Fountain Hills parks and community services report record event attendance, grants and community‑center improvements

The Fountain Hills Town Council heard a wide-ranging update from the Community Services Department, which reported record attendance at signature events, growth in volunteer programs and increased revenues for recreational offerings. The council approved $70,000 in additional capital funding to complete a lighting upgrade at the community center and welcomed Republic Services’ nonprofit grant awards to two local nonprofits.

Why it matters: Parks and recreation activity and community‑center programming support local services for children, seniors and families, generate visitor spending and are a visible part of town operations. The council’s lighting approval will fund new LED fixtures in ballrooms and lobby areas; Republic Services’ grant supports youth programs.

Key points from the department update

Kevin Snipes, director of community services, summarized the department’s year: record crowds for music festivals and signature events, expanded pickleball programming and a tripling of Music Fest revenue. Recreation manager Ryan Preston said the town “had record crowds for 4 of our major signature events,” and noted the Turkey Trot reached its cap of 2,800 participants.

Snipes highlighted volunteer programs and services: the crisis response team handled more than 50 calls last year (each averaging roughly three hours), home‑delivered meals totaled 5,966, and community‑center membership and program participation increased sharply. He said the department was recognized by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as the best special event (cities and towns under 25,000) for 2025.

Grant awards and uses

Republic Services presented its annual nonprofit grant of $10,000 to be split among local organizations. Fountain Hills Protect Our Youth Coalition and the Boys & Girls Club each received $5,000 in the year’s cycle. Elizabeth Waters, program manager for the Protect Our Youth Coalition, said the coalition will use its award to support the Above That Club, a student peer‑lead program focused on substance‑use prevention; Lauren Stratton, branch director for the Boys & Girls Club, said the funds will support the club’s financial assistance program, which covers about 42% of regular after‑school participants.

Community center improvements

Council approved an additional $70,000 from capital funds to complete a lighting package in the community center that complements earlier approved fixtures. Snipes said buying all fixtures together saved shipping costs and provided a consistent design across ballrooms, hallways and the lobby. The lighting unit is LED and dimmable; staff said the package would replace older fixtures and improve functionality for rentals and town events.

Other highlights

Pickleball programming generated about $42,000 in revenue; staff credited recent staffing increases for enabling expanded leagues and new courts. The department also reported expanded senior‑service offerings (including presentations and “Sip and Socialize” activities), an increase in volunteers for events and improvements at town parks and trailheads, including added security cameras at Adairo Canyon Trailhead.

Ending

Council thanked staff and volunteers. The council asked staff to return with more detail where appropriate (costs and schedules for the lighting installation and follow‑up on community‑center vendor policies raised during public comment).