June 30, 2010 4th of July Tempe Town Lake Festival

Join your neighbors in Tempe this Sunday, July 4, to celebrate the United States of America’s 234th birthday! The CBS 5 July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival at Tempe Beach Park begins at 4 p.m., and includes the lighting of some magnificent birthday candles during the 59th annual fireworks spectacular. There will also be live local entertainment, a splash zone, kids activities and games, rock climbing walls and great food. Net proceeds will benefit the Kiwanis Club of Tempe.

Check out this newsletter to get all the information you need for this weekend’s big party. You can also visit www.tempe4th.com for additional details.

Event Schedule 4:00 p.m. | Gates open at Tempe Beach Park 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. | NO BIG DEAL- Rock n’ Roll High School performs 5:15 – 6:00 p.m. | Roxter performs 6:15 – 7:00 p.m. | Casey Lee Smith performs 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Mayor Hallman welcomes attendees; POW/MIA/KIA Honor Guard Bugle and Presentation of Colors; National anthem duet performed by Star-Spangled Idol winners Sierra and Maycee 7:30 – 8:15 p.m. | KONGOS performs 8:15 – 9:00 p.m. | The Big Zephyr performs 9:10 – 10:00 p.m. | Fireworks Spectacular 10:00 – 11:00 p.m. | The Big Zephyr performs

Tickets There are plenty of tickets still available for Tempe’s 4th of July celebration! Don’t miss out on the community spirit and patriotism. Children 12 and younger and current military with military ID card receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased at the following locations: • City of Tempe offices: Advance general admission tickets are available for $5 until July 3. Please visit www.tempe4th.com for locations. • Fry’s and Fry’s Marketplace stores: Advance general admission tickets are available for $6 at all Valley Fry’s stores. Visit www.tempe4th.com for Fry’s store locations. • www.ProTixonline.com or 1-866-9ProTix: Advance general admission tickets are $6 each, plus applicable service charge. SKYE VIP Garden tickets are also available. • Day-of at Gate: Adult tickets are $8 each, or two for $15. Tickets will be sold at the gate until park reaches capacity. Pre-sale tickets will be honored all night. • Bring a can food item the day of the event and save $1 off your gate admission. All canned food items will be donated to the St. Mary’s Food Bank.

Transportation Getting pumped for the 4th of July Tempe Town Lake Festival but still trying to nail down how you will get there? Here are some helpful transportation details and hints to help you travel safely to and from the big bash.

Bus Ride the bus for free in Tempe on July 4. Most Tempe bus routes will serve the Mill Avenue District until 8 p.m., with return service until midnight. Many downtown Tempe bus and Orbit routes will drop off and pick up at the Tempe Transportation Center on the northeast corner of Fifth Street and Forest Avenue. Due to street restrictions, several downtown Tempe routes will be detoured to connect with light rail and will not serve their normal stops. If you choose to take the bus and transfer to light rail, you will be required to pay a fare. Parking is available at the following park- and-ride locations: • Tempe Marketplace – Route 62 (Hardy/Guadalupe) to downtown and Route 81 (McClintock) to Apache and McClintock light rail station. Or take a special shuttle to the event from this location. • Tempe Sports Complex – Route 65 (Mill/Kyrene) to downtown. • Tempe Library Complex – Orbit Jupiter to downtown or take a special shuttle to the event from this location. • Mills Mall – Take a special shuttle to the event from this location.

METRO Light Rail Park for free at one of the designated METRO light rail park-and-ride locations and ride the train for $1.75 per trip, per person. You may want to purchase an all-day pass for $3.50 at the start of your trip to avoid having to use busy fare vending machines in the downtown area at the end of the event. (Reduced all day passes are available for $1.75 for youth, people age 65 and older and people with disabilities.) Check www.MetroLightRail.org or call 602.253.5000 for hours and frequencies. Park-and-ride locations include: • Apache Boulevard and Price Road • Apache Boulevard and McClintock Drive • Apache Boulevard and Dorsey Lane

