Press Coverage July 2021
Where City Meets Local baseball teams play at this What You Should Do When You Desert: Visiting stadium. It’s also one of the Visit Mesa, Arizona locations for spring training for If you’re interested in visiting Mesa, Mesa Arizona major league teams. Arizona there are lots of great Ali Raza July 28, 2021 0 Comment Another interesting fact about activities you can do while here. Divingdaily.com Hohokam Stadium is that it’s named Check out the arts center or many of
after the indigenous tribe that lived the museums Mesa has to offer. on the land where the stadium was built. Check out some of the other travel blogs on our site if you liked this Check Out the Arts Center one. When planning a visit to Mesa, you should also check out the arts center. The center is home to 14 different Get Outside! art studios, five art galleries, and four By Arizona Game and Fish Did you know that Mesa is the third- theaters. If you’re an art lover, you Department largest city in Arizona? On average, can’t leave Mesa without spending a Jul 23, 2021 there are about 313 sunny days in day here. White Mountain Independent Mesa each year. Wmicentral.com There are also beautiful murals and With great weather and so much to sculptures throughout the city you Getting outdoors is an important explore you’re probably interested in can see during monthly art part of our American heritage and visiting Mesa, Arizona. This guide walks. Have a look at some of the fosters a lifetime of awareness and will offer some suggestions on things attractions you can check out while appreciation for wildlife and the to do and places to visit. Keep in Mesa. If you need to book a ticket environment. reading to learn more. for a show, make sure you do it ahead of time. The Department and supporting Visit the City’s Best Museums organizations continually create If you’re looking for things to do in Spend Some Time Outdoors outdoor programs for the beginner Arizona you should check out some When you make plans to travel, you to seasoned sportsmen that teach of the great museums Mesa has to probably want a change of scenery. families about traditional American offer. There are options for all kinds This might entail spending some pastimes. of interests. time outside. There are plenty of outdoor activities These programs include hunting, If you want something that appeals you can enjoy while visiting Mesa. fishing, shooting sports, wildlife more to your kids you should check Plan a visit to Usery Mountain viewing, boating, off-highway out i.d.e.a. Museum. You’ll find fun Regional Park, where there are vehicle riding and wildlife interactive exhibits here and a play multiple options for hiking trails. conservation. Below is a listing of zone for the younger kids. You can also go mountain biking or the many programs offered for your horseback riding while you’re here. enjoyment, so Get Outside Arizona. The Arizona Museum of Natural Wildlife Awareness/ Volunteer. History is a great place for the entire Eat Some Great Food Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center family. The children will love seeing One of the best things to do in Mesa the giant dinosaurs and you’ll enjoy and anywhere you travel is trying Our function is to educate the public learning the history of the new food. Mesa and many other about wildlife native to Arizona Southwest. areas in the Southwest have great through the use of animals that have Mexican restaurants. been orphaned or injured. The Watch Some Baseball at center provides immediate triage for Hohokam Stadium You can head down to Main Street orphaned, sick or injured wildlife Other activities in Mesa you might and find many great restaurants to that will be provided ongoing care enjoy include seeing a game at choose from. Enjoy flautas, mole, by a licensed rehabilitator. If you Hohokam Stadium. If you’re a tamales, enchiladas, and many other have time to give, we are looking for baseball fan, you’ll enjoy catching a delicious dishes you haven’t tried volunteers 18-years and older. If you game while you’re here. before. enjoy teaching, animal husbandry,
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maintenance or office work, we have Arizona is home to more than 85 a spot for you. species of fish. Shooting just for women — Annie Oakley Sure Shots Watchable Wildlife Crayfish Fishing This program was created by women Few places offer the diversity of Angling for crayfish is a great and is hosted by women. It is held in landscapes, plants, and animals as outdoor family activity with near the evening on the second Thursday found here in Arizona. In addition guaranteed success. There are no bag of every month. It’s free and it’s fun. to game species, the Arizona Game limits on crayfish and the season is You do not need to have a firearm and Fish Department also manages year-round. Crayfish are not native to participate, nor do you need any many non-game, threatened, and to Arizona. They negatively impact knowledge of firearms. Join us and endangered species. There are also sport-fishing opportunities, native learn! many wildlife species which benefit species, and aquatic ecosystems. from the departments conservation Crayfish tail and claw meat are Desert Roses and management practices of game delicious and can be substituted in This is a free program created to species. many seafood recipes. introduce women to three shotgun Game and Fish Volunteer Program shooting sports: sporting clays, trap, Shooting and skeet. It will be held in the Our goal is to provide you with a Shooting sports and hunting are evening on the first and third congenial and cooperative rated among the safest forms of Thursday of every month. No prior atmosphere where you can build recreation. Some 40 million people experience is necessary. In order to relationships with staff and other of all ages safely participate in these participate in this program you must volunteers, and gain knowledge activities. pre-register. about Arizona wildlife and wildlife management. Volunteer activities National Shooting Sports General Target Shooting include wildilfe care, facility Foundation Rifle, pistol, shotgun, bow – you can maintenence, instructional and Target shooting improves fine motor find all your target shooting needs at education, habitat projects, office skills, hand-eye coordination, mental the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. work and others. discipline, personal responsibility, Located on 1,650 acres in north and character development. Phoenix, the range is a Phoenix Fishing Point of Pride and one of the largest Whether you prefer lakes, streams, Archery in the Schools public-operated shooting facilities in creeks or urban fishing, a year-long AIS is a physical education the country. season and a wide variety of sport curriculum designed to teach fish species provide Arizonans with international-style target archery in Small Game Hunting plenty of great fishing opportunities. grades 4-12. The core content covers Arizona’s small game species include