Phoenix outlines expansion of adaptive recreation programs, reopens Telephone Pioneer pool and expands Camp Collie offerings

Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar told the Phoenix City Council on April 29, 2025, that the department is expanding adaptive recreation services citywide, reopening a long-closed pool at Telephone Pioneer Park, and broadening Camp Collie overnight programs for neurodiverse and neurotypical youth.

The update outlined why the investments matter for people with disabilities and their families: improved access to sports, life-skills programs, therapeutic recreation and inclusive facilities across Phoenix’s park system.

The department said Phoenix now manages 188 flatland parks and more than 40,000 acres of preserved desert land, operates 33 recreation centers, and plans to open 20 pools this summer. Aguilar said the city’s adaptive work relies on partnerships with organizations such as Ability360, Special Olympics Arizona and the Heart Center, and on state supports including the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Developmental Disabilities.

“Phoenix is proud to operate one of the largest and most diverse park systems in the nation,” Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar said as she introduced the department’s adaptive recreation overview. The presentation described year‑round inclusive programs ranging from adaptive golf and wheelchair tennis to life‑skills classes and sensory rooms.

Assistant Director Martin (Marty) Whitfield…