News & Events

The Town of Queen Creek celebrated the Queen Creek Wash Trail extension, from the Crismon Road alignment to Rittenhouse Road, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The project, completed by Haydon, included extending the Queen Creek Wash Trail, with a new asphalt path for pedestrians / cyclists and ramps down to the bottom of the wash for equestrian users.

“Our wash trail system is so important to our community,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “It provides a beautiful place for our residents to get outside and recreate, a safe alternative way to get around town and is an opportunity to preserve some of our equestrian heritage! And this project brings us one step closer to our goal of having a complete trail loop.”

Trail opening ribbon cutting

In addition to extending the wash trail, the project also included a half-mile section south along Signal Butte, which will connect to the future east trail connection between the Queen Creek and Sonoqui wash trails. 

For additional information about the Town’s trail system, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/trails.

Queen Creek’s new Recreation & Aquatic Center is expected to Open in the spring of 2025. Featuring an indoor track, fitness area, zero-depth entry pool, lazy river and more, the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center will enhance recreational opportunities for residents. The new facility, located on Signal Butte north of Queen Creek Road, is scheduled to open in spring 2025.

“This facility has been years in the making,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Our residents have been asking for a pool, slides, indoor sports courts and I am so excited that we are almost there! This facility will be a staple in our community - it will be where families and friends gather, being active and creating lasting memories. As a Council, we are so looking forward to celebrating the grand opening of this wonderful facility in just a few months!”

The facility was approved in December 2021 following resident input received through the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update (adopted in 2018) and recreation amenity survey that was completed in the summer of 2021. In the most recent Citizen Survey (2023), 83% of Queen Creek residents reported visiting a Town park in the past year, with 32% visiting a park more than 10 times. In a separate survey conducted in 2023, 75% of residents reported wanting a Town aquatic center and/or multi-generational center.

Additional amenities within the facility include indoor sport courts (basketball, volleyball, pickleball), teen room, child watch and classrooms. The outdoor aquatic center will include a competition / lap pool and slides. The facility was designed by DWL Architects and is being constructed by Haydon.

The Recreation & Aquatic Center will be located at the new Frontier Family Park, a new 85-acre park with a variety of amenities. The park features an inclusive play area, five-acre fishing lake, lighted ball fields, picnic areas, splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts. New amenities include 24 pickleball courts and a 1.5-mile multiuse path that spans the perimeter of the park.

The 13-acre expansion of Mansel Carter Oasis Park opened with a ribbon cutting and tennis clinic on Wednesday, July 10. Located at 19535 E. Appleby Road, the new section includes tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, additional restrooms and parking, and passive green space.

“As a young, growing community, we are focused on building a well-rounded community – one that is safe, has the necessary infrastructure, provides a high quality of life, is effective and is providing a secure future,” stated Council member Dawn Oliphant at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “This park, along with our recently opened Frontier Family Park, directly relate to our strategic priorities of superior infrastructure and quality lifestyle. We see the value in parks, our residents see the value in parks – from the early morning into the evening, our parks are a gathering space. And we are so excited to offer new amenities at this expansion.”

The expansion was designed by J2 Design and built by Haydon. The expansion completes the popular park, which originally opened in 2018, and includes a variety of amenities (playground, splash pad, fishing lake, fitness zone, baseball fields and multipurpose fields). A pump track was also added earlier this year.

“Maintaining the high quality of life we enjoy in Queen Creek is so incredibly important,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “And our parks and trails not only provide opportunities for our residents to stay active, they also provide opportunities for our residents to connect. When we connect with our friends and neighbors, we create a stronger community.”

The Town recently celebrated the opening of Frontier Family Park, a new 85-acre park located on Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road. The Town’s Recreation & Aquatic Center, slated to open in 2025, will also be located at Frontier Family Park.

For additional information about Queen Creek’s Parks & Recreation visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation.  To stay updated on Town events and activities, follow the Town on Facebook.com/QCRecreation or X.com/TownofQC. To report non-emergency issues, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SeeClickFix.

