CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT

2020 /Preserve MISSION AND GOALS The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department builds healthy communities through parks, programs and partnerships; and makes the city a better place to live, visit and play.

Using the “Power of Parks” the department promotes health, wellness, conservation and social equity by providing the community with opportunities to improve quality of life through access to local parks, recreation and cultural facilities, sports programming and open spaces. LEADERSHIP Inger Erickson, Director (promoted to Deputy City Manager in summer 2020) Tracee Hall, Assistant Director (served as Acting Director in summer/fall 2020) Cynthia Aguilar, Assistant Director (served as Acting Director in fall/winter 2020) Albert Santana, Interim Assistant Director Esther Avila, Deputy Director, South Division (retired in winter 2020) Alonso Avitia, Deputy Director, Natural Resources Division Cynthia Brown, Deputy Director, Northwest Division (retired in spring 2020) Larry Polk, Deputy Director, Special Operations Division James Orloski, Deputy Director, Downtown Division Danielle Poveromo, Deputy Director, Northeast Division Jan Sherwood, Deputy Director, Northwest Division (promoted in spring 2020) Judy Weiss, Deputy Director, Management Services Division

Phoenix City Hall GOVERNANCE Phoenix City Council Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative Aquatics Advisory Committee Mayor Kate Gallego (PPPI) Oversight Committee William Levy (Chair) Vice Mayor Betty Guardado (District 5) Tom Chapman (Chair) Diana Bowman Thelda Williams (District 1) Ira Feldman Earl Duval Jim Waring (District 2) John Furniss Ruben Hernandez Debra Stark (District 3) Patricia Garcia Duarte Rosemary Holusha Laura Pastor (District 4) Sarah Porter Bruce Ivor Sal DiCiccio (District 6) Carlos Ortega Michael Nowakowski (District 7) Phoenix Sonoran Preserve and Mountain Mona Raouf Cridebring Carlos Garcia (District 8) Parks/Preserves Committee Stella Reyes John Furniss (Chair) Tiffany Turner Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board Vashti “Tice” Supplee (Vice Chair) Antonio Moya (Chair) Stacie Beute Aubrey Barnwell Jesse Cuilty Dorina Bustamante William Fallon Kelly Dalton (began term in 2020) Beth Keune Michael Lieb Tamera Zivic Peggy Neely (ended term in 2020) Masavi Perea Sarah Porter PARTNERSHIPS The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department maintains partnerships with dozens of arts and culture, non-profit and for-profit organizations that operate in a city-owned facility, offer programs and enrichment opportunities to the community, or provide support and advocacy.

AARP for Nature Conservation Arizona Community Market Support Services, LLC Arizona Golf Community Foundation Arizona Humanities Council Arizona Parks and Recreation Association Arizona Parks and Recreation Fellowship Arizona Science Center Arizona State University Arizona Zoological Society Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Camp Colley Foundation Canyon Golf, LLC Central Arts Alliance Daring Adventures Inc. Downtown Urban Community Kids Encanto Adventures, LLC Friends of Horse Lovers Park Hance Park Conservancy Heritage Square Foundation, Inc. / Rosson House Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation Japanese Friendship Garden National Audubon Society, Inc. Native American Connections / Phoenix Indian Center Papago Archery Association Phoenix Center for the Arts Phoenix Community Alliance Phoenix Parks Foundation Phoenix Rod and Gun Club Pioneer Arizona Foundation Pioneers Cemetery Association Ragland Tennis Services Save Our Mountains Shemer Art Center and Museum Association South Ponderosa Stables Sun Valley Fliers The Victoria Foundation, Inc. / Grant Park Recreation Center Thunderbird Arts Center Tonto Creek Camp Tovrea Carraro Society Valley Garden Center Valley of the Sun Quarter Midget Association POPULAR AMENITIES

41,000+ acres of desert parks and mountain preserves 29 pools 200+ miles of trails and 40 trailheads 12 dog parks 185 parks 8 golf courses 49 parks featuring a FitPHX WalkPHX path 8 lakes stocked for fishing 38 outdoor pickleball courts 5 skate plazas and 3 skate parks 32 community and recreation centers

371,601  6,242,028 996,781    

    898            

3,262 1,500 trees 44          20,930  

www.phoenix.gov/parks

    7,300+ followers 9,900+ likes followers 1,700+     

$118,090,000 1,500                  ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDER DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department provided essential service to the community.