archery, history, safety, techniques, cottontail rabbits, tree squirrels, Community Fishing Program equipment, mental concentration, upland game birds (quail, chukar, Arizona’s Community Fishing and self-improvement. In addition, grouse, and pheasant), and migratory Program is recognized nationally as the curriculum provides interesting game birds (ducks, geese, swan, one of the best in the country. A and creative possibilities for sandhill cranes, coot, gallinule, partnership exists with local parks integration with core content in common snipe, mourning and white- and recreation agencies to intensively social studies, mathematics, visual winged doves, and band-tailed stock and manage park lakes for arts, history, and English/language pigeon). One or more of these fishing recreation and to provide arts. species occur in virtually all convenient, affordable, accessible vegetation types throughout and fun fishing for anglers of all ages Scholastic Clay Target Program Arizona, from the highest mountains and abilities. SCTP is a team-based youth to the lowest plains; forests, development program that uses the wetlands, deserts, farmlands, cities, Fish Arizona shotgun sports to instill discipline, and wilderness. Whether you prefer lakes, streams, safety, teamwork, ethics, self- creeks or urban fishing, a year long confidence and other life values. Big Game Hunting season and a wide variety of sport Team members can participate in Arizona is well known throughout fish species provide Arizonans with any or all of three clay target the country and abroad for it’s plenty of great fishing opportunities. disciplines: trap, skeet and sporting quality big game hunting clays. opportunities. There are ten big
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game animals species in this great “where to start hunting” by species promotes awareness and stewardship state, all of them accessible through and some general ideas on how to of the world around us, and uses the public land pursuit. Game species pursue the game of interest. environment as a context for include antelope, black bear, buffalo, learning science, social studies, math, desert bighorn sheep, elk, javalina, Introduction to Hunting Camps and language arts. The program turkey (Merriam’s and Gould’s), Hunting Camps introduce hunting includes complete lesson plans, mountain lion, mule deer, and white- basics to individuals who are books, posters, workshops and tailed (Coues’) deer. interested in hunting but may not much more. Many of these resources know where to start. These hands- are available for direct download. The country where these species also on workshops teach the skills runs the spectrum, from the dry necessary to successfully pursue the Boating Education rugged Kofa Mountains to the world variety of small game found in This National Association of State renowned Kaibab Strip and all the Arizona. Both adults and youths are Boating Law Administrators’ country in between. Arizona offers invited to participate. (NASBLA) approved and Arizona every variety of hunting conditions. certified course includes instruction Maricopa County Parks on general boating information, Predator, Fur bearer Hunting Things to do, park locator and maps different boat types, knot tying, Predatory mammals are coyotes, can be found on the Maricopa anchoring, waste and oil disposal, bobcats, foxes, and skunks. Fur- County Parks website. Information risk management, weather bearing mammals are defined as about hiking trails, programs, water emergencies, registration muskrats, raccoons, otters, weasels, activities and sports activities are requirements, boating laws and bobcats, beavers, badgers, and listed. regulations, equipment requirements, ringtails. navigation rules, aids to navigation Hunter Education (buoys), boating accidents, The Arizona Game and Fish The Arizona Game and Fish Operating Under the Influence Commission recognizes predation Department offers three programs (OUI), trailering, and more. Most management to be a valuable and that teach hunter safety. An eight-to- insurance companies offer discounts legitimate wildlife management 12-hour introductory course is on boat insurance for completing the practice. Unmanaged populations are available in the classroom or online class. Take the course online or in a susceptible to disease, over harvest via the Internet. There is a 20-hour classroom. of prey species, and habitat damage. basic classroom course and an extended classroom combination OHV: The ATV Rider Course The “Draw” System for Hunt course which includes an archery Developed by the ATV Safety Permit-Tags component. All courses require Institute, the ATV RiderCourse The big game draw is a lottery-style completion of a field day. provides hands-on training in the process for allocating the limited basic techniques for riding an all- number of Arizona big game Sport Fishing Education terrain vehicle. The course also hunting permits and some other The Sport Fishing Educational covers protective gear, local laws, species to applicants. Currently the Program is designed to help anyone finding places to ride, and Draw is held three times a year, one become more proficient in basic environmental concerns. If you in February another in June and then fishing techniques. The Arizona bought your ATV after Dec. 30, again in October. The department Game and Fish Department supplies 1986, you may be eligible for free typically receives far more all educational materials, rods, reels, training. Those not eligible for the applications than there are available bait and instruction. All fishing free training may take the course for hunting permits based on wildlife programs are offered free of charge. a small fee. The ATV RiderCourse is populations and resources. Currently scheduled open to the available nationwide. To sign up call public fishing programs can be 800 887-2887. Where to Hunt found online. The most common question, For more details about these “Where do I go?” is answered right Focus Wild Arizona activities, go here. The department has six The Arizona Game and Fish to www.azgfd.com/Recreation/Get regional offices to in order to Department’s award-winning Outside/ manage the incredible diverse habitat environmental education program is and wildlife in Arizona. Each region available free to teachers and provides an online resource on homeschoolers. This program
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number of picnic sites. It covers an playground has toddler swings 5 Best Bush Walks area of 1,146.3 acres of land. It provided by the foundation. in Mesa, AZ offers various ramadas which can Kevsbest.com seat up to 160 people. Furthermore, There are two lighted basketball July 20, 2021 it has varying fees for residents and courts and a 9,000 square foot non-residents. There are ramadas playground. Moreover, there are that are reservable in advance and designated restrooms maintained there are some that are not. They regularly. In addition, there are allow bringing of beers and wines in historic trains and monuments to the ramadas. visit.
