Councilman Tom Simplot's
North Central News Column
The temperatures are continuing to rise, but that’s not a reason to stay at home. The city of Phoenix offers plenty of activities to keep you busy (and cool) as we head into the summer months.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department has 29 city pools located throughout Phoenix and the weekend pool hours have recently been restored until Labor Day. So now’s a great time to take your family for a ‘fun in the sun’ pool outing during the weekend. The city also offers additional learning opportunities all summer long. A