From new splash pads and sports courts to extended pool hours and bigger community events, Scottsdale residents can look forward to a wide range of exciting park and recreation improvements in the coming year. These projects will add amenities, modernize facilities and create more opportunities to gather and play across the city.

“We’re making improvements that residents will see and feel every day, while also planning responsibly for the future,” said City Manager Greg Caton. “By enhancing recreation opportunities and managing resources wisely, we’re ensuring Scottsdale remains a community where people want to live, work and play.”

Sales tax supports new investments

Much of this work is made possible by the new 0.15% Parks & Preserve Sales Tax approved by voters in 2024. The tax, which took effect in July, directly supports the protection, maintenance and enhancement of Scottsdale’s parks and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

This dedicated funding stream is already being put to work:

• Rotary Park will see its aging playground replaced with a shaded, modern play space.
• Pima Park will expand with new play areas, pickleball courts, restrooms, turf and parking.
• Eldorado and Vista del Camino parks will begin design for new splash pads, sport courts, and upgrades to the skatepark and dog park.
• Chaparral and Camelback parks will undergo master planning for future upgrades.
• Citywide, new staff positions — including a principal planner — will support enhanced maintenance and shape the future of Scottsdale’s aging parks.
• An expanded urban forestry program will boost tree planting and care across the city.

Expanding programs and events

Scottsdale is also expanding recreation programs and aquatics to match community demand. Annual events will expand from 11 to 18, with larger versions of favorites like Fall Festival, Bunnanza and Parks & Rec Rewind.

Adaptive Recreation is getting a boost thanks to a $20,000 National Recreation and Park Association grant, enabling the Scottsdale Bobcats Special Olympics to serve kids as young as 8 in five sports.

Added funding will also reduce waitlists for popular art and fitness classes. On the aquatics side, extended swim and waterpark hours will continue through Labor Day, and a five-year infrastructure improvement plan will begin with a major pool replastering project at McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center in January 2026.

Investments for the future

Bond and capital funds are driving large-scale upgrades across Scottsdale. Work is underway to improve lakes and irrigation systems along the Indian Bend Wash, and construction will soon begin on the new Thompson Peak Dog Park, complete with three play areas, restrooms and a connecting footbridge. Horizon Park will add shaded spectator seating, while field renovations and pump replacements are planned for Scottsdale Sports Complex.

Planning for the future of aquatics is also underway, with a feasibility study launching in September to guide the redevelopment of the Cactus Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Alongside these visible projects, Scottsdale continues to adjust how it manages parks to improve quality and efficiency. New irrigation systems with smart monitoring technology are helping to ensure fields stay healthy while limiting waste. Sod installations projects are happening in several high-use areas to keep them green, while low-traffic and hard-to-maintain spaces are being enhanced with beautiful desert landscaping.

“These investments represent a forward-thinking commitment to Scottsdale’s quality of life,” said Nick Molinari, senior director of Parks & Recreation and Preserve. “With the support of our residents and City Council, we’re building on Scottsdale’s legacy as a world-class parks and recreation destination while meeting the needs of a growing and active community.”