There are shaded playgrounds, LOCATION: pickleball courts, and a lighted Address: 526 E Main St, Mesa, AZ basketball court. Morozov, there is a 85203 walking trail and a community Phone: (480) 644-2352 fishing lake. With a permit, there are Website: mesaparks.com/parks- Below is a list of the top and leading lighted baseball, soccer, and baseball facilities/parks/pioneer-park Bush Walks in Mesa. To help you fields nearby. find the best Bush Walks located REVIEWS: near you in Mesa, we put together LOCATION: ”It is a nice park. There is a little our own list based on this rating Address: 7745 E Brown Rd, Mesa, splash pad, a shaded playground, and points list. AZ 85207 a basketball court. There were plenty Phone: (480) 644-7529 of trees so the area was decently Mesa’s Best Bush Walks: Website: visitmesa.com/directory/re shaded. I took my daughter to play The top rated Bush Walks in Mesa, d-mountain-park and she had a lot of fun and was AZ are: only willing to leave when she got • Red Mountain Park – features REVIEWS: hungry and we had to go home for green space housing facilities ”Love the disc golf course. It’s great some food.” – Tabitha Chatley with a large number of picnic for a very long walk in nature sites without having to drive to the Signal Butte Park • Pioneer Park – provides middle of nowhere. There’s also a reservable and non-reservable large lake type thing for fishing. The ramadas in an area of 17.8 acres park itself is huge with a lot of • Signal Butte Park – home to a parking. There’s also a library over geometric playscape safe for there. It’s a great place to go to just toddlers to kids to play in get out of the house.” – Rebekah Harris • Usery Mountain Regional Park Signal Butte Park is home to a
– features the Usery pass which geometric playscape safe for toddlers Pioneer Park is known for being a major to kids to play in. The pods are sheet trail linked together that forms an • Riparian Preserve at Water interconnected matrix of three- Ranch – features an expansive dimensional play. The pods are natural area featuring different names Hedra Scout for toddlers and hiking trails and ponds Hedra and Hedra Towers for kids up to 12 years old. Furthermore, kids Red Mountain Park Pioneer Park provides reservable and man navigate around tunnels, non-reservable ramadas in an area of climbers, and gliders. There are also 17.8 acres. It is filled with lush slides and overhead events. This greeneries. There are also water motivates them, to use their features for water activities. The park imaginations along the way. There has treehouse play structures. A 500- are free-standing play components foot suspension bridge adds to its like spinners and swings. notable amenities. Furthermore, Red Mountain Park features green there is a food truck area offering The park features 1.5 miles of space housing facilities with a large different food and drinks. The walking path loop. Moreover, there Page 4
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are reservable and drop-in picnic ark-locator/usery-mountain- here early! We saw stilts, ibis, ramadas available. In addition, there regional-park/ pelicans, egrets, towhees, killdeer, are free parking lot spaces. herons and more! Absolutely a REVIEWS: wonderful morning, so great we LOCATION: ”I only go here for the archery went again the next day! 8 lifers one Address: 11132 E Elliot Rd, Mesa, range, but the range is pretty much day and five the next. Definitely on AZ 85212 everything you need just bring bow my list to visit next time we are in Phone: and your arrows and your good to Phoenix!” – Tom Mullen Website: mesaparks.com/parks- go. The targets are fairly well facilities/parks/signal-butte-park maintained its worth the $7.00 plus 2.00 per person to get in.” – The Best American REVIEWS: Kenneth Alford Cities for Hiking in ”Wide open so kids can go nuts and a shaded area for parents to chill. A Riparian Preserve at Water 2021 small spray ground area that mists Ranch Josie Green the picnic table which I like. The July 20, 2021 5:00 pm equipment is unique to say these least. Wear sun block!” – Diva
Usery Mountain Regional Park
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch features an expansive natural area featuring different hiking trails
and ponds. It is a premier educational and recreation site in 50. Winston-Salem, North Carolina - Arizona. The park aims to preserve Usery Mountain Regional Hike recommendation: Salem Lake valuable natural resources and Park features the Usery pass which is Park Trail protects the needed habitat for known for being a major sheet trail. 49. Austin, Texas - Hike wildlife. Furthermore, there are The trails lead to the Salt River recommendation: Barton Creek research and development efforts for Valley from Mt. Baldy South. There Greenbelt Trail the preservation of the area. are flocks of sheep observable as 48. Tampa, Florida - Hike they move into or out of the recommendation: Red, Yellow, and The public programs offered include Coconinoplateau region. Member, it Blue Trails Loop in Cypress Creek bird walks, tours of the preserve, and features breathtaking views from a Nature Preserve outdoor learning projects. Moreover, 2,840-foot elevation. It is home to 47. Spokane, Washington - Hike the Skywatch program lets the guests various plants and animals. It also recommendation: Trail 25 to enjoy a presentation of current offers magnificent scenes of the Centennial Trail in Riverside State astronomical events every second hanging gardens of Rock Daisy. Park Friday of the month. In addition, 46. Mesa, Arizona - Hike they offer a cross-curricular There are a lot of activities offered at recommendation: Pass Mountain approach to school trips. the park. Some of the activities are Trail in Usery Mountain Regional archery, camping, hiking, and biking. Park LOCATION: Furthermore, there are horseback 45. Tacoma, Washington - Hike Address: 2757 E Guadalupe Rd, riding and outdoor fitness activities. recommendation: Swan Creek Park Gilbert, AZ 85234 In addition. they offer a wide Trail Phone: (480) 503-6200 selection of trails and stargazing 44. San Antonio, Texas - Hike Website: gilbertaz.gov/departments/ areas. recommendation: Restoration Way parks-and-recreation/riparian- Trail in Friedrich Wilderness Park preserve-at-water-ranch/school- LOCATION: 43. Oxnard, California - Hike programs Address: 3939 N Usery Pass Rd, recommendation: Harbor Island
Mesa, AZ 85207 Trail REVIEWS: Phone: (480) 984-0032 42. St. Paul, Minnesota - Hike ”Amazing birding location! Website: maricopacountyparks.net/p recommendation: Holland and Shorebirds galore! Bring your camera, binoculars and water and get Page 5
