Jack Hastings: Surprise City Council District 5 – June Newsletter

OPINION — As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we invite residents to enjoy the exciting fireworks displays and community festivities planned throughout the month. While celebrating with family and friends, we encourage everyone to practice firework safety and remain mindful of the extreme summer temperatures. Be sure to stay hydrated, limit prolonged exposure to the sun and check on neighbors, pets and loved ones during the hotter months ahead. By staying safe and prepared, we can all enjoy a fun and memorable summer season together.

Inside This Issue:

May Highlights

• Groundbreaking of New Police Substation
• Surprise Arts Launches with Performances at The Vista!

Current Events

• Surprise Day of Service
• Surprise Arts
• Landscape & Water Efficiency Workshops
• Family Beach Bash & Dive-in Movie
• City Council Meetings

News & Updates

• Heat Relief Stations

Save the Date

• Independence Day
• Independence Day Pool Party
• Council Does Not Meeting in July

MAY HIGHLIGHTS

Groundbreaking of New Police Substation

The Surprise Police Department celebrated a major milestone with a groundbreaking ceremony for its very first substation! 

The nearly 32,000-square-foot facility, coming to the northwest corner of 163rd Avenue and San Ysidro Road, is designed to accommodate approximately 60 sworn officers and civilian support personnel and will function as a fully equipped operational hub supporting patrol, investigations and community policing functions.

The facility’s location was strategically selected based on service area demand, projected growth patterns and response time modeling – allowing for more efficient deployment of patrol units and optimized sector coverage.

Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

Thank you to Surprise voters for making this project possible through bond funding. Together, we’re building on our strong foundation of safety and service in Surprise!

See photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCTB3V

Surprise Arts Launches with Performances at The Vista!

Spinphony took the stage at The Vista on May 16 as the grand opening event for Surprise Arts! This wasn’t your typical string quartet. With high-energy choreography, bold mashups like “Bach in Black” and “Don’t Stop Beethoven,” and a sound that blends Vivaldi with Bruno Mars, this show truly had the audience captivated.

For more Surprise Arts events, visit surprisearts.com!

CURRENT EVENTS

Surprise Day of Service

Join us on June 10 at St. Mary’s Food Bank to assist with sorting and packing food, assisting clients and packing Kid's Cafe meals. Volunteer opportunities start at 7:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m. and noon. Youth ages 12 and over are invited to participate, however all participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is required through St. Mary’s Foodbank; this process will require you to create an account on their website. For questions about this event or volunteer opportunities, please call 623.222.1612.

Can’t make it this time? There’s another event on July 8. See other Day of Service opportunities at surpriseaz.gov/DayOfService.

Surprise Arts

Surprise Arts would like to invite residents to enjoy featured events at The Vista Center for the Arts. Join us for a vibrant lineup of performances, from live music and theater to dance and community events. As a cornerstone of arts and culture in Surprise, Surprise Arts offers something for all ages to enjoy in a welcoming and inspiring setting. 

Upcoming Performances

• June 6 | Dry Bar Comedy LIVE! | 7 p.m.
• July 3 | America’s Sweethearts | 7 p.m.

For more tickets and information, visit surprisearts.com.

Landscape & Water Efficiency Workshops

Water conservation classes are being offered to help residents understand desert adaptive plants and how to properly take care of them. Classes are held at the Surprise Water Education Center, 16126 N. Civic Center Plz. unless otherwise noted. 

Registration is required to attend. For more information visit surpriseaz.gov/WaterConservation.

• June 13 | Fresh Ideas for Desert Containers | 10 a.m.
• June 20 | Become a Master Gardener | 9 a.m.
• July 6 | Designing a Water Harvesting Landscape | 6 p.m. 
• July 13 | Native Landscape Care | 6 p.m. 
• July 20 | Selecting Native Plants for Multiple Benefits | 6 p.m. 
• July 30 | Cultivating Native Edibles | 6 p.m.

Make A Splash at Surprise Aquatic Center

Join the festivities at Family Beach Bash on Saturday, June 13, from 9 - 11 a.m. at the Surprise Aquatic Center, 15831 N. Bullard Ave. Bring your little ones to enjoy cool water, games, prizes and crafts. All children ages 10 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.

Then go wild during our Dive-In Movie featuring Zootopia 2 on Saturday, June 20, at the Surprise Aquatic Center. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the movie will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase. For safety, pool noodles and inflatables are not permitted; only U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices are allowed. Parents must always remain within arm’s reach of all non-swimmers.

Registration is required for each attendee, including parents. Admission to each event is $5 for Surprise residents and $8 for non-residents.

To purchase tickets and register, visit surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click on Aquatics or call 623.222.2000

City Council Meetings

The next City Council Meetings are on June 2 & 16 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend in person, or you can tune in on surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseTV, the City of Surprise Government Facebook page at facebook.com/CityOfSurprise or on Cox channel 11. 

NEWS & UPDATES

Heat Relief Stations

As we move towards the high temperatures of summer, the City of Surprise wants our residents and visitors to know we are a Heat Relief Network partner. Through September 30, Surprise has several locations providing free hydration and indoor refuge stations for those needing a place to cool off during the year's hottest months.

Locations:

• Surprise Resource Center - 12425 W. Bell Rd., Building A, Suite 124
• Hollyhock Library - 15844 N. Hollyhock St.
• Surprise Regional Library - 16089 N. Bullard Ave.
• Asante Library - 16755 W. Vereda Solana Dr.
• The Salvation Army (North West Valley Corps) - 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts Blvd. 

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) coordinates an interactive map with more than 200 locations countywide where people can find indoor cooling and respite centers, hydration stations or donation sites. The network is available at azmag.gov/HeatRelief.

Anyone can experience heat illness or death, regardless of age, health, fitness level or how long they’ve lived in Arizona. The three stages of heat illness are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Learn the signs and symptoms of heat related illness and when it’s time to seek medical attention on the Maricopa County Department of Public Health website. 

Here are some tips to stay heat safe:

• Stay hydrated; drink water before you feel thirsty. 
• If you’re sweating heavily or active for long periods, consider drinks with electrolytes to help replace salts and minerals.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use air conditioning whenever possible. Fans alone are not effective when temperatures exceed 95°F.
• Check on older adults and people living alone often. If something increases their risk, like losing power or air conditioning, you can help them move to a safer, cooler place.
• Never leave children, pets or anyone else in a parked car.

SAVE THE DATE

Independence Day

Celebrate your Fourth of July with spectacular fireworks, entertainment, delicious food and fun. Each year we offer multiple ways to celebrate before the big show, including music and a pool party! Fireworks will begin at 8:45 p.m.

• Surprise Community Park
    16089 N. Bullard Ave.
• Mark Coronado Park
    15960 N. Bullard Ave.

Both parks offer great views, open space for gathering and will have a DJ and food trucks available. Be sure to arrive early to secure your viewing spot and bring blankets or chairs. We strongly encourage everyone to stay hydrated; please bring plenty of water. Coolers will be subject to search.

Independence Day Pool Party

The Red, White and Pool Party is sure to be a splash! Surprise residents can join us from 6 - 9 p.m. for games and swimming and then stay to enjoy a poolside view of the fireworks! Tickets are $6 per person and go on sale June 8. Registration is limited to the first 400 residents. When registration opens, head to surpriseaz.gov/SurpriseRec and click ‘Aquatics.’ Registration is required!

Friendly Reminder

There are no scheduled Council meetings in July during the annual summer recess.