Scottsdale to honor Vietnam veterans March 29 at Civic Center.

Hosted by the Scottsdale Veterans Advisory Commission, the free public event is a communitywide show of appreciation for those who served during the Vietnam era. Complimentary lunch will be provided for registered guests. Registration is required.

This year's featured speaker is Vietnam veteran Francisco “Frank” Moreno, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and helicopter pilot whose service spans some of the most significant chapters of American history.

As a young soldier with the 101st Airborne Division, Moreno was among the paratroopers who enforced President Dwight D. Eisenhower's desegregation order at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

He later volunteered for flight school and served two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. During the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang at Landing Zone X-Ray, Moreno flew 14 missions into an active combat zone to evacuate wounded soldiers. He and his crew rescued 33 service members, all of whom survived.

His actions earned him the Silver Star, and the award is currently under review for a potential upgrade to the Medal of Honor.

City seeks public input as ADA transition plan moves forward.

Learn more about the city's efforts to complete a self-assessment as part of updating Scottsdale's ADA Transition plan. The event includes two public meetings from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road. Presentations will begin at 11:15 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.

The Scottsdale ADA Transition Plan evaluates the city's buildings, programs, services, activities and communications for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The resulting plan will identify accessibility barriers and recommend strategies to address them. This is part of the city's long-term efforts to improve accessibility and reinforce its commitment to compliance with the ADA.

Learn more about the city's accessibility efforts and how to get involved.

National awards highlight Scottsdale's leadership in smart city technology.

Scottsdale continues to gain national recognition for innovation in technology and public safety. The city recently earned a 2026 CSO Award for its cybersecurity transformation, recognizing Scottsdale's implementation of Zero Trust and Secure SD-WAN architecture to protect the city's highly connected digital environment. The system supports secure connectivity across public safety operations, city facilities, devices and hybrid cloud platforms that power services residents rely on every day.

In addition, the city was named the overall winner in the 2026 Smart Cities North America Awards for the Scottsdale Police Department's AI-powered Real Time Crime Center and Drone-as-First-Responder program. The cloud-connected platform provides real-time decision support for officers, dispatchers and emergency management teams, helping Scottsdale respond faster and more effectively to incidents and large-scale events. Together, these recognitions highlight Scottsdale's leadership in leveraging advanced technology to strengthen cybersecurity, enhance public safety and deliver reliable services to the community.

Get a head start learning about city issues, projects and activities by attending or listening in on the many public meetings we host.

Week of March 16:

• Tourism Development Commission Regular Meeting: 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 17
• Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting: 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 18
• Airport Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 18

Week of March 23 – Check back next week for the full list:

• City Council Special Meeting: 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 24
• City Council Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 24
• Council Subcommittee on Community Safety Regular Meeting: 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
• Neighborhood Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25
• Scottsdale Housing Agency Governing Board Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26
• Human Services Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve.

Find more public meetings.

Celebrate the Granite Reef Senior Center's 20th anniversary!

Join Scottsdale as we recognize two decades of programs, friendships and services that help older adults stay active, engaged and connected. This special celebration honors the people and partnerships that make Granite Reef a welcoming place for our community.

• 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Granite Reef Senior Center
• Register online.

Uncharted territory awaits.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West invites the public to a free Opening Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, marking the unveiling of the Louis Sands IV Center. The new 12,000-square-foot expansion introduces four new galleries that deepen the story of the North American West through new voices and perspectives.

This special day offers a cultural experience where art, education and creativity bring the spirit of the West to life. Guests will be among the first to explore the new galleries and experience the stories, artistry and history that continue to shape the region.

The family-friendly celebration will extend into Old Town Scottsdale with live Western music, food trucks, whiskey tastings and special activations featuring local businesses that reflect the spirit of the West. In the museum's courtyard Sculpture Garden, artisans will demonstrate their craft in connection with the new exhibitions.

Inside the galleries, visitors can explore Visions in Bronze, From Earth to the Stars, Fire of Ages, and Working Pardners: Masterworks from the Eddie Basha Collection, with docent-led express tours and curator pop-up talks throughout the day.

Admission is free with registration. Reserve a pass online.

Now is the perfect time to gear up for Valley Bike Month.

The fun kicks off March 28 with Tour de Scottsdale, a world-class bicycle racing event with challenging and scenic courses throughout north Scottsdale.

Online registration is open for Scottsdale's annual Cycle the Arts event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The guided bike ride and tour of select pieces of Scottsdale's public art collection takes place Sunday, April 19. Cycle the Arts is a free event; however, registration is required and space is limited.

Shifting gears, bicycle commuters are invited to Bike to Work Day Wednesday, April 22. Participants will receive commemorative Bike Month stickers, door prizes and breakfast snacks. An event map will be available in early April.

