Editor’s note: At the Town Council’s June 18 session Mayor Linda Kavanagh read a proclamation declaring July to be Parks and Recreation Month for the Town of Fountain Hills.

During the month of July The Times will be featuring information about the town’s four major parks, Fountain, Golden Eagle, Four Peaks and Desert Vista, as well as other recreation areas including the new Avenue of the Fountains Plaza and The Desert Botanical Garden.

With week one the town’s signature facility, Fountain Park is featured.

Built in 1970, Fountain Park is the oldest facility in the town. It was built by the master developer, McCulloch Properties long before incorporation. MCO Properties, a McCulloch successor, deeded the park, along with the landmark Fountain, to the town in 1997.

Fountain Park is a 64-acre facility considered a “passive” recreation area. Fountain Lake uses up 29 surface acres of the park and hold 100 million gallons of water.

Original amenities for the park included the 18-hole disc golf course, a children’s playground, drinking fountain, parking, pump facility for the Fountain and various picnic tables and benches.

The town updated the master plan for the park and has engaged in numerous improvement projects over the years totaling millions of dollars.

A major undertaking was the replacement of the lake liner in 1999. That project required the draining of the lake, removal of the old liner along with tons of sediment and installation of the new heavier duty lining material.

The town has also made improvements to the disc golf course that now hosts an annual national tournament.

The town added an outdoor amphitheater at the northwest corner of the park taking advantage of a natural bowl in the area. The amphitheater is the site of concerts, ballet performances and outdoor movie presentations.

Many people also choose the park and amphitheater, with its Fountain and scenic backdrop to hold their wedding.

The town has also added five picnic ramadas with tables and barbecues that host hundreds of people each year with their personal celebrations.

The large Kiwanis Ramada is adjacent to the Rotary Centennial Splash Park – a joint project of the Fountain Hills Rotary Clubs and the town. The splash park attracts thousands during the summer months between April and September.

The children’s playground was also reconstructed and updated from the original structures and equipment installed by the developer.

The Veteran’s Memorial has been added to the south side of the park along El Lago Boulevard. The park is also home to dozens of pieces from the town’s public art collection.

The 35-acres of turf surrounding the lake provide a serene backdrop for numerous community activities and celebrations. Hundreds come to the park each year for Easter Sunrise services, to celebrate Persian holidays. There is a kite festival as well as the traditional St. Patrick’s Day party when the Fountain turns green, car shows and in the fall there is Oktoberfest.

Town residents enjoy the park on a daily basis using more than a mile of walkways for early morning exercise and to catch up with friends. As part of Phase 6 of park improvements (currently the final phase of construction planned) new lighting has been installed along the walkways to allow walking earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

A new parking lot and monument signs are also part of those improvements.

In her proclamation, Mayor Linda Kavanagh stated, “parks and recreation are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in our communities, ensuring the health of all citizens and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and region.”