PARKING – Because of high attendance, plan to arrive early and leave late for the best parking. Event patrons are encouraged to consider these parking suggestions: • ADA parking is available at the US Airways Garage. • Patrons traveling from the west should park at the lot located at Rio Salado Parkway and Hardy Drive. • Patrons traveling from the east should park at the ASU lots near Rural Road and Rio Salado Parkway or the SunCor building on Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue. • There are several thousand parking spaces in the Mill Avenue District. Visit www.tempe.gov/parking for locations. • Avoid parking on the north bank. The Mill Avenue bridges will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Patrons who park on the north bank of the lake will NOT be able to walk across the Mill Avenue bridges to attend the event. • For street closures and traffic updates, visit www.tempe.gov/streetclosures. • Expect some delays after the event. Your patience is appreciated.

What to Bring Guest may bring 1 gallon of sealed water per person, blankets, portable chairs, personal cameras and personal umbrellas (up to 48”).

What Not to Bring Please leave the following at home: firearms, knives or other weapons, food, coolers, skates, bicycles, skateboards and pets (excluding service animals). Star-Spangled Idol Winners

An Independence Day celebration would not be complete without a rendition of the national anthem to kick off the party. This year, take off your hats and sing along to the Star-Spangled Banner with the winners of Tempe’s 3rd annual Star-Spangled Idol contest, sisters Sierra, 15 and Maycee, 12. Judges crowned the sisters the winners after hearing from nearly 40 talented Valley singers. The Anthem sisters will perform the national anthem center-stage at the 4th of July Tempe Town Lake Festival in front of more than 50,000 people.

Both Sierra and Maycee play the flute and guitar and have been involved in multiple community theater productions, drama club, talent shows, chorus and student film voiceovers. Sierra, 15, was a finalist two years ago in the Star-Spangled Idol contest. She’s an excellent volleyball player and was recognized by NASA for academic excellence. She plans to audition for American Idol when she turns 16. Maycee, 12, is a straight-A student and enjoys drum ensemble, jazz band, cheerleading and volleyball.

Beat the heat in Tempe on July 4

Beat the heat on the holiday weekend by visiting one of Tempe’s pools or spray pads.

Escalante Pool - Features a 6 lane lap pool, zero-depth entry play pool with play equipment and two slides.

Hours (Through Aug. 8.): Monday-Thursday, 1-5 p.m.; Friday, 1-7 p.m.; Saturday, 1-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-6 p.m. The Escalante Pool is open from 1-5 p.m. on July 4.

Admission: Free for ages 5 and under, 75 cents for ages 6-17, and $1.25 for ages 18 and older.

Kiwanis Wave Pool - Features an indoor heated lap pool with 6 lanes, 15-foot-tall double spiral water slide, and 3-foot waves during wave pool hours. Tube rentals are also available.

Hours: Wave Pool: Open daily, 1-5 p.m.

Admission: Wave Pool - $3 for ages 2-12, $6 for ages 13 and older.

Hudson, Jaycee and Esquer park spray pads

Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Admission: Free!

Splash Playground at Tempe Beach Park Splash Playground at Tempe Beach Park will be closed to the public from 7 p.m. on Friday, July 2 until 10 a.m. on Monday, July 5. However, the splash playground will be open and available for the July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival attendees on Sunday, July 4 from 4-9 p.m.

Other great places to watch Arizona’s largest firework display Rolling Hills Golf Course Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Rolling Hills Golf Course, at the 3rd annual BBQ Bash beginning at 6 p.m. Families and friends can bring their favorite blanket and lawn chair and enjoy Arizona’s largest fireworks show from the golf course. For $5, revelers can enjoy a burger and a beverage while watching the fireworks. The Rolling Hills 19th Tee restaurant will be open and serving the full menu. Parking is available for $5.