Featuring Queen Creek’s first pickleball courts, a fishing lake, a one-of-a-kind inclusive playground and more, Frontier Family Park provides an opportunity for the community to play together. Located at 20039 S. 220th Street, Frontier Family Park officially opened on June 8 with a ribbon cutting and community event. 

“Frontier Family Park is the largest park in Queen Creek at 85-acres and aligns with our strategic priorities of quality lifestyle and superior infrastructure,” shared Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Not only do our parks provide an opportunity to get outside and be active, but they are also a great place to get to know your neighbors and continue the small town community feel we know and love about Queen Creek. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us! I love that this park was designed to embrace our past while celebrating the present and providing a place for our community to come together – and play together - for generations to come.”

Designed by J2 Engineering & Environmental Design, Frontier Family Park includes a large playground where individuals of all abilities can play together and can have a different experience each time they visit the park. 

“Everybody of every ability, there is something for, on this playground,” said Jill Moore, Inclusion Specialist for Landscape Structures. “When you go and enjoy (the playground), I think that is something really special to celebrate. That Queen Creek has invited everybody to be a part of the play experience and be part of why this park is so special.”

Hunter Contracting built the park, which includes 24 pickleball courts, three multipurpose fields, six baseball / softball fields, two sand volleyball courts and two basketball courts. 

The park also includes the Town’s second fishing lake, which also serves as a water conservation strategy. The park is irrigated with water from the lake, which is filled with recovered water from the ground.

Nods to the Town’s heritage are throughout the park. A memorial bench in honor of late Mayor Barney and a statue of his parents, Newell and Katherine Barney, known for being pillars of the community. Mayor Barney served the Queen Creek community for 24 years, including 12 as Mayor. 

Access to the park is off Signal Butte north of Queen Creek Road, and 220th Street from Queen Creek Road. 

For additional information about Queen Creek’s Parks & Recreation visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation.  To stay updated on Town events and activities, follow the Town on  Facebook.com/QueenCreek or X.com/TownofQC. To report non-emergency issues, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SeeClickFix.

On November 17, 2023, the Town of Queen Creek secured a $50 million short-term loan from Wells Fargo Bank to cover cash flow needs during construction of new streets, water and wastewater improvements adjacent to the future LG Energy Solution (LGES) facility in the northeast part of Town. The loan is secured by a subordinate lien pledge of excise tax and state-shared revenues, bears a fixed interest rate of 4.09%, and matures on June 1, 2027. The loan and all of the project costs are intended to ultimately be paid using construction sales taxes generated by LGES during construction of its facility.

The relevant Town Council actions were as follows:

1. 9/6/2023 - Approval of Loan Authorizing Resolution
2. 10/18/2023 - Approval of Amendments to Purchase Agreement
3. 12/6/2023 - Report of Final Results

The relevant Town Council materials can be found below.

After a five-year process, the Town of Queen Creek has begun receiving 4th priority Colorado River Water from Cibola, Arizona – reducing the reliance on groundwater.

In 2018, the Town approved a purchase agreement with a landowner in Cibola Valley for a portion of their water rights. The Town followed the established process for transferring Colorado River Water, which included reviews by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Bureau of Reclamation USBOR).

In May 2022, the Queen Creek Town Council approved eliminating the Library impact fee when enough funds were collected to pay off the debt associated with the fee. Effective today, July 10, 2023, the Library impact fee will be eliminated.

Impact fees are one-time fees assessed to new development to pay for the new growth’s proportionate share of necessary public services. Historically, the Town of Queen Creek assessed six impact fees and two capacity fees. Effective July 10, 2023, the Town will assess four impact fees and two capacity fees (the Town Facility Development Impact Fee was eliminated in May 2022).

At last night’s meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council unanimously approved ordinance 813-23, lowering the Town’s primary property tax rate for existing residents from $1.83 to $1.72 per $100 of assessed value. The action is a result of the Resolution 1500-22, approved last year, which freezes the amount of taxes paid by property owners in Queen Creek by reducing the property tax rate each year as property values increase.

