Things to Do in Maricopa - Fall 2025

What’s your favorite existing program? at’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! But since I’ve been back, I’ve seen some really great things. For example, Copper Sky Multigenerational Center is truly living up to its name. At 6 or 7 a.m., I see college kids playing basketball, active seniors in chair aerobics and kids in the pool for aer-school classes. In many cities, “multigenerational” centers tend to skew toward one age group or another. Here, it really is balanced. And Maricopa oers kids so many chances to play sports — football, basketball, Little League. If you’re a kid growing up here and want to try multiple sports, you can. at’s huge, because sports build skills like teamwork and leadership. Is there anything you’ve seen in other cities that could benefit Maricopa? Yes — more public-private partnerships. In Gilbert, that was one of my responsibilities, and it helped us expand what

I’m here to connect. I want to hear what residents want to see in their parks and recreation system. I’m excited about today, but I’m also looking 10 years down the road. When I last worked here, the population was around 50,000. Now it’s 80,000, and soon it’ll pass 100,000. My focus is on how we prepare for that — making sure services grow right along with the community. I have to ask — how much do you relate to the sitcom Parks and Recreation ? Honestly? A lot. I’m sure the show was meant as satire, but so many of the situations are spot-on — sometimes even tamer than reality. Inside the profession, it’s a running joke that the show is practically a documentary. We deal with those exact kinds of scenarios every day — town halls where people are upset, or unusual complaints like someone getting sick aer drinking from a sprinkler. It’s funny, but also pretty true to life.

was available to the community. For example, we partnered with groups to bring batting cages at Freestone Park, an ice arena, and even an archery range. e city didn’t have to directly operate those amenities, but residents got more options without putting strain on municipal resources. It’s a model I think could work well here too. What do you want Maricopa residents to know about you as you begin this role? In many cities, “multigenerational” centers tend to skew toward one age group or another. Here, it really is balanced.

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October 2025 | InMaricopa.com