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O’Brien Lakes Trail in Lebanon Hills 25. Albuquerque, New Mexico - 9. Tucson, Arizona - Hike Regional Park Hike recommendation: South Piedra recommendation: Bear Canyon Trail 41. Greensboro, North Carolina - Lisa Trail in Sandia Mountain to Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon Hike recommendation: Piedmont Wilderness Recreation Area Trail at Atlantic and Yadkin 24. Santa Rosa, California - Hike 8. Moreno Valley, California - Hike Greenway recommendation: Western Trail in recommendation: Terri Peak in Lake 40. Boise City, Idaho - Hike Taylor Mountain Regional Park Perris State Recreation Area recommendation: Mores Mountain 23. Fontana, California - Hike 7. Huntington Beach, California - Loop in Boise National Forest recommendation: Mary Vagle Hike recommendation: Brightwater 39. Vancouver, Washington - Hike Nature Center Trail in Martin Tudor Trail in Bolsa Chica Ecological recommendation: Salmon Creek Jurupa Hills Regional Park Reserve Trail in Salmon Creek Park 22. Ontario, California - Hike 6. San Jose, California - Hike 38. Henderson, Nevada - Hike recommendation: Gale Mountain recommendation: Church Hill Loop recommendation: Black Mountain Loop in Claremont Hills Wilderness in Almaden Quicksilver County Park Trail in Sloan Canyon National Park 5. Portland, Oregon - Hike Conservation Area 21. Irvine, California - Hike recommendation: Wildwood Trail in 37. Salt Lake City, Utah - Hike recommendation: Bommer Canyon Forest Park recommendation: Avenues Twin Trail in Bommer Canyon Open 4. San Diego, California - Hike Peaks from Terrace Hills Trailhead Space Preserve recommendation: Kwaay Paay Peak 36. Minneapolis, MN - Hike 20. Chula Vista, California - Hike Trail in Mission Trails Regional Park recommendation: Minnehaha Falls recommendation: West Side Trail at 3. Los Angeles, California - Hike Lower Glen Trail in Minnehaha Lower Otay Reservoir recommendation: Coldwater Canyon Regional Park 19. Rancho Cucamonga, California - Park Trail 35. North Las Vegas, Nevada - Hike Hike recommendation: Etiwanda 2. Oakland, California - Hike recommendation: Fire Wave Trail in Falls Trail in North Etiwanda recommendation: Huckleberry Valley of Fire State Park Preserve Nature Path in Huckleberry Botanic 34. Scottsdale, Arizona - Hike 18. San Bernardino, California - Hike Regional Preserve recommendation: Sunrise Trail in recommendation: Daley Canyon 1. San Francisco, California - Hike Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Trail in San Bernardino National recommendation: Coastal Trail in Preserve Forest Lincoln Park 33. Santa Clarita, California - Hike 17. Colorado Springs, Colorado - recommendation: Whitney Canyon Hike recommendation: Mount Falls Trail in Whitney Canyon Park Muscoco Trail in North RAINFALL TOTALS: 32. Sacramento, California - Hike Cheyenne Cañon Park How much rain fell recommendation: Miners Ravine 16. Anaheim, California - Hike Trail in Roseville recommendation: Weir Canyon Trail overnight in 31. Elk Grove, California - Hike in Santiago Oaks Regional Park Phoenix? recommendation: Laguna Creek 15. Fremont, California - Hike By: Josh Frigerio Trail from Jack E. Hill Park recommendation: Mission Peak Trail Posted at 11:40 AM, Jul 16, 2021 30. Glendale, California - Hike in Mission Peak Regional Preserve ABC15 recommendation: Beaudry Loop 14. Phoenix, Arizona - Hike Trail in the Verdugo Mountains recommendation: Hidden Valley PHOENIX — Arizonans woke up 29. Honolulu, Hawaii - Hike Trail in South Mountain Park to more wet roads Friday after recommendation: Manoa Falls Trail 13. Las Vegas, Nevada - Hike rainfall overnight, following strong in Round Top Forest Reserve recommendation: Calico Tanks Trail storms Thursday evening that 28. Santa Ana, California - Hike in Red Rock Canyon brought rain, lightning, thunder, and recommendation: Peters Canyon 12. Riverside, California - Hike strong wind gusts to parts of the Loop Trail in Peters Canyon recommendation: Two Trees Trail in Valley. Regional Park Box Springs Mountain Reserve Park 27. El Paso, Texas - Hike 11. Oceanside, California - Hike Here is a look at how much rain fell recommendation: Aztec Cave Trail recommendation: Bluffs Beach Trail in the last 24 hours, according to in Franklin Mountains State Park at San Onofre State Beach the Maricopa County Flood Control 26. Seattle, Washington - Hike 10. Long Beach, California - Hike District's rainfall data. recommendation: Lighthouse Loop recommendation: Dominguez Gap Chandler Heights: 0.20" Trail in Discovery Park Wetlands Trail Chandler: 0.31"
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Gila River Indian Reservation: 0.51" Claw and so many others have Meyer, CEO of Phoenix Children’s Mesa: 0.08" joined us during this challenging Hospital. East Mesa (near Usery Mountain time,” says Sintra Hoffman, Regional Park): 0.63" president and CEO Ken Chapa, economic development Paradise Valley: 0.20" of WESTMARC. director at the City of Avondale, says North Phoenix: 0.12" that Phoenix Children’s is one part Lake Pleasant: 0.98" As the pandemic diminishes and of the growing suite of medical Scottsdale: 0.24" businesses return to typical services offered in the city. In June, North Scottsdale: 0.08" operations, trends in the West Valley the ribbon was cut on Akos Medical Surprise: 0.12" point to sustained growth. Center, located in Avondale’s Queen Creek: 0.24" Health-Tech corridor. The 68,000- Healthcare trends square-foot campus offers medical For many in the West Valley, the office space and currently houses Here’s why the workday begins with a commute to Apricus Urgent Care, Peak Heart & West Valley is Central Phoenix or the East Valley. Vascular Medical Office and Peak That could become less of a Surgery Center. exploding with phenomenon in the future, however. economic growth According to data obtained by “We’re seeing a lot of health care AZBigMedia.com WESTMARC, 36 percent of groups coming to the market. They July 14, 2021 Maricopa County’s healthcare know there’s already an established workers live in the West Valley. cluster of healthcare, and healthcare “Healthcare is driven by rooftops providers like being around each and rooftops keep being built in the other,” explains Chapa. “ClearSky West Valley, so we know that is a Health, which focuses on brain and sector that’s going to grow as spinal rehab, is building its first populations increase,” explains location in Arizona right next door Hoffman. to Akos.”