“Lowering the primary property tax for residents is significant,” shared Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “It is a testament to the Town’s financial stability, the community continuing to be a desirable place to live and this Council’s commitment to being fiscally responsible. This is an opportunity to pass savings on to our residents without comprising our investment in public safety. I applaud the previous council for approving Resolution 1500-22 last year, which laid the foundation for lowering the property tax rate– and my fellow Council members for approving the lower tax rate.”

At the May 17 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council approved a budget of $867.1 million for the 2023/24 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2023. The approved budget continues to prioritize infrastructure, with nearly 70% of the budget dedicated to transportation, parks and trails, public safety, water and wastewater, and other infrastructure projects.

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on a new Recreation & Aquatic Center, which will be located off Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road. Slated to open by late 2024, the state-of-the-art facility will enhance the recreational opportunities in Queen Creek.

The Town of Queen Creek’s budget serves as a spending plan and communication tool. The budget is developed through incorporating both projected revenues and expenses. The proposed budget, available for review on the Town’s website, will be considered by the Town Council at the May 3 meeting for tentative approval, with the final approval scheduled for the May 17 Town Council meeting.

Shea Joachim has been selected as the Assistant Town Manager for the Town of Queen Creek, effective June 5. Joachim was chosen following an extensive national search to fill the role after Bruce Gardner, the previous Assistant Town Manager, was named Town Manager in November 2022.

The complex marks the largest single investment for a stand-alone battery manufacturing facility in North America, creating thousands of jobs (full release).

This announcement augments LG's original planned investment of $1.4 billion that was announced in March 2022 (original release). 

Approvals for phase 1 remain (approved in 2022) - the Town and County will be working with LG Energy Solution on next steps to bring this state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing complex to the region. LG Energy Solution will continue to go through the applicable regulatory and administrative processes.  

The project is anticipated to break ground this year, with production anticipated in 2025.

The Town maintains a dedicated web page with the most current information on the project, which can be found here.

Queen Creek’s 2022 State of the Town was presented last night in partnership with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. The Town Council and Chamber President shared a series of the community’s accomplishments that align with the Town’s Corporate Strategic Plan.

The State of the Town, along with a complete list of the Town’s 2022 accomplishments, are available online at QueenCreekAZ.gov/StateoftheTown (video).

The Town of Queen Creek recently purchased the Barney Family Sports Complex to be used for a future public safety facility.

The nearly 65,000 square foot facility is located at 22050 E. Queen Creek Road on 10 acres. Current operations may continue at the facility through the summer of 2023.

“Public safety continues to be one of the Town’s top priorities,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “The Town has been evaluating options for a public safety complex to meet the needs of the police department and the fire and medical department. The purchase of the Barney Family Sports Complex not only meets the functional needs of the public safety facility, but the location is ideal, and the cost is less than purchasing land and building a new facility.”

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on three roadway connectors in the downtown core. Aldecoa Drive and Munoz Street will both connect from Ellsworth Road to Ellsworth Loop, and Summers Place will connect from Aldecoa to Munoz.

“These connectors are an important step in implementing the Town Center Plan, with a vision to create a vibrant and walkable district in the heart of Town Center that complements the heritage of the community and provides a range of venues,” stated Queen Creek Mayor-elect Julia Wheatley. “As a Council, we know the importance of investing in infrastructure to spur quality development that will not only provide more options for our residents when it comes to shopping and dining, but also more revenues to support programs like public safety, parks and recreation."  VIDEO 

The Queen Creek Town Council unanimously voted to appoint Bruce Gardner as Queen Creek’s next Town Manager, effective Jan. 23, 2023. With more than 28 years in the public sector, Gardner currently serves as Queen Creek’s Assistant Town Manager.

In his role as Assistant Town Manager, Gardner assists the Town Manager in providing leadership for a variety of departments, long-term planning for the organization, policy development and regional coordination.

