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Painted Sky Park lake draws anglers; city outlines stocking, loaner poles and summer programs
Summary
Staff summarized Painted Sky Park’s fish stocking history, lake size and management contract and outlined education programs, loaner fishing poles and future events including glow fishing and ‘Cops and Bobbers.’
Recreation coordinator Elliot Nuda told the commission that Painted Sky Park’s pond is stocked and being managed as a community fishing resource, with monthly programming and contractor oversight to maintain lake health.
“Initially we stocked 20,000 fathead minnows, 1,000 catfish, 2,000 bluegill and 200 bass,” Nuda said, adding that a fall stocking included larger fish (500 catfish, 100 bluegill and 250 bass). He said the lake is about 2.1 acres, holds roughly 6,114,000 gallons, reaches about 15 feet deep and has an eight-times-per-day turnover rate to support aquatic health.
The city contracts Arizona Lake and Pond Management for weekly chemical and biological monitoring, including phosphate and nitrogen readings, and weekly debris and carcass removal. Nuda said that contractor’s routine is intended to prevent algae blooms and limit fish mortality.
Painted Sky programming includes a free loaner-pole program (12 loaner rods available), monthly third-Friday/third-Saturday community fishing sessions with poles and bait provided, a trading-card program for anglers who catch species in the lake, and educational materials with QR codes linking to Arizona Game and Fish licensing guidance. Nuda noted Arizona’s licensing rule: people 10 and older generally must carry a license unless legally blind; children 9 and younger do not require a license.
Future additions include keeping bluegill, adding redear sunfish and grass carp, deploying PVC fish habitats on the lake bottom and adding phytoplankton treatments to improve the food web. Staff also plan glow-fishing nights, a summer “Fishing Fridays” catch-and-measure series with age groups and prizes, a fall “Cops and Bobbers” event with the police department, and aquatic-life education classes.
Commissioners asked about boat and radio-controlled-boat use (staff said RC boats are permitted), removal of dead fish (contractor cleans weekly) and whether maintenance will remain contracted (staff said lake chemistry and specialized maintenance will likely remain under contract).