A slew of healthcare investments are In Goodyear, Franklin Pierce Above: Groundbreaking took place arriving west of the I-17. In University recently expanded their on June 10, 2021 for Crystal June, Phoenix Children’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program Lagoons Island Resort, a one-of-a- Hospital announced plans to build a to keep up with demand. “Abrazo kind retail, dining and entertainment $135 million campus in Glendale. Health has developed and grown attraction in Glendale.BUSINESS The Arrowhead Campus will create several residency programs over the NEWS | yesterday | KYLE 473 healthcare jobs and serve the past couple of years. There’s a BACKER 500,000 children expected to live in tremendous need in the in the West
the West Valley by 2030. Valley for additional medical The West Valley is a booming resources,” comments Lori Gary, community with 1.7 million residents In addition to the hospital in economic development director for strong and an expected population Glendale, Phoenix Children’s is the City of Goodyear. “We think of 2.1 million by 2030. With big growing its presence in Avondale that the medical and healthcare fields name companies like the Taiwan with the Southwest Campus. It will are going to drive some of the Semiconductor Manufacturing include a $33.5 million medical employment growth in Goodyear.” Company (TSMC) making office building, expand the specialty investments in the region, the West services currently offered at Phoenix Hoffman believes that more Valley is shedding old perceptions Children’s Southwest Valley specialized care will set roots in the and becoming a destination for Specialty and Urgent Care Center West Valley and bring high paying people to live, work and play. and retrofit the current urgent care jobs. A growing niche within the “It’s no secret that elected officials into an emergency department. The healthcare system is telehealth, and business leaders have been city will also be home to Phoenix which saw greater adoption during working diligently to attract high- Children’s Sports Medicine Clinic, the pandemic when people were wage employment, professional which will cater to young athletes. wary of sitting in a doctor’s office. companies and headquarters to the “All told, we’re investing nearly $200 West Valley. We’re seeing that, even million in the West Valley and Dr. Michael Simons, medical during a pandemic. Microsoft, bringing 650 jobs,” says Robert L. director of Banner Telehealth, TSMC, Ball Corporation, White
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expects that – pending regulatory White Claw are canned in Glendale’s West Valley has is a range of housing reform – telehealth will grow at a New Frontier District. In Peoria, for the workforce, from the C-suite more rapid pace compared to the plastic bottle cap maker Novembal to entry-level employees. “Being able pre-pandemic status quo since many and body armor producer Tyr to show that you have the full patients who were reluctant to try to Tactical add to the West Valley’s spectrum of homes within a 10- a new mode of care have now advanced manufacturing footprint. minute radius of a particular location experienced the benefits of the is a huge win for us,” explains system. “Tyr Tactical has contracts all over Chapa. “That’s enticing to corporate the world, and they’re expanding to decision makers because they realize “There’s a shortage of physicians two new buildings in Peoria,” says that they don’t have to worry about and nurses in Arizona,” explains Kirsten Hall, business attraction employees getting stuck on the Simons. “There are some definite program manager for the City of highway – their workforce is right in advantages that are borne out of Peoria. The company was awarded a their own backyard.” telehealth. Let’s say there’s a contract with the FBI in August physician who’s in a particular niche 2020 valued at $30 million over five In Avondale, a master-planned of their field. Telehealth makes their years. community called Alamar will have practice geographically agnostic, so 3,700 homes once fully built. Garilyn they can still be focused on the niche Adds Mackay, “Arizona is projected Bourgeois, vice president of they’re interested in while to outpace the nation in job creation marketing for Brookfield Residential, supplementing that with additional for the next decade. That’s believes that businesses and rooftops duties which can be performed to a happening because of how hard our go hand-in-hand. “Today, we see much broader patient base.” elected officials and educators have tremendous opportunity with an worked to change the state’s influx of new quality businesses, a Manufacturing trends economy from the pre-Great surge in manufacturing facility Another sector spurring growth in Recession economy that was built on operations and significant the West Valley is manufacturing. golf and retirement.” investments in recreation centers, The City of Phoenix attracted TSMC retail, education – all the desirable to Arizona, with its facility under amenities that make families want to construction at the I-17 and Loop stay here for generations.” 303. “We spent a lot of time in 2019 with the Arizona Commerce North Peoria has also become a Authority and Greater Phoenix destination for luxury home builders. Economic Council in Taiwan “At the intersection of Lake Pleasant encouraging TSMC to select Parkway and Happy Valley Road, the Arizona,” explains Christine Mackay, median income is $100,000. If you COVID-19 is accelerating suburban growth in places community and economic like Sterling Grove, a 780-acre master-planned go a mile north, it’s $130,000 – and development director for the City of neighborhood, west of Loop 303 in Surprise, offers it just gets higher as you go further Phoenix. “It’s about the ease of homeowners access to a private country club and 18- north where these master-planned doing business. We have programs hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. communities are. They’re all luxury in place that allow companies like lots and have the topography that TSMC to operate here on capital- Luxury housing you would expect in the North Housing is a top priority for intensive projects in our foreign Scottsdale area,” Hall comments. companies that want to relocate. trade zone.” Two decades ago, when Hoffman “There’s a lot of wealth in the was working to attract businesses to With the arrival of TSMC in the community, but it’s quiet wealth,” the West Valley, she was told that West Valley, other companies will says Hoffman. “But it’s here, and the lack of executive level housing have more of a reason to follow suit. you’re seeing it in the homes on the would be a challenge. “That’s not “All of the suppliers and contractors market now.” the case today,” Hoffman remarks. that work with those bigger name “For example, the least expensive companies will also be drawn to the Quality of life house at Sterling Grove in Surprise region,” says Hoffman. Entertainment and recreation is $450,000. It’s not by any means a Further south along the Loop 303, options are another magnet for starter community.” manufacturing facilities have taken attracting businesses to the West the place of agricultural fields. Valley. Having the available housing When a company is considering Popular products like Red Bull and is one thing, but businesses and their relocating, one of the benefits the Page 8
