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Parks staff update projects, events and Tree City USA renewal
Summary
City parks staff reported construction progress on pickleball courts (completion expected May 2026), Prospector Park shade and playground work, irrigation about 60% complete, Rodeo Grounds phase timing, and a Tree City USA renewal with roughly 300 new trees planted and a $2.23 per-capita tree budget.
City parks staff provided a round of project and program updates at the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Commission meeting on Dec. 3, 2025.
Dave Butler, the staff member presenting capital and maintenance work, said construction on the city’s new pickleball courts has begun; weather delayed outdoor work by about a week but grubbing and clearing are finished, and grading and underground utilities are next. Butler said the full pickleball project is expected to run through May 2026 and that shade structures are included in the master plan. Prospector Park’s Phase 3 shade steel is being installed this week, with the North Side playground scheduled to begin installation mid-December and fabric installation to follow. Butler reported the irrigation project is roughly 60% complete and hoped to finish before Christmas, depending on weather and material lead times.
Work at Superstition Shadows (SSP) included slide recoating and recoloring; site fencing was about 75% complete with a potential January finish if steel availability delays occur. Butler said pool shade structural steel is set in progress, pool shades should be complete by February, rock features for the playground arrive next week and installation timelines for climbing structures extend into January. The Multi-Gen Center painting is largely complete (about 75%) and the Little League concession refurbishment is scheduled Jan. 19–Feb. 13 to prepare for opening day on Feb. 20. Rodeo Grounds phase 1a is scheduled to finish Jan. 8 and phase 1b to begin March 16, with completion by July 1 dependent on lead times for Ramada and other structural steel.
Jamie Sullivan summarized programming and events: S'mores and Stories drew 112 attendees (staff noted registration/attendance mismatches), the adaptive paint program hosted with Mesa Parks & Rec filled both sessions, youth flag football leagues and a fairy-tale event drew strong participation, and the department’s first turkey trot partnered with Superstition Food Bank and Image Eye Care (Dr. Jason Molson). Sullivan also said parade entries for the holiday event rose to about 50 and vendor slots are full. Staff encouraged pre-registration for special events and described aquatics recruitment starting in January and lifeguard/instructor trainings in March.
On old business, Recreation Coordinator Elliot Enuta said the city is renewing its Tree City USA designation and submitted growth-award materials to the state forestry department. Enuta said the city budgeted about $2.23 per capita for trees (above the $2-per-capita minimum), planted about 300 new trees this year (roughly 70 via the SRP Right Tree, Right Place program), and that crews cared for more than 2,200 trees. The application includes a mayoral proclamation signed by Mayor Chip Wilson and an Arbor Day event conducted with 4 Peaks Elementary School. Staff noted half a dozen growth-award activities and expect to learn results in 2026.
Staff and commissioners discussed memorial tree donations and a tree-adoption pathway that runs through Friends of AJ for donor funds and placement. Commissioner questions about reusing or artistic treatment of storm-damaged stumps were answered by staff: some stumps cannot be preserved safely due to nearby utilities and many will be replaced in spring.