Phoenix’s public parks, hiking trails and golf courses remained open normal hours of operation throughout the public health emergency. The department encouraged community members to get outside and exercise, and educated them about Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.

Throughout the year, department staff and the City Council worked together to monitor positive case metrics and followed guidance of medical experts when making decisions to temporarily restrict access to select recreational amenities and facilities.

In mid-March, the city’s indoor recreational facilities temporarily closed, and in-person classes, programs, activities and sports leagues were paused. Those restrictions remained in place at the end of the calendar year. City pools did not open during summer 2020, and special events and other organized activities on city park property were canceled or postponed. To control community spread of the virus during the Easter holiday weekend in April, the department launched a robust operations and public outreach plan that successfully restricted gatherings during what is annually the busiest two days of park usage citywide.

Despite those unprecedented occurrences, department staff found different ways to provide programs, activities and resources that helped community members of all ages and ability levels stay active and have fun. Additionally, many of the department’s outdoor facilities experienced increased use in 2020.

South Mountain COVID Testing Site Recreation Programs Presented on a Virtual Platform The department and several of its partner organizations offered a variety of free virtual programs, including:

• PHXPlays at Home recreation series • Adaptive Recreation programs • Chats for Seniors • Speaker Series • FitPHX Fall Into Fitness, Fitness Boot Camp and Morning Yoga series • PHXteens, Project BRAVE and Partners programs • Park Ranger programming • Pueblo Grande Museum storytelling and enrichment activities • Self-guiding codePHX resources • Camp Colley Environmental Learning Program • Daring Adventures series

More than 2,500 people participated in those programs, which were video streamed using the WebEx and Zoom apps.

Significant Increase in Use of Trail System and Golf Courses With access to public and private indoor recreational options limited during the pandemic, use of city hiking trails and golf courses increased significantly.

• The city’s trail system saw 30 percent more visitors - 6,242,028 in 2020, compared to 4,794,378 in 2019 (data from electronic counters). • Rounds play at city-owned golf courses increased by 23 percent - 371,601 in 2020, compared to 302,195 in 2019.

Youth Day Camps Supported Distance Learning The department provided free youth day camps that assisted with distance learning for children at six housing sites. Wi-Fi was available to help youth with their school assignments.

Additionally, the department offered free youth day camps at six community centers for children and dependents ages 6 to 17 of all full- and part-time city employees. The camps provided a safe place for youth while their parent or guardian was working their shift to provide essential city services during the pandemic. When the 2020-21 school year began, those sites transitioned into virtual learning locations.

Those two camp options served an average of 60 to 80 children per week.

City Recreation Facilities Used as Testing Locations Parks and Recreation Department facilities citywide served as testing blitz sites for residents and city employees. Additional facilities also served as locations for the city’s mobile testing van, which began operation in August. DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Fiesta Bowl PLAY at Hance Park

Completion of Phase 1A of Hance Park Renovation Celebrated In December, completion of the $8.6 million phase 1A of the Margaret T. Hance Park Revitalization Project was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the “Fiesta Bowl PLAY at Hance Park.” The 20,000-square-foot amenity is the centerpiece of this opening phase of the park’s renovation and was made possible thanks to a $2 million legacy gift from the Fiesta Bowl and supporting partners.

PLAY features a climbing wall, a separate net climbing structure, a water mist play feature and a sand play area positioned under a shade canopy. Its other unique amenities include three animal-themed play structures – a Kit Fox, Black-Tailed Jackrabbit and Great-Horned Owl. The animal structures are made of 95 percent recycled plastic lumber.

Phase 1A also included construction of the infrastructure, escarpment and landscaping that surrounds PLAY. The balance of the cost for that portion of the project was funded by the voter-approved Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative (PPPI).

Ribbon Cutting Top View

Sponsor Monument Climbing Wall Phoenix Breaks Ground on Newest Community Center In September, the department kicked off construction of the city’s newest community center with a ceremonial groundbreaking event in Cesar Chavez Park. Construction of the $12 million, 34,000-square-foot facility started in October and is scheduled for completion in fall 2021.

