Parks and Recreation Board Meeting – October 22, 2026

The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board met on October 22, 2026. Staff presented the annual trail heat-safety update with Phoenix Fire Department, reporting 47 extreme-heat-warning days that led to restrictions on designated trails and four rescues on restricted trails during restricted hours, compared with seven the prior year. Staff described ongoing outreach, electronic safety signs at two trailheads and eight more planned, and a current RFP for new trail-map designs. The presentation was informational; no changes to the heat-safety program were recommended or acted on. Public commenters urged further study or broader trail restrictions, while board discussion included rescue impacts and data needs.

The board approved the Stetson Hills Trailhead Master Plan. The project concerns a site of just under 10 acres added to the Deem Hills Recreation Area after the city acquired 158 acres in 2025; the plan includes shared school/trailhead parking, dedicated trailhead parking, a nature-themed play area, shade, and a trail connection. Staff said an intergovernmental agreement with Deer Valley Unified School District is in development, design is expected to proceed into mid-2027, and construction could begin late in 2027, with completion potentially in summer 2028. No contract award or project cost was stated. A separate apparel collaboration is expected to return $5 per shirt sale to the city for hiker-safety messaging.