Headline News

Introducing the new Brown’s Ranch Interpretative Trail. You’re invited to a dedication ceremony for the Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail, the latest way to explore Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The event will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 North Alma School Parkway.

The new interpretive trail highlights the iconic Brown Family and is a testament to the commitment of Scottsdale’s residents to protect and educate the public about the Preserve’s rich cultural history. If you plan to visit the new trail following the ceremony, please come prepared for the 3-mile round-trip hike to the historic Brown’s Ranch. As an alternative, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is hosting guided hikes of the new trail at various times Saturday, Oct. 19. Visit Brown's Ranch Interpretive Trail Grand Opening for more details and to sign up.

Scottsdale Parks & Recreation earns reaccreditation, continuing a commitment to national standards of excellence. Employees proudly accepted the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) reaccreditation award last week at the National Recreation and Park Association Conference. CAPRA accreditation is the only national recognition of its kind for park and recreation agencies, with less than 2% of departments nationwide achieving this status.

The department has maintained CAPRA accreditation since October 1994—making it the longest-accredited agency in Arizona and one of the top five longest-accredited in the United States.

Scottsdale Parks and Recreation offers a wide array of amenities and programs. The city maintains 45 parks, many of which include extensive playgrounds, multi-use fields and aquatic facilities. These facilities serve as hubs for outdoor recreation, elevating the quality of life for residents and the local economy by attracting visitors, events and sports tournaments.

Learn more.

Scottsdale seeks residents to serve on city boards and commissions. With 13 openings spread across seven different boards and commissions, this is a unique opportunity for residents to help shape Scottsdale’s future.

Those interested in applying must complete an online application by Friday, Nov. 1.

Scottsdale’s open positions include roles on the Environmental Advisory Commission, Loss Trust Fund Board, and Veterans Advisory Commission, among others. The city encourages civic-minded individuals to apply for these positions, which play a vital role in influencing policy, providing recommendations, and ensuring the continued growth and well-being of the Scottsdale community.

Learn more about the available positions and application process.

Scottsdale and Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council partner on a new patch program and design contest. Scottsdale is seeking artists in grades K-12 to help design the patch for the Scottsdale Patch program, a collaboration between the city and Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC). The Scottsdale Patch program will roll out in the spring of 2025 and will be an excellent way for Girl Scouts to learn more about Scottsdale and all the city has to offer.

Contest Guidelines:

• The design must be the student's original work.
• It must include the words "GSACPC" and "Scottsdale."
• It should also include elements of Scottsdale, prominent places landmarks, cultural or historical references.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. The winning design will be selected by a committee of Scottsdale and GSACPC staff.

Learn more about the contest.

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 Oct. 14:

• Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14
• Library Board Regular Meeting: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Airport Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Scottsdale Environmental Advisory Commission Regular Meeting: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
• Building Advisory Board of Appeals Regular Meeting: 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17

Week of Oct. 21: Check back next week for the full list:

• Neighborhood Advisory Regular Meeting: 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23

Learn about the responsibilities of city Boards and Commissions and how you can serve. Find more public meetings.

Things to do

Scottsdale Fall Classic returns to WestWorld. The prestigious show attracts top horse and rider combinations from across the country.

The event is divided into two distinct competitions: Scottsdale Fall Classic 1 from Oct. 16 to 20, followed by Scottsdale Fall Classic 2 from Oct. 23 to 27.

Learn more.

Take a ride during Halloween Spook-Track-Ula. Stop in for a spell as the Paradise & Pacific Railroad is transformed into a haunted park of fun for Halloween Spook-Track-ula. This family-friendly event is perfect for kids of all ages.

The event will feature limited capacity one and a half hour time blocks at 6 and 8 p.m. nightly. The park will only be accessible to those who have purchased tickets during a specific time block.

The event takes place every day from 6-9:30 p.m. Oct. 11-Oct. 31. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Take part in a time-honored tradition during Scottsdale Dia de los Muertos. This year’s celebration has expanded to include even more activities and events throughout Old Town Scottsdale.

Most of the events are free. Tickets to the Danza de Muertos can be purchased through Scottsdale Arts.

• Altares Y Ofrendas Experience – Oct. 24 – Nov. 2
• Art Installation Experience – Oct. 24 – 27
• Procession Desfile de los Muertos – Oct. 25
• Fiesta de Muertos – Oct. 26
• Danza de Muertos – Oct. 26

More information.

Ongoing:

• 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.
• Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Attend exciting, diverse events 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

Become an Old Town Ambassador! If you're interested in sharing your excitement and knowledge with visitors who are new to Old Town, then consider volunteering!

Ambassador volunteers are asked to fulfill a three-hour shift at one of two information sidewalk carts, with time slots available between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m. During your shift, you will have the opportunity to interact with visitors and provide information on various restaurants, sites to visit and shopping venues.

Learn more.

Drop off unwanted prescription drugs at the Drug Take-Back event. From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, you can stop by two Scottsdale locations to dispose of unwanted, unneeded or expired prescription drugs – no questions asked. Bring your pills for disposal to either of the following locations:

• Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road
• Foothills District Police Station in the Market Street Plaza at DC Ranch, 20363 N. Pima Road.

Please do not bring liquids of any kind.

The collections are part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s 22nd Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back. Scottsdale is one of more than 40 state, local and tribal police departments participating in this national effort.

FYI

ADOT advises drivers to plan for overnight closures as part of Loop 101 Pima Freeway improvements. Princess Drive/Pima Road will be closed at Loop 101 nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, Oct. 17.

• Detour: Southbound Frontage Road to eastbound Bell Road to northbound Frontage Road to access northbound Loop 101 and Pima Road east of the closure.
• Detour: Westbound Loop 101 to southbound Hayden Road to eastbound Loop 101 to access Loop 101 and Princess Drive west of the closure.

This project is part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s two-year project to add lanes and improve interchanges on Loop 101 between Shea Boulevard and Princess Drive/Pima Road.

“Stay in the Loop” by subscribing to project updates on ADOT’s website.

Job of the Week: Maintenance Tech Sports Fields – Bell Road Sports Complex. The position promotes shared responsibility, teamwork, and continuous improvement by assisting the Community Services Operations Supervisors in a variety of maintenance activities. This role also operates turf equipment such as mowers, tractors, aerators, and utility vehicles to maintain sports fields.

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

• Voting in the General Election (English)
• Voting in the General Election (Spanish)
• City Call Center – 480-312-3111
• Report things that need to be fixed, or submit other requests via Scottsdale EZ
• Traffic Restrictions Map – We update this map weekly to include most road improvement projects. Stay in the loop for Pima Freeway construction.
• Brush and Bulk Schedule
• Scottsdale Weather