César Chávez Community Center Ground Breaking

Significant Infrastructure Improvements Continue in Preserve Land The multi-year infrastructure improvement plan that began in 2017 continued in both the Phoenix Mountains Preserve and South Mountain Park/Preserve throughout the year. The projects in these areas are funded by the voter-approved Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative (PPPI).

Phoenix Mountains Preserve – Piestewa Peak Trailhead Improvements to Piestewa Peak Trailhead’s Cholla section (previously named Mojave) was completed in August and included renovation of two small and two large historic ramadas, a new parking lot, restrooms and drinking fountains, and ADA improvements. Piestewa Peak Trailhead South Mountain Park/Preserve Improvements in South Mountain Park/ Preserve included the resurfacing of San Juan Road (completed in June); a renovation of Dobbins Lookout that included a new shade ramada, new ADA pathways, replacement of the roof on the historic lookout structure and a repaved parking area (completed in December); and the addition of approximately 10 miles of new trails (completed South Mountain Park/Preserve throughout the year). Free Wi-Fi Coverage Expanded for Community Members To ensure students and community members have free internet access, Wi-Fi was boosted to provide exterior coverage outside of 50 community, recreation and senior centers, and library branches citywide. The list includes 27 Parks and Recreation Department facilities.

Upgrades Made to Longview Park In November, the department held a grand opening event for a new 4,900-square-foot playground in Longview Park. The project also included additional park upgrades consisting of a new ramada with picnic tables, and a perimeter sidewalk with benches and a drinking fountain. The project was funded by the voter- approved Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative (PPPI). Longview Park

CDBG Funds Support Playground Renovations In partnership with the city’s Neighborhood Services Department, a new playground was installed in 14 parks in 2020. Financial support came from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. The CDBG program is supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the funding is required to be used to revitalize low- and moderate-income areas of a community. The following parks received a new playground:

• Barrios Unidos • Cave Creek Cholla • Central • Edison • El Prado • Harmon • Lewis • Madison • Nevitt • Perry • Roosevelt • University • West Plaza Madison Park • Winifred Green 1,500 Trees Planted in Park Properties To expand the city’s shade canopy, 1,500 trees were planted on city park property during 2020. It marked the fourth straight year that the department has planted at least that many trees (1,500 in 2019; 1,510 in 2018; 1,550 in 2017). Additionally, the City of Phoenix was recognized on the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree City USA” list for the 34th consecutive year in 2020. Mountain View II Park

Pinnacle Park Opens in North Phoenix In August, the city’s newest park – Pinnacle Park – opened in north Phoenix. The 10-acre facility features two regulation soccer fields with state- of-the-art lighting, a 6,500-square-foot skate plaza, ramadas, restrooms and a parking lot. The park also includes a dog park, which opened in 2019. Pinnacle Park

“Take a Hike. Do it Right.” Based off electronic trail counter data, Phoenix hiking trails had 6,242,028 visitors in 2020, up from to 4,794,378 in 2019 (an increase of 30 percent).

Phoenix Park Rangers continually work to educate trail users about safety by presenting the “Take a Hike. Do it Right.” message and guidelines. The city’s trail system is popular with locals and tourists, and through the Concierge Education Program, which started in 2016, city park rangers work with staff at hotels and resorts to educate guests about hiking safety.

In summer 2020, for the third straight year, the department extended parking hours until 9 p.m. from June 1 to September 30 at Piestewa Peak Trailhead, North Mountain Park and Pima Canyon Trailhead in South Mountain Park/ Preserve. The two additional hours promote trail use at night when it is cooler. Piestewa Peak Summit Trail HONORS AND AWARDS Arizona Parks and Recreation Association In August, the department received the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association’s Natural Resources Award for the renovation of Piestewa Peak Trailhead’s Brittlebush and Mesquite sections. That project was completed in October 2019 as part of a multi-year infrastructure improvement plan for the Phoenix Mountains Preserve that began in 2017.

Arbor Day Foundation The City of Phoenix was distinguished as “Tree City USA” for the 34th consecutive year. The department planted 1,500 trees on city park property during 2020, marking the fourth straight year it has planted at least that many.

PGA Southwest Section In February, Director of Golf Greg Leicht was honored as the Southwest PGA Professional of the Year. This is the highest annual award bestowed by the Southwest PGA on a PGA Professional, and is given to those who have great leadership qualities, strong moral character and a substantial record of service.

