Mark your calendars, Maricopians; Pacana Park is “the” place to be this fall!

Construction of the City of Maricopa’s first municipal park, located at Porter and Honeycutt Roads, is scheduled for completion in about mid-August. Once the last field is manicured and the lights are turned on, Maricopians will be able to participate in some exciting fall events planned by the city’s Parks, Recreation and Libraries (PRL) Department.

Maricopa’s 2nd Annual Fishing Derby:
PRL Director Marty McDonald announced this week that the 2nd Annual Parent-Child Fishing Derby, originally held at Province Lake, will be the initial event for the new Pacana Park. By moving it to Labor Day, September 4, “maybe it will be about five or six degrees cooler,” joked McDonald.

Last year’s event drew about 135 entrants; this year 150 kids will get medals and have the opportunity to fish a fully stocked lake with rods, reels and tackle boxes furnished through the generosity of sponsors like Fry’s Marketplace, AMS Realty and Orbitel Communications. “We’ll raffle off prizes for kids and adults,” noted McDonald. The event, which is free, will begin at 7 a.m. with check-in, then fishing from 8 to 10 a.m. Following the raffle, kids and their families will be able to enjoy a free barbeque.

Last year’s fishing derby provided fun for both children and their parents.

“Councilman Haddad and I kind of came up with this last year,” explained Councilman Steve Baker. “Last year was an outstanding success. I think parents had more fun than the kids in some ways.”

Registration for the Fishing Derby, on a first-come, first-served basis, begins Monday, July 31, at City Hall and will continue into August.

Pacana Park’s Grand Opening Celebration:
Pacana Park will officially open with a Grand Opening Celebration on Friday and Saturday, September 15-16. Friday night events, sponsored by Element Homes and Sunstate Bank, will include a celebrity softball game, recognition of Maricopa’s Little League All Stars and demonstrations by both the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Suns. According to McDonald, “There will be live music, inflatable rides, carnival style games and tons of food.” Community of Hope Church will sponsor a family movie in the park night on Saturday.

Maricopa’s 3rd Annual Founders Day Celebration:
Maricopa will have been Arizona’s 88th city for three years in October. This year’s Saturday, October 14, celebration, presented by Wells Fargo, will move to an afternoon and evening time slot. It will include a chili cook-off, live music, lots of games for kids and the presentation of five keys to the City of Maricopa. Local businesses will be able to participate in a “vendors village,” and there is also the possibility of a classic car show.

Founders Day always draws a huge family crowd.

Local historian Pat Brock will be available at Santa Rosa Elementary School on Thursday, October 12, for a book signing and discussion of her latest edition of “Reflections of a Desert Town.”

The first annual Dart-n-Dash Fun Run has been scheduled for Sunday morning, October 15. Participants will begin at Pacana Park, run on Porter Road and along Allan Stephens Parkway, crossing the finish line at the park. A park course will be set up for children so they are not on the roadways. McDonald also hopes to bring in a recording artist for a Saturday night concert.

“Ideally,” noted McDonald, “You’re going to see Founders Day become Founders Week.”

For further information on these fun, family events, contact McDonald at (520) 568-9098, ext. 204.