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employees want to do more that live bring in musical acts from around and strong fiscal policies, we are and work. As the region grows, so the country and world. For local focused on boldly embracing a do the options to play. performances, there’s the Arizona future enriched by the depth of our “Because of the sports we have in Broadway Theatre and Theater character and enhanced by our the West Valley, we are getting a lot Works. The Arts HQ Gallery courage to unleash the opportunities more national attention. The features artwork created by West ahead.” Cardinals and Coyotes play in Valley residents and hosts Glendale. We’re also hosting the workshops, community events and Super Bowl in 2023, which is lecture series. FROM THE significant,” comments Hoffman. ARCHIVES: THE “And of the 15 Major League Entertainment districts like Westgate Baseball teams that compete in the and P83 offer a wide variety of SPYKER AILERON Cactus League, the West Valley restaurants and retail stores – and IN THE USA hosts nine of them.” have drawn in more investment. The tale of our 2010 drive of the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale hosts Crystal Lagoons Island Resort broke madcap Dutch supercar a variety of races, including the ground south of Westgate in June Tom Ford season finale races for NASCAR’s and announced a partnership with Published: 07 Jul 2021 three national series: the NASCAR the first-of-its-kind Mattel Cup, Xfinity, and Camping World Adventure Park. In P83, a new ‘Don’t have a motto unless you’re Trucks. “We got the NASCAR Cup mixed-use development called prepared to live up to it’, is my Championship race now three years Stadium Point is bringing more than motto. Or at least it is today. Sat in in a row. That’s huge,” says Chapa. 500,000 square feet of Class A office front of me is pre-production “NASCAR is a great way for space, a business class hotel and prototype of the new Spyker Avondale to get national attention.” multifamily residential housing, Aileron, glowing furiously in the For folks interested in outdoor along with retail and restaurant Arizonan dawn like a downed shard activities, the West Valley has no spaces to Peoria. of pure sunshine. This ‘Dutch shortage of hiking trails and parks. Orange’ paint scheme is so searingly Estrella Mountain Regional Park “Goodyear has seen nearly 150 new bright you expect miniature contrails and White Tank Mountain retail and entertainment businesses to slip from its extremities every Regional Park lets families open in the past five years and in the time it moves. Inscribed on the experience the outdoors and enjoy past three years, we have filled over badges and exhaust is the legend the West Valley’s natural beauty. 600,000 square feet of commercial ‘nulla tenaci invia est via’, which, Lake Pleasant in Peoria is the space with restaurants, retail and broadly translated through the second largest lake in the Valley, entertainment,” says Gary. vagaries of Babel reads something with plenty of room to boat and fish. Hoffman adds, “When we say we like ‘for the tenacious, no road is have 1.7 million hungry residents, impassable’. Red rag. TopGear- “Peoria prides itself on the we’re not kidding. People don’t want shaped bull. recreational amenities available in the to drive across town. They are city. Along with Lake Pleasant, we looking for local options, and I think have 27 miles of river and mountain that it behooves restaurants to look trails to hike and bike,” says Jennifer west.” Stein, communications director for the City of Peoria. “We also have Economic growth doesn’t just three community parks, including spontaneously occur. It requires a the new Paloma Community Park, concerted effort on behalf of which has pickleball, fishing, an business leaders and elected officials extensive playground and splash pad. to create the fertile ground from The park includes adaptive which development springs. “Our Google maps duly scoured, we find a equipment because we want residents enjoy an exceptional quality road that runs out of Phoenix, up everyone to have a wonderful of life, and we’ve become widely through some faintly mountainous experience.” known for that,” says Peoria Mayor mesas and twisty bits of asphalt and Cathy Carlat. “What makes this then just... runs out. It says that the The arts also thrive in the West possible, though, is that we are doing ‘Apache Trail’ on Route 88 is a Valley. Gila River Arena, Ak-Chin things the right way in Peoria. With a single-track dirt road of ambiguous Pavillion and State Farm Stadium cohesive council, steady leadership quality that runs over essentially a mini Grand Canyon, linking various Page 9
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picturesque boating lakes and hiking banks of stainless toggles, the a more mature outlook, with inlets spots throughout the Usery massive horizontal bar of exposed that resemble jet engine intakes, a Mountain Regional Park. gearchange, the air of specialness. longer wheelbase, bigger cabin and “Just one thing,” I say, leaning out that auto. “I would like to drive your near- of the car. “How do you start it?” priceless supercar up that dirt road The auto is important. Spyker and try to drive it down a cliff face.” It turns out there’s a little bit of customers have apparently been I announce, expecting an immediate theatre even in firing up a Spyker. crying out for a self-shifter since the and furious rebuttal. “Um. ok,” say Lift the red toggle catch on the top Laviolette first hit the streets – there the Spyker representatives, without of the dash and flip the switch are stories of customers having their batting an eyelid. underneath to arm the ignition, and cars transported to areas just around the ‘engine start’ button directly the corner from their favourite Somewhat disconcerted by this underneath will begin to glow. Hit restaurants and shuffling them to the acceptance of what might well be a said button and the Aileron will fire frontages in first gear. They loved car-killing experience, I press home up on the first rotation into a stable the car, but couldn’t cope with a the point: “The trail has a tendency but whirry idle that speaks of belts clutch. to become washed out during and ancillaries doing stout work just rainstorms (it has started to rain at behind your right shoulder. Not