your health. It’s also good for your wallet. One of the best ways to maintain an active lifestyle is to choose a cit...
07/16/2023
7/18 Update:
Great news!! Free Swim is now offered through Saturday, July 29 - one more week to celebrate. Hope to see you at the pool!
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Chaparral Pool renovations are complete! The pool now features 16 swim lanes, and is USA Swimming Certfied for length and depth.
The pool will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 18.
To celebrate, enjoy FREE admission for lap and public swim through Saturday, July 22!
Learn more: https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics/chaparral-pool
Trapezius Trapezius is a recreational flying trapeze and aerial arts program open to adults and children ages