For a full list of Bike Month events, visit Valley Metro—and don't forget to sign up for this year's Bike Month Challenge while you're there.

Learn more about Bike Month and register for Scottsdale's annual Cycle the Arts event.

Sun & Sounds.

Food, drinks and free music under the Arizona sun at noon on Sundays at Scottsdale Civic Center!

Each week, enjoy live musical performances by Arizona artists, a new cocktail bar and shop crafty and artistic vendors at the Merchantile Market.

Learn more.

Play ball! Spring training is happening at Scottsdale Stadium.

Catch the San Francisco Giants in Cactus League action before beginning their regular season. Scottsdale Stadium is the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants and offers a game experience like no other.

For spring training tickets, visit MLB.com/SpringTraining.

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.

Neighborhood College: HOA/Condo Board Roundtable March.

Join us for more stories of crime that happened in Scottsdale. First, about a business that offered financial investments that were too good to be true, and the second is a deep dive into the most famous homicide in Scottsdale's history.
Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.

• 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, inside the Book Discussion Room at Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th St.
• Register online.

Scottsdale invites community input on draft Shade and Tree Plan.

In an effort to enhance shade throughout the city, the Scottsdale Shade & Tree Plan for the Built Environment was developed to serve as a guide for the community to implement, expand and maintain shade infrastructure across both private development and public spaces.

The plan aims to create cooler, more comfortable outdoor spaces by providing practical guidance for selecting and placing trees, integrating water-harvesting practices, and using shade structures across different locations and contexts.

The city is soliciting public input before finalizing the plan. Residents and community members are encouraged to learn more by visiting the project website or attending one of the scheduled open houses:

• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at Mountain View Park Community Center, 8625 E. Mountain View Road
• 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the Community Design Studio, 7506 E. Indian School Road

Comments may be submitted through the project's engagement website by April 17.

Learn more and submit comments.

Scottsdale clarifies funding and budget status for Scottsdale Road corridor project.

The project is a two-mile reconstruction of Scottsdale Road between Jomax Road and Dixileta Drive that includes roadway improvements, drainage upgrades and safety enhancements along the corridor. City officials confirm the project remains within its approved $43.7 million budget and that funding for the corridor improvements has been preserved. The city continues evaluating safety improvements for the Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard intersection while corridor construction moves forward within the approved budget. The goal is to ensure the final improvements best serve the community.

Scottsdale expands groundwater infrastructure to support long-term water reliability.

Over the past five years, Scottsdale has drilled four new municipal wells, each in different stages of development including permitting, design, construction and equipment installation. The city is also restoring existing wells and planning additional rehabilitation projects to maintain reliable groundwater access. Groundwater stored in Scottsdale’s aquifer, much of it intentionally recharged over nearly three decades near the Scottsdale Water Campus, remains a key component of the city’s long-term water management strategy.

Job of the Week: Division Finance Manager.

The division finance manager provides leadership and expert financial guidance for the Scottsdale Police Department, overseeing budgeting, long-term financial planning, and complex financial analyses. This role supervises staff, monitors revenues and expenditures, prepares reports, and supports strategic decision-making, ensuring that departmental resources are allocated efficiently and effectively. The position also leads special projects, develops financial policies, and acts as a key liaison with city leadership and other departments.

Learn more and apply.

SWAT and K9 Djaro train for desert search.

Last week, Scottsdale Police SWAT officers conducted open field movement training to simulate searching the desert for a hidden suspect. The exercise focused on coordinated team movement and maintaining safe distance during high-risk searches. K9 Djaro played a key role in the scenario, helping the team locate suspects while allowing officers to keep critical time and distance between themselves and potential threats. See the training in action and watch K9 Djaro at work.

That “finally available” book feeling.

Scottsdale Public Library shared a fun reel celebrating the excitement of finally getting the book you've been waiting to read. When a popular title keeps getting checked out, that moment when it becomes available can feel pretty magical. The library reminds readers that placing a hold on new and in-demand titles is a great way to make sure you don't miss your chance when your next must-read arrives. Watch the reel to relive that magical moment.

Volunteers help beautify Granite Reef Senior Center.

Last week, Scottsdale Human Services recognized volunteers from Scottsdale Elks Lodge #2148, led by the Past Exalted Rulers Association, for donating their time and resources to improve the Granite Reef Senior Center. The group transformed the center's empty fountains into beautiful, sustainable xeriscape landscaping, creating a welcoming space that can be enjoyed for years to come. The city plans to formally recognize their work during Granite Reef Senior Center's 20th Anniversary Celebration at noon on Saturday, March 21. See the transformation and the volunteers who made it happen.