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on phase II of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, located off of Sossaman Road, north of Ocotillo. The 13-acre expansion is slated to open in late 2023 and will include tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, an outdoor fitness zone, additional restrooms and parking, and passive green space.

During the Nov. 2 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council unanimously approved resolution 1500-22, a new financial policy to freeze primary property taxes for existing taxpayers for the next five years.

The Town of Queen Creek’s Human Resources Director, Michele Brown, recently received the Ann Byrnes SPHR Award for Professional Excellence from the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management (AZSHRM). The award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the human resource profession, serving as a role model, and setting standards for others. Michele received the award for the instrumental role she played in the development of the Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD), and her ongoing commitment to the profession.

The Town of Queen Creek celebrated the completion of the Sonoqui Wash Trail improvement project, from Hawes Road to Crismon Road, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The project, completed by Nesbitt Contracting, included extending the Sonoqui Wash Trail from Ellsworth to Crismon, with a new asphalt path for pedestrians / cyclists and ramps down to the bottom of the wash for equestrian users. The new portion also included wayfinding signage and landscape features, in addition to enhanced pavement markings at the road crossings for increased safety. 

The segment of the trail from Hawes to Ellsworth builds upon the existing trail by widening the path and creating separation between the pedestrian trail and equestrian users.

“The Town worked very hard to ensure the safety of all trail users, within the scope of the overall project,” shared Friends of Horseshoe Park President Jon Wootten. “Items as simple as moving the equestrian push button back from the edge of the road, installation of railings between trail and road in risky areas, line of sight considerations and non-slip asphalt treatments, are all relatively small in comparison to the overall project but greatly increase the safety for all trail users.” 

Queen Creek’s Park and Trail System provides connectivity throughout Town and with neighboring communities, including Town Center and San Tan Mountain Regional Park. The trails highlight the natural beauty of Queen Creek and honor the community’s equestrian and agricultural heritage.

For additional information about Queen Creek’s trails, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/trails. To stay updated on Town news and events, follow Facebook.com/QueenCreek and Twitter.com/TownofQC.

As growing community with a focus on families and quality of life, the Town of Queen Creek broke ground on a new, 85-acre park. Frontier Family Park will be located off Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road, offering a variety of new and expanded amenities.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch Ratings, leading providers of credit ratings, completed independent reviews of the Town’s credit rating, both resulting in an upgrade from AA to AA+, just one notch below the highest possible rating. 

The bond rating upgrade is timely as the Town considers funding for the completion of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, the east park site and the recreation and aquatic center.

“This rating upgrade acknowledges the continued, tremendous financial growth and maturation of the Town, which is all encompassing but is rooted in two things,” stated Queen Creek Finance Director Scott McCarty. “First, the leadership of the Town Council in building a community, and second, our population growth and economic development as a result of being a desirable place to live and run a thriving business.” 

The Town has received a series of credit rating increases over the past 15 years from both S&P and Fitch Ratings. Rating agencies look at four main categories: debt burden, management, financial performance, and economic base. 

“The rating increase is a testament to all the hard work for many years by the Town Council and staff,” stated Queen Creek Town Manager John Kross. “The higher a community's rating, the better credit risk they are, and by extension, the lower interest rates received when funding roads, parks and other projects. As a young, growing community, we know there are necessary investments and will continue to make sound financial decisions.”

S&P indicated several factors contributing to the upgrade including the Town's continued strong revenue growth prospects, increasing reserves, and recent progress regarding pension funding. In addition to the items noted by S&P, Fitch Ratings cited strong pledged revenue growth prospects, expected solid resilience during recessionary economic periods, and development underway and the Town's ongoing infrastructure plans boding well for continued economic expansion.

For more information about either report, visit StandardandPoors.com and Fitchratings.com. For more information about the Town, including the Town’s budget visit QueenCreekAZ.gov. To keep updated on Town news and events, follow Facebook.com/QueenCreek or Twitter.com/TownofQC.