the So the £194k Aileron is a response this point). There are drops of most enticing of aural handshakes, it to a market need: all the drama of several hundred feet protected by has to be said. the first-gen cars, with a little more nothing more than fag packets and day-to-day usability. It works. The pieces of string. There will be ruts The exposed gearchange – an Aileron certainly hasn’t lost any of and stones and scorpions and rattle- eminent feature on manual Spykers – its kerbside wow factor – the snakes and I have jet-lag and I’m now selects the gears on a six-speed American contingent making only going to wear one contact ZF automatic in the Aileron, but it indecipherable mewing noises lens.” Even to me, this sounds still engages with the kind of wherever we stop. Driving it slowly slightly desperate. “Yup. ok,” say the mechanical clunk that makes you is easy, the Audi-sourced 4.2-litre V8 people from Spyker with the kind of think of heavy-duty somethings. We in the back chuntering along without nonchalance that means they have peel away, cruising through complaint, the auto plopping never actually seen me drive a downtown Scottsdale like a sleek between changes without fuss. But supercar. orange barracuda in a current the highways of America aren’t really populated exclusively by yank SUV a very keen strop on which to hone whales. my knowledge of how the Aileron actually handles, so we head off into the Lost Dutchman Park (I’m not making that up), at the bottom of Usery Park, to find some curlier roads.
And so to a bit of background: the Aileron is Dutch company Spyker’s second generation of the C8 range, currently populated by a pair of Supreme confidence, then. “Ok. Just other cars; the C8 Laviolette and the so’s you know. I’ll probably end up C8 Spyder. The Laviolette is the After a mooch about, doing nothing in a strip club. Don’t worry though, I more focused sports car (manual, more taxing than 90° lefts and rights, know what I’m doing,” I flip up the hard, noisy), the Spyder the chop- followed by massively frustrating deliciously exotic beetle-wing door top version with a razored roof and 60mph highway crawls, we enter the and slip into what must be one of windscreen – both feature Spyker’s National Park and the roads start to the most show- stopping interiors predilection for air inlets that whiplash through the mesas, rising anywhere in the car world, then resemble the business end of a and falling between bits of scenery settle back, gently startled by the hypodermic syringe. The Aileron has plucked wholesale from a spaghetti
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western. Huge, 10-metre-tall sugaro widescreen cinema screen, or sat in cacti fight for space with the little the back of the Stig’s helmet looking spiky fists of smaller species, all through his visor – you forget all clinging resolutely to the sandy red that competitiveness. You sit and backdrop. The road surface is stare at the interior and play with the smooth, the corners regular and banks of aerospace-grade toggle wide – though it’s wise to remember switches and fall in love with the that Americans drive very slowly and drama. A switch in a Ford Focus
don’t really understand Italian-style costs pence. In a Spyker they cost But some elements of the Aileron overtaking. £30. Each. That thing that looks like leave you wanting more. though this a counterweight for the gearstick? is a pre-prod car, it’s hard to ignore The Aileron feels good. The car has It’s the control system for the satnav the fact that not enough has been an all-aluminium spaceframe – made and radio, hewn from billet. And made of the exhaust note (a more for Spyker by CPP in Coventry, of every time you touch it, you smile. aurally pleasing version is due for the all places – and weighs in at about production specification) and that 1,425kg, which is respectable the brakes are way too grabby at low rather than flyweight. The steering is speeds. A simple pad change and precise and meatily direct, feeding servo tweak should see customers the nose of the car into the corner stop more gracefully outside Nobu. without feeling like it’s being forced. Of more concern is the fact that the There’s lots of natural grip (there is ZF auto, though great at schlepping no traction control), with a nicely around town and cruising, isn’t really compliant balance between matched to the ability of the chassis. understeer, neutrality and eventual Eventually we arrive at the Apache easy oversteer. In fact, there’s Trail and there are a few nervous The issue is simple: while the something quite familiar about the glances as I happily bound down the suspension is busy lapping up way the Aileron goes about attacking dirt road kicking up fist-sized clods direction changes and big bumps, a corner. Which makes sense when of earth as I pass. The road is rutted, the auto, even in paddleshift mode, you delve further into the pitted, chewed through by is tardy. In a world where you can engineering; the suspension is corrugations that have our support have a proper slushy torque- designed and supplied by Lotus. The car wobbling about like a drunken converted auto that shifts almost as Aileron is essentially a big fat Evora. heifer. The Aileron rides way better quickly as a nominal F1-style Sort of. If you squint and don’t look than it should, sucking up the robotised manual (we’re talking Audi too closely at the rest of the corrugations and barely touching RS6 here), the Aileron feels like it’s technical specifications. down its stainless front splitter. been stuck with last year’s software. There are a couple of ominous
It’s fun to punt along, even at scrapes, but nothing sickening. Even if you lock out the auto-shift modest speeds. And when the rain and switch everything to ‘sports’, really starts to fall, the Aileron feels Of perhaps more concern is downchanges from the paddles are communicative and easy to handle. forgetting for a little while that the too long in coming and upchanges It might not have traction control, road we’re on has an 800ft drop to slurry and cluttered. Add to that the but when the tail swings wide, it one side and the little playful spurts fact that the slushbox seems to rob does so with the kind of easy grace of sideways action will end with the motor of some of its 400bhp and that comes from a much longer more than T-Cut can possibly rescue 354lb ft, and the Aileron ends up wheelbase. It’ll look after you as far if I get it wrong. At one point we see being a fast car that feels brisk rather as possible, which fits with the more the remains of a truck that hasn’t than outright quick. A 0-62mph time genteel ethos of the Aileron itself, made the corner. There isn’t much of 4.5 seconds and 186mph top end and the faster you go, the more left. are not to be sniffed at, but with a impressed you get. seriously modern gearbox, this car
could be right up there.
