Feature Video: History of The Fountain: Adapted from the 35th Anniversary presentation

 

Fountain Park remains the most visible — and most visited — park in Fountain Hills. From miles around people are drawn to this 64-acre park with the trade­mark spouting wonder of the desert, the Fountain, one of the largest continuously running fountains in the world.

Numerous improvements have been done to the park in recent years. An entertainment pad, veterans’ memorial, new sidewalks, a larger playground and splash pad area have all been added.

Here's a listing of major area public parks or outdoor recreation areas and information:

• Desert Vista Park – One of the town’s most used amenities, the Off Leash Recreational Facility at Desert Vista Neighborhood Park allows residents to let the dogs run.

The off-leash facility is open to the public from sunrise to sunset. It is located along Tioga Drive between Desert Vista and Tower drives. The OLRF is a three-acre fenced facility allowing pet owners the opportunity to let their dogs run free and is part of Desert Vista Neighborhood Park. The OLRF is divided into two fenced areas, one for larger dogs and the other for smaller canines.

In addition to the OLRF there is a 9-acre park along Desert Vista east of Saguaro Boulevard, and an updated master plan includes soccer fields.

Also serving as a large draw for Desert Vista is the skate park added in late 2006. The skate park offers skateboarders, rollerbladers and bikers alike a place to get some exercise with a proposed second phase being considered to extend the facilities.

• Fountain Park — This 64-acre public park, which includes a 29-acre effluent lake, is owned and maintained by the Town of Fountain Hills. The park was built in 1970 as the cornerstone of Fountain Hills and includes an 18-hole championship disc golf course, two age-defined children’s playgrounds with shade covers, a restroom building, as well as new park benches, ramadas, walking paths and the new Splash Pad providing Fountain Hills youth a local place to cool off in the summer months. The park is open seven days a week 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with the Splash Pad running from 9 a.m. to sunset.

The Lake Overlook Trail leads out of the northeast corner of Fountain Park and runs up along the ridge overlooking the park with views of Fountain Hills and the McDowell Mountains. The trail continues along residential neighborhoods leading back to the park across Panorama Drive near Saguaro Blvd.

No alcohol is permitted. Fountain Park is a popular venue for weddings and other group events, but reservations are necessary. The park is off Saguaro Boulevard, between El Lago and Palisades boulevards. Parties can call the town's Parks and Recreation Department at (480) 816-5151 to schedule organized activities or events to obtain a fee schedule and a permit.

• Four Peaks Neighborhood Park — Four Peaks Neighborhood Park is a 15-acre park that includes a youth soccer field with spectator seating, a 100-foot pedestrian bridge and walkways, picnic tables, an 18- by 24-foot ramada, a 750-square-foot restroom/control building, two lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball courts, two recently improved multi-purpose ball fields with lights and a children’s playground.

• Golden Eagle Park — This 25-acre park off Golden Eagle Boulevard just north of the Fountain Hills High School on Palisades Boulevard was voted outstanding facility for a community under 60,000 in 1999.

The park has a hardball diamond, three lighted multi-purpose fields for softball, Little League, youth soccer and high school sports, and two shaded "tot lot" play structures for children; one designed for toddlers and the other for older youths.

Golden Eagle Park also boasts two lighted sand volleyball courts, a large picnic ramada, two lighted basketball courts, four lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pits and grassy areas.

The park includes paved parking and a central control building that features restrooms, vending machines, concession stand, office, storage area and activity room. Phone the town's Parks and Recreation Department for more information and scheduling of events, permits, etc., (480) 816-5151.

• McDowell Mountain Regional Park — McDowell is one of 10 regional parks in the Maricopa County regional park system. At 21,099 acres, McDowell is one of the largest county parks in the U.S. and third largest in the county.

Lying on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains, it offers spectacular vistas of the Mazatzal Mountains and Wilderness Area, the Superstition Mountains including Weaver’s Needle and the lower Verde Valley.

McDowell Mountain Park is located half way between Fountain Hills and Rio Verde, about four miles north of Fountain Hills, off McDowell Mountain Road.

The park has more than 40 miles in its trail system designed to meet the needs of hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. The park has a competitive track that has three loops totaling nearly 15 miles of track designed for training and racing on foot, mountain bikes and horses. The Nursery Tank Trail is ideal for those who have difficulty walking on uneven surfaces, who use a wheelchair or are pushing a stroller.

Park amenities include a family campground with 76 generously spaced sites, offering 30 and 50-amp electrical hook-ups, water, picnic tables, BBQ grills and fire pits. Each campground loop has restrooms and hot water showers. The sites are $18 per night, and in the busiest spring months stays are limited to 14 nights. There is a dump station at no charge for campers.

At the park’s northern end are two picnic loops that offer 88 sites with picnic tables and BBQ grills all available at no charge. The tables and grills are set back away from the road and offer a variety of settings from open sun to natural shade from desert trees.

Reservations can be made for all group areas in the park. The Trailhead Staging Area has two large ramadas with a concrete pad between them suitable for a band or dancing, the "Group Area" can accommodate 30 recreation vehicles and offers a single large ramada and restroom with showers. The park also has three scout areas located away from the public. All the group and scout areas offer fire pits, BBQ grills, picnic tables and a water source.

Trailhead access into McDowell Mountain Park directly from the Eagles Nest subdivision in Fountain Hills is slated to open to the public in 2006.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers activities and ranger-led hikes each month at the park. A listing can be found on the Web site at www.maricopa.gov/parks or in The Fountain Hills Times. All programs are offered to the public at no charge, but the county charges $5 per car to enter the park. Annual passes are available at $75 or discounted to $65 to county residents 65 and over.

For more information about the park, an upcoming activity or hike, or to make a reservation for a group area for a family reunion or company gathering, call the park office at 471-0173. McDowell Mountain Regional Park is open daily and hours are 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays