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Scottsdale Update – Feb. 24, 2025

Feb 25, 2025, 13:53 PM by Office of Communications
Scottsdale news for the week of Feb. 24.

HEADLINE NEWS

Scottsdale expands pickleball access through partnership with Scottsdale Community College. Scottsdale Parks and Recreation and SCC are offering free access for drop-in play in an effort to meet the demand. Instruction-based programs will be available at a nominal fee.

There are six pickleball courts on SCC’s campus located just west of the Fitness Wellness Center. Under this partnership agreement, the courts are free to use for drop-in play and accessible daily from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. (excluding holidays, campus closures and when SCC pickleball classes are being held). Further details on classes and clinics will be made available at a later date on SCC’s website.

Resident feedback during the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process identified pickleball as one of the top five most desired future recreation programs among Scottsdale residents. This partnership will provide more opportunities for residents to learn and play on a regular basis.

Learn more.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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 Feb. 24:

Week of March 3 – Check back next week for the full list:

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

Find more public meetings.

THINGS TO DO

Celebrate Founders Day 2025. The city of Scottsdale will celebrate Founders Day at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, in front of the Little Red Schoolhouse, 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall. This free event recognizes Chaplain Winfield and Helen Scott as champions of education. This is the 115th anniversary of the opening of the Little Red Schoolhouse. Mayor Borowsky will read a proclamation, and scheduled speakers include community historian Joan Fudala, Citizen Advisor Bruce Wall, and state historian Marshall Trimble.

This event is presented by the city of Scottsdale, in partnership with the Scottsdale Historical Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution, Winfield Scott Chapter.

Diamonds in the Desert exhibit opens Feb. 26. Scottsdale area high schools boast some of the finest baseball programs in the nation. Why? A free exhibit at Scottsdale’s Little Red School House Museum explores that question and celebrates the area high school teams, players and coaches who helped form this unique tradition.

From Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer to 2024’s No. 1 pick of the Atlanta Braves Cam Caminiti, Scottsdale schools have produced 25 Major League Baseball players, dozens of athletes drafted by the majors and 35 state baseball titles.

The exhibit opens Feb. 26 at the museum, located at 7333 E. Scottsdale Mall in Old Town Scottsdale.

For more information, visit www.ABLEAZ.org.

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.

Catch a free ride to Scottsdale Stadium. The Scottsdale Trolley is offering a free hop-on, hop-off service during all Giants home games, making it a breeze to get to and from the ballpark.

The trolley service begins 1.5 hours before first pitch and runs until 30 minutes after the final inning, with trolleys arriving at designated stops every 20 minutes. Convenient stops are located near key parking garages in Old Town Scottsdale.

View the trolley map.

Get complete information about spring training in Scottsdale at ScottsdaleAZ.gov, search “spring training.”

Attend a free Blue Zones Project Scottsdale workshop on navigating the grocery store. In today’s fast-paced world, making healthy food choices can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling a busy schedule. Join Blue Zones Project Scottsdale for “Navigating the Grocery Store: Fast & Easy Healthy Choices for Busy Lives,” a program designed to help you shop smarter, eat better, and save time.

  • 10-11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, 3721 N. Scottsdale Road.
  • Reserve your spot.

They’ll talk you through the grocery store aisles showing how to identify the best options:

  • Make quick, nutritious decisions without sacrificing taste or convenience
  • Recognize industry “buzz” words
  • Read labels effectively
  • Stock your pantry with go-to items that make healthy meals a breeze

U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West. The Scottsdale Concert Band will perform a wide variety of music, from standard concert band and wind ensemble literature to orchestral transcriptions, military marches, jazz, pop and Broadway.

  • 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St.
  • Tickets are free

The SunPunchers: Dark Sky Journey. Part four of The SunPunchers’ four-part residency is Dark Sky Journey, exploring our relationship with the mystery and magic of the night sky through celestial songs and facts from the nonprofit International Dark Sky Association.

Sun & Sounds: Pick & Holler and The Melroses. Listen to music by the high-energy, fiddle-driven, old-time string band Pick & Holler and Phoenix-based duo The Melroses at Scottsdale Civic Center. Enjoy unique artist vendors and cold drinks at the bar.  

  • Noon Sunday, March 2, at the Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
  • Tickets are free

For more information about these events, visit ScottsdaleArts.org.

Scottsdale Concert Band presents: To Boldy Go (Outer Space Exploration). The Scottsdale Concert Band wants to take you for a ride - in space!

Directed by Jeff Quamo, the program will include Symphonic Suite from Star Trek; Theme from E.T.; Jupiter from The Planets; and more.

  • 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Scottsdale Community College amphitheater, 9000 E. Chaparral Road.
  • Tickets are free

Ongoing:

Get more events information.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Neighborhood College: Treasures of Scottsdale One - The Extraordinary Ellis Family. For more than 70 years, the Cattle Track Arts Compound has been a hub of creativity and innovation in Scottsdale, its influence reaching around the globe and back again, and yet the site has remained off the radar of most residents and visitors. The family behind this one-of-a-kind home for the arts traces their Scottsdale roots back to just a few years after the founding of the State of Arizona. Those present at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, will tour the gallery and workshop led by a Cattle Track Arts and Preservation volunteer. The presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.

  • Cattle Track Arts Compound, 6105 N. Cattle Track Road.
  • Presenter: Bruce Wall, city of Scottsdale.
  • Register online.

FYI

Northbound Shea Boulevard to Princess Drive to be closed 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28 – Monday, March 3, as part of the current Loop 101 widening project.

Motorists should also expect to see lane restrictions on the Loop 101 Frontage Road, southbound at Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, from 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 to Monday morning, March 3.

Provide your feedback on WestWorld’s services. The city of Scottsdale, in partnership with research institute Keen Independent, is developing its strategic plan for WestWorld. The plan will focus on how WestWorld can improve customer experience, enhance operational efficiency and increase community support and collaboration.

Visit qrco.de/WestWorld to take the survey.

Job of the Week: Police Officer. This job is responsible for protecting life and property, enforcing laws, and ensuring the safety and well-being of the community. Through the use of community policing strategies, you'll educate the public, prevent and deter crime, and respond to a variety of incidents, all while fostering positive relationships with those you serve.

City employees enjoy competitive benefits while working in a supportive, high-performance organization focused on delivering on our mission - Simply Better Service for a World-Class Community. Learn more and apply.

QUICK LINKS

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