You know what though? I don’t care. Sitting in the Aileron, with its ridiculously low header rail – it feels like you’re looking through a Page 11
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excitement in the shape of a car. An Consumer fireworks are those that exotic alloy of good looks and stay on the ground and emit small unshakeably good vibes. It looks sparks. jaw-dropping from the outside and mind-blowing from the inside. The “Technically, nothing can leave the fact that it does a perfectly ground, because once it gets in the respectable job of being quick is air, you have no control over where almost a side issue. it’s going to go. That’s when we have problems with fireworks,” said You either get the Aileron, or you Annie DeChance, Buckeye don’t. It’s showy and a bit cartoony communications manager. and slightly mental. But it’s also We stop at a local eatery in Tortilla brilliant, and incredible, and life- Fireworks that leave the air are Flat, whose matron feeds us burgers affirming. And I know what would display fireworks, and are only legal and sasparilla while the inevitable mean more to me in the long run. with a special permit. Many cities in crowd is drawn to the car outside. Hooray for the Spyker Aileron. It’s a the Valley are planning public You can hear the commentary even very TopGear kind of car. firework events so residents can before you pop a door and hear the enjoy airborne fireworks in a safe explosive ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs’ as the environment. If people do still crowd glimpses the jewelled cave West Valley choose to use fireworks at home, that is the Aileron’s interior. Weirdly, firework regulations there are rules to follow. this car doesn’t trade on a name; not one person knows what it is, in fact differ “Be aware of the noise and do not some of the questions are ridiculous: By Madeline Lewis, use fireworks for an unreasonable “Is it the new West Valley View Staff Writer amount of time. Be respectful of Corvette/Boogatti/Ferrari?” “Is it Jul 3, 2021 your neighbors,” Avondale Public electric?” “Is it based on the ZR-1?” Information Officer Lauren Evans – this from a man looking at the said. Audi engine in the back. The best though, comes from an old couple: DeChance added, “Keep your pets “Is it American?” “No madam, it’s indoors and keep them safe. It is a Dutch.” “But where is it made? very scary time of the year for Illinois?” “Er, no madam it’s Dutch, them.” made in Holland.” “It’s made in Also be mindful of children. Even New York, honey...” small novelty items, like sparklers, are dangerous. Eventually the sun drops and we As Independence Day celebrations trawl back up the Apache Trail. As a begin, cities in the Valley lift select “Sparklers can burn up to a final flourish, I insist we stop at a firework regulations to allow for thousand degrees Fahrenheit, which strip joint, simply because I’m small displays. While the cities have can cause terrible injuries to determined to deflect the Spyker differences within their rules, the children,” Evans said. people’s imperturbable calm. And overall goal is to keep everyone safe “You must be 16 years old to use it’s here under the mournful neon and to protect the community from any type of firework, including that the Aileron suddenly spits itself fires. novelty sparklers,” said Tom Cole, into clarity. Goodyear deputy fire chief. There is an important distinction The Aileron doesn’t need the kind of between consumer fireworks and While using fireworks near houses, qualifiers that we usually associate display fireworks. Consumer stay away from buildings and dry with supercars. It’s one of a rare fireworks are those that are allowed debris. breed of top-end motors that isn’t for sale by state law. The stands and trying to be the fastest/rawest/most stores that sell fireworks are “This year is especially hot, and we accelerative vehicle on the planet. inspected by the city fire department expect the excessive heat to continue Spyker assumes that its buyers to make sure all fireworks are legal. until the fourth of July. Anything is already have a Scuderia, or a Veyron going to burn rapidly and readily, in the garage. The Aileron is a little which can lead to the spread of fire slice of pageantry, of drama, of Page 12
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to nearby houses,” said George The consequence for using illegal Good, Tolleson fire chief. fireworks in Goodyear can go up to “If you use fireworks in the street, a $1,000 fine. However, causing an clear the debris right away. Dispose emergency response can incite more of them safely by placing them in fines. water before throwing them away,” Evans said. “If somebody uses an illegal firework and hurts someone or something Putting hot embers or firework catches on fire, even on private remains in the trash can also lead to property, that person has to pay all fires. the fees for the emergency response required,” Cole said. Consumer fireworks are legal for purchase and use in Buckeye, “We just ask that everyone be safe, Goodyear, Avondale and Litchfield be aware of the fire dangers, and Park until July 6. However, Tolleson have a great fourth of July,” has a special ordinance outlawing the Litchfield Park City Manager use of fireworks within the city Matthew Williams said. limits.
“While state law does not allow the city to prevent the sale of fireworks, we are able to regulate their use,” Good said. “Our council did prohibit the use of anything other than sparklers or novelty items within city limits. Once they are purchased in Tolleson, they cannot be used in Tolleson. Though sparklers are allowed, no other consumer fireworks are allowed for use within city limits.”
Fines for breaking any firework laws in Tolleson start at $250. Buckeye, Avondale and Litchfield Park have a $1,000 fine.
Goodyear has a few different rules regarding consumer fireworks. First, “it is prohibited to set off fireworks on public property. That includes sidewalks and streets,” Cole said. It is recommended that fireworks be used on the driveway on private property.
In addition, there are restricted areas in Goodyear. For residents living within a mile of Corgett Wash, Agua Fria River and Estrella Mountain Regional Park, no fireworks are allowed at any time.
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