July 2026

PARKS, RECREATION,
OPEN SPACE, AND EVENTS
J U L Y 2 0 2 6
N E W S L E T T E R
Connecting our community through people, parks,
natural areas, and programs.
Drone Show attendees settling in
before the show
Fourth of July Drone Show
The 2026 Fourth of July Celebration & Drone
Show was a phenomenal success. The event
drew a crowd of approximately 28,000 people
to Foxglenn Park for an evening of fun-filled
People dancing to the live band
activities, including bounce houses, yard
games, face painting, balloon creations, and live music, culminating in a spectacular 23-minute
drone show produced by OpenSky Productions. The show featured elements inspired by
Flagstaff's local culture and celebrated the nation's 250th anniversary. Thanks to the
collaborative efforts of Economic Vitality, the Flagstaff Police Department, Fire Department, and
Emergency Management, this was an event we will not forget and are proud to have produced
for both our local community and visitors to enjoy.
Some featured images from the Drone Show

Jim Cullen Memorial Park
PARKS PARKS
New Dumpster Enclosure
The Parks team has successfully completed a
new dumpster bin enclosure at Thorpe Park,
creating a consolidated and cleaner space for
our trash operations. This updated setup
replaces the old open location, improving
overall efficiency for daily Parks workflows.
The new dumpsters also feature locking lids,
designed to help reduce public dumping and
keep the area secure and well-maintained. New dumpster enclosure
June 2026 Trail Number Counts of Users
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
AZT Loop FUTS CCC Hill Bridge Mesa Site East West Trail
Entrance
Tree Mars 66 66
Buffalo Park Sinclair
Foxglenn Mesa Waterbird Route
Lone Observatory Cyn Route
Buffalo
McMillan Picture Cyn
Picture

RECREATION RECREATION
New Recreation Coordinator, Gwen Turney
at Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center
We are excited to welcome Gwen Turney as the Recreation
Coordinator at the Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center.
Gwen recently earned her degree in Parks and Recreation from
NAU and is already familiar with PROSE after working at the
Aquaplex and Joe C. front desk for four years. She’s eager to
introduce new programs that community members have been
asking for and has already begun revitalizing the Senior Stretch class. Gwen Turney
Outside of work, Gwen enjoys
spending time with friends and
exploring the outdoors—one of
her favorite things about living in
Flagstaff. Be sure to stop by Joe C.
to say hello or join her for a class!
Aquaplex Youth Program Net Swim Lessons at the Aquaplex
Revenue 2025/2026 Comparison
Summer Youth Program Success at
2025 2026 the Aquaplex
10,000 This summer, both Summer Camp and Swim
Lessons saw major improvements in efficiency,
quality, and financial performance. Summer Camp
5,000
operated for six weeks instead of nine yet still served
86% of last year’s participants, increased weekly
0 0 enrollment and revenue, reduced staffing costs, and
finished with a positive net revenue of $1,550.47—an
improvement of nearly $8,600 over 2025. Swim
-5,000
Lessons shifted to longer one‑hour sessions, greatly
enhancing instructional value while increasing
-10,000 revenue and net
Summer Camp Swim Lessons
revenue despite lower
enrollment.
Kids on the rock wall at the
Together, these
Aquaplex Summer Camp
results highlight the
strong momentum of
our youth
programming and
reflect the dedication
and professionalism of
our Aquaplex team.

Touch-A-Truck event
Touch-A-Truck Event
Once again, Hal Jensen Recreation Center hosted a
successful Touch‑A‑Truck event, drawing hundreds of
families eager to explore and learn about a wide variety
of trucks and machinery. The event continues to grow in
popularity each year and remains a favorite for visitors of
all ages. Kid using a remote to
“tow” a play-car
Mountain Mash-Up at Jay Lively
Jay Lively hosted the 5th Annual Mountain Mash‑Up adult draft
tournament. Players received custom mythical‑creature jerseys—the
theme this year included Leprechauns, Yetis, Unicorns, and Jackalopes—
and each participant played four games throughout the weekend. The
tournament drew players from across Arizona, with many newcomers
praising the experience and the unique jerseys. After a competitive
weekend of evenly matched teams, the Leprechauns
claimed this year’s championship. Recreation Manager, Tyrone & his
grandson at Touch-A-Truck
The Power of Play – Parks & Recreation Month Event
Recreation staff from all four centers teamed to host a Parks
Prize wheel
and Recreation Month event celebrating this year’s theme, the
Power of Play. Families enjoyed a wide variety of activities,
including yard games, arts and crafts, scooter races, a bouncy
obstacle course, and visits from Police and Fire teams. An
engaging scavenger hunt added to the fun with chances to win
prizes. The event was well‑received and offered a free,
active, and enjoyable afternoon for families.
Kids playing Gaga Ball
Scooter races

Monsoon sunset on McMillan Mesa
OPEN OPEN SPACE SPACE
Stewardship and Volunteer Work
Volunteers kicked off Volunteers from Wednesday
trail‑stabilization work on the Weed-Pulls
downhill trails at McMillan
Rainbow on the Mesa, building water bars and
Arizona Trail berms to help redirect stormwater
and prevent erosion. Visiting volunteers from Texas helped
clean up trash along El Paso Flagstaff Road—the route to
Picture Canyon—followed by a guided hike to view the
petroglyphs. At Picture Canyon, more than 20 volunteers helped
Kids from Hal Jensen pull invasive weeds, tackling knapweed
looking through behind kinder morgan and scotch
binoculars thistle both in the canyon and along
the Rio de Flag near Rain Valley.
Outdoor Education at Summer
Youth Programs
Open Space partnered with Aquaplex Day
Camp for two outreach programs. The first
program involved an archaeology activity Volunteers
where campers practiced searching for building berms
artifacts and recording their observations. The
second visit focused on outer space, giving kids the chance to create
outer space‑themed watercolor postcards or design their own planets
using different art materials. The Open Space team guided kids from
Hal Jensen on a hike along the Sinclair Wash Trail to the Rio de Flag
wetlands. Using binoculars, field guides, magnifying glasses, and
insect nets, the kids explored local plants and wildlife—highlighted by
an exciting moment when they watched an osprey catch a fish in the
wetlands.
Archaeology activity

Final concert at Jim Cullen Memorial Park
EVENTS, EVENTS, MARKETING MARKETING & & ATHLETICS ATHLETICS
Concerts in the Park Series Concludes
The Concerts in the Park Series wrapped up at Jim Cullen Memorial Park after a vibrant season
featuring artists ranging from blues and funk to alternative covers from the ’90s and 2000s.
Despite a few necessary location changes
and one cancellation due to wildfire smoke, People of all ages dancing to the music
the series successfully hosted eight of the
nine scheduled performances. Thanks to
our staff and partners’ ability to remain
flexible, think quickly, and prioritize safety
—adapting plans, relocating when needed,
and ensuring each show could continue
smoothly.
Summer Athletic Programs Running Strong
Second‑session softball is in full swing after the first session was extended due to smoke from the
Sedona wildfires and monsoon weather, ultimately wrapping up by mid‑June. Thanks to our
athletic staff and their adaptability in rescheduling games, the season has stayed on track.
Registration for the 2026 fall volleyball season is now open, offering seven divisions across six days
(Sunday through Friday).
Full moon rising
Grass volleyball has about
during softball games
at Thorpe three weeks remaining in the
season. We have also
welcomed two new athletic
officials and are in the
process of hiring additional
scorekeepers to support our
growing programs.