Tempe Center for the Arts Enjoy a cool July Fourth with hamburgers, hotdogs and all the trimmings at the Friends of TCA July 4th Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. on July 4 at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Tickets are $60 per person or $100 per couple, not including service or convenience fees, and go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday through the TCA box office. Seating is limited to 60 people. The evening includes salads, dessert and no-host bar and breathtaking views of the July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival fireworks display from the rooftop terrace or inside the 201 Lounge. Complimentary parking is available. For tickets, visit the box office in person, order online or call 480-350-2TCA (2822).

Hot weather safety tips

Don’t let Sunday’s high temperatures burn you out before the fireworks get started! Follow these smart and simple guidelines provided by the Tempe Fire Department to make sure you and your family have a fabulous 4th of July:

Drink Plenty of Fluids • Increase your fluid intake regardless of your activity level • Drink more than your thirst indicates, especially if you are 65 years of age or older

Replace Salt and Minerals – Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. Replace them by drinking fruit juice or a sports beverage during exercise or any work in the heat.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen • Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing • Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and neck cool and protected • Select sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply according to package directions

Use a Buddy System • When in the heat, monitor the condition of your family and friends and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. • If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative check on you during your time outdoors. If you know anyone in this age group, check on them periodically.

Monitor Those at High Risk If you or someone you know is at higher risk, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and avoid overexertion while in the heat. Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include: • Infants and children up to four years of age • People 65 years of age or older • People who are overweight • People who are ill or on certain medications

Visit the Tempe Fire Department website for more information on staying safe and cool this Sunday. Four communities collaborate to utilize resources

The cities of Tempe, Phoenix, and Scottsdale together with the Pima-Maricopa Indian Community recently approved proposals for improving Papago Park into a regional and national destination while preserving its resources, amenities and rich history.

The recommendations for the Papago Park Regional Master Plan were developed with information gathered from the series of public workshops in 2009, interviews with stakeholder and operational partners, and research regarding best practices of national destination parks similar to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah and Balboa Park in San Diego. The Papago Park Executive Committee’s approval is a step forward with the plan and a way to “take action today to preserve for tomorrow,” Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman said after the June 17th vote.

Proposed recommendations, comprised of improvements consistent with the Executive Committee’s shared vision of the Papago Park, include: 1. Improved collaborative management 2. Link existing signature amenities 3. Cooperative branding and messaging 4. Strengthen sense of place 5. Upgrade infrastructure 6. Progressive management techniques

Executive Committee representatives will take the recommendations back to their respective policy-making boards for review and approval. The four communities will continue to work together to implement the regional master plan. “We are encouraged by the work and cooperative nature shown by all involved, and we are hopeful that initiatives like this will bring us to an even stronger union,” said Salt River Pima- Maricopa Indian Community Councilman Ricardo Leonard.

“Few metro areas the size of Phoenix have a historic and scenic recreation area the size of Papago Park right in the middle,” said Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio, whose district contains Papago Park. “We are blessed to have this collection of sports, recreation and beautiful natural Sonoran desert spanning three Valley cities. We have to protect and improve it to make sure it remains a prominent commitment to preserving Arizona’s natural beauty, and an attraction to the area for both people and businesses.”

For more information on the master plan, visit www.discoverpapagopark.com.

Wednesday Whereabouts

Do you think you know about fun in Tempe? Test your skills with the new Wednesday Whereabouts contest on Facebook. Every Wednesday we will post a photo of a place you can play, learn, live and grow in Tempe, along with a riddle to give you a hint. Guess the location by Thurs at 5 pm and be entered to win a prize. Winners will be randomly selected on Friday mornings!

To receive up-to-date information about exciting events and opportunities happening between Connecting Tempe newsletters, become a fan of Tempe Parks and Recreation on Facebook.

Save the Date

Monday, July 5 City of Tempe administrative offices closed View Independence Day schedule Friday, July 9 Adapted Recreation Dance “Red, White and Blue” Pyle Adult Recreation Center 6:30-9 p.m. 13 years+, $4 admission

Wednesday, July 14 Wild Wednesdays “Busy Tempe Town” Tempe History Museum 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Wednesday, July 21 Wild Wednesdays “Creepy Crawlies” Tempe History Museum 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

www.tempe.gov/recreation