GRANTS AND SPONSORSHIPS National Recreation and Park Association In July, the resurfacing of two tennis courts in Cielito Park was made possible thanks to a $26,000 “Connecting Communities Through Outdoor Play” grant, supported by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Milwaukee Brewers In March, the Milwaukee Brewers, who call the city-owned American Family Fields of Phoenix their Spring Training home, made a $52,000 donation to help fund the department’s “Kool Kids” program. The annual donation by the team funds free open swim at select city pools for youth age 17 and younger.

Arizona Diamondbacks Through its “Break a Bat, a Tree” program, the Arizona Diamondbacks make a contribution to plant new trees statewide each time a D-backs’ pitcher breaks the bat of an opposing batter. In November, the organization donated 60 trees that were planted in . Papago Park PHOENIX PARKS AND PRESERVE INITIATIVE (PPPI) UPDATE

2019-20 FISCAL YEAR REPORT

About the Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative (PPPI) Since 1999, the look of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation system changed dramatically thanks to hundreds of development, renovation and improvement projects, and the purchase of thousands of acres of desert park and mountain preserve land.

Most notable during that time was construction of nine regional parks and completion of major renovations to existing parks. Those regional park sites include Cave Creek Recreation Area, Cesar Chavez Park, Desert West Park, Dust Devil Park, Paseo Highlands Park, Pecos Park, Reach 11 Recreation Area, Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area and Steele Indian School Park.

Additionally, improvement projects were completed to existing parks or recreation sites citywide during that time. These were upgrades made to amenities such as playgrounds, swimming pools, lighting and restrooms. Many of the projects also included Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facility improvements, helping to make these sites more accessible to everyone.

This growth and improvement, which will continue for decades to come, was made possible thanks to the Phoenix Parks and Preserves Initiative (PPPI), a 1999 voter-approved one tenth of one-cent sales tax (one cent for every $10 spent). The tax was renewed by 83 percent of voters for another 30 years in May 2008, showing that residents identify the importance and value of recreation to their way of life in the Valley. This tax generates the main source of funding for all the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s capital improvement projects.

PPPI dedicates 60 percent of the funding toward the city’s financing of park development, renovation and acquisition, and 40 percent to its expenses related to preserve land acquisition and maintenance. It ensures that residents will consistently receive new and renovated recreation sites and opportunities. Margaret T. Hance Park Revitalization Project

Review of 2019-20 Fiscal Year PPPI Projects During fiscal year 2019-20, $33,604,241 of PPPI funds were spent on parks and recreation improvement projects.

Project PPPI Funds Spent

Margaret T. Hance Park Revitalization Project $9,985,252 South Mountain Park/Preserve improvements $4,091,052 Cesar Chavez Community Center construction $3,356,262 Phoenix Mountains Preserve improvements $3,293,611 Phoenix parking lot expansion $3,219,451 Building repairs to facilities citywide $1,721,731 Security LED lighting replacement citywide $1,356,695 Longview Park improvements $795,335 General parks and facilities improvements citywide $736,418 Project staffing costs $691,520 Sonoran Preserve edge protection $684,598 Sports field LED lighting replacement citywide $442,890 Pinnacle Park Dog Park construction $375,201 Eototo Park renovation $353,588 Lenang Park renovation $341,086 Removal of unofficial trails in preserve land citywide $260,023 Parking lot repairs and replacements citywide $233,316 Pools infrastructure improvements citywide $192,150 Sunburst Paradise Park improvements $164,784 Irrigation repairs citywide $155,797 Beuf Community Center gymnasium floor replacement $155,399 Playground replacements citywide $139,630 Golf courses infrastructure improvements citywide $126,832 Nuestro Park improvements $99,628 Preserve land acquisition $87,368 Sports fields infrastructure improvements citywide $79,643 Cesar Chavez Park LED lighting replacement $73,261 Tarver Learning Center repairs $70,020 Tree planting on park property citywide $45,853 ADA improvements citywide $41,369 Trailside Point Park improvements $40,824 Cave Creek Golf Course repairs $35,125 Arizona Science Center fire suppression system $26,127 Roesley Park renovation $17,551 Paradise Valley Community Center roof repair $14,530 Other aggregate projects* $100,321

Total $33,604,241

*Total amount of project costs that are $50,000 or less the

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