By Recker McDowell —
It’s the Fourth of July. That means picnics, parades and fireworks across the country.
July 4th is not as easy to pull off in Arizona where temperatures in metro Phoenix will be 105 today. The heat can put a damper on celebrating America’s birthday here.
The exception is Scottsdale.
Scottsdale’s Fourth of July Celebration has a unique benefit — air conditioning.
Scottsdale’s festivities are held at WestWorld including at its air-conditioned 300,000-square-foot indoor arena and events space. A rodeo, kids’ zone, pony rides, a Fortnite experience and stunt dog show are all part of today’s events. The evening ends with outdoor fireworks.
A recent study ranked Scottsdale as having the best July 4th celebration in Arizona and the 12th best in the entire country.
WestWorld is a huge community and economic advantage for Scottsdale. It hosts equestrian, community and other events all most every day for the year. Those community events include youth sports as well as the July 4th celebration.
WestWorld is an economic driver drawing tourists, consumer spending and tax revenue that help pay for other community needs and our quality of life.
The three bond questions on the November ballot make needed repairs and improvements at WestWorld. Horse barns need repaired. The arena area will me modernized so it can better host existing events and book new ones.
Restrooms, audio systems, lighting and street access will get needed improvement. WestWorld is just a slice of the bond program which also expands senior centers, builds new and renovates existing fire and police stations and adds new parks, youth sports fields and pools to Scottsdale’s quality of life.
The Fourth of July isn’t as easy to pull off in Arizona. But WestWorld sets Scottsdale above and apart from its neighbors and other communities.
Scottsdale voters haven’t approved a major bond program since 2000. They will get an opportunity in November to invest in our community’s future, make some repairs to infrastructure that is literally crumbling and repair and enhance a community asset and economic driver like WestWorld.