Scottsdale Update - Dec. 22, 2025
HEADLINE NEWS
Scottsdale Trolley holiday service. The Scottsdale Trolley will not operate on Christmas Day, Thursday, Dec. 25 or on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1. Visit Valley Metro.org for complete holiday schedule information.
Scottsdale promotes two longtime leaders to deputy city manager roles. The city of Scottsdale has promoted longtime internal leaders Judy Doyle and Kira Peters to serve as deputy city managers, reinforcing its commitment to developing experienced leadership from within the organization. City Manager Greg Caton announced the appointments to employees and City Council as part of a broader effort to strengthen leadership alignment and operational oversight. Doyle, who joined the city in 2003, most recently served as Senior Director of Enterprise Operations, overseeing departments including Aviation, Economic Development, Tourism & Events and WestWorld. Peters brings 35 years of municipal leadership experience and most recently served as Senior Director for Library & Human Services and interim Senior Director for Scottsdale Water. The promotions are part of an organizational reorganization intended to streamline the city’s structure, improve collaboration and support efficient, high-quality service delivery, with additional details to be shared in the coming weeks.
Scottsdale invests $18.5 million in city streets through expanded Fall 2025 Paving Program. The city of Scottsdale has completed its expanded Fall 2025 paving season, improving streets, parking lots and alleys citywide, with a major investment in Old Town as part of the Old Town Revitalization Program. The fall program totaled an estimated $18.5 million—more than double the Fall 2024 cost—with $7 million dedicated specifically to Old Town improvements. City crews resurfaced more than 1.5 million square yards across Scottsdale, including nearly 368,000 square yards in Old Town alone. Work focused on preserving pavement, improving ride quality and extending roadway lifespan while minimizing disruption in one of the city’s busiest and most historic areas. The projects were delivered through a coordinated effort among city departments and 16 contractors, with careful phasing to maintain access and safety for businesses, residents and visitors.
Last call to donate to Scottsdale Fire Department’s Annual Toy Drive. Scottsdale Fire is now collecting unwrapped toys and gift cards through Dec. 22 at all fire stations and headquarters to support families in need. Each year, the effort gathers around 10,000 toys, helping more than 1,000 families. Donations are distributed to organizations such as Vista Del Camino, HonorHealth, Family Promise, Fosters Alliance and Harvest Compassion Center. Donors are especially encouraged to give items or gift cards suitable for children ages 7–12 and 13–18, which are often harder to shop for. For fire station locations, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “About Scottsdale Fire.”
THINGS TO DO
All aboard for Holiday Lights at the Railroad Park! Holiday Lights will take place 6-9:30 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 30, at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The park will be transformed into a festive winter wonderland featuring dazzling light displays and train rides aboard the Paradise & Pacific Railroad. With limited capacity to enhance the guest experience, this popular event offers residents and visitors a chance to enjoy Scottsdale’s holiday spirit and create lasting memories with family and friends. Purchase tickets online.
Explore galleries during Scottsdale ArtWalk. Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries, dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from around the world and locally. Stroll at your own pace. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Specialty-themed Gold Palette ArtWalks are held 6:30-9 p.m. about once a month.
Ongoing:
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, live performances throughout the year.
- Find McDowell Sonoran Conservancy events.
- Discover Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West activities.
- Get Scottsdale Sister Cities events.
Get more events information.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
What’s in my backyard? Get answers to that question at a relaxed community open house with food, kid-friendly activities, a fire station tour and the chance to talk one-on-one with city staff. Learn about projects, services, and events happening in your neighborhood while connecting with friends and neighbors close to home. The event takes place 5:30 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Fire Station 603, 8191 E. Indian Bend Road. This is the second in a series, each tailored to a specific area.
FYI
Job of the Week: WestWorld Events Director. This position plays a vital role in supporting Scottsdale’s tourism economy, community engagement, and reputation as a top destination for world-class events, while ensuring exceptional customer service and operational excellence. Reporting to the WestWorld general manager, the events director oversees all aspects of event development and implementation, ensuring facilities, equipment, staffing, and physical set-ups meet contractual agreements and client expectations.
NEW ONLINE:
Recycle right this holiday season. The holidays bring extra joy — and extra waste. Scottsdale is reminding residents to recycle smart by using the Recycle Right Wizard, an easy online tool that shows exactly what can and can’t be recycled locally. From shipping boxes to bows, knowing where items belong helps keep Scottsdale’s recycling clean and efficient during the busiest time of year. Not sure what goes in the recycling bin? Check out the reel for helpful holiday recycling tips that make clean-up easier!
Community partners step up for Operation Fix It. Scottsdale Human Services is thanking Dunn Transportation for lending their time to Operation Fix It. Volunteers worked together to clear multiple code violations at a major corner property, helping a Scottsdale resident get back into city code compliance and leaving the home’s exterior clean and refreshed. See the teamwork in action and the impressive transformation.
Regional fire training partnership in action. Last week, Scottsdale Fire welcomed Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department to the Scottsdale Fire Regional Training Center for live-fire training. The training reflected a long-standing, reciprocal partnership that began when Tempe hosted Scottsdale crews during construction of Scottsdale’s own facility. Working together strengthens regional readiness and ensures firefighters across the Valley are prepared to serve their communities safely and effectively. Go behind-the-scenes and see how this teamwork came to life during live-fire training.
QUICK LINKS:
- City Call Center – 480-312-3111
- Report things that need to be fixed, or submit other requests via Scottsdale EZ
- Traffic Restrictions Map
- Stay in the loop, subscribe to ADOT Loop 101 construction updates
- Brush and Bulk Schedule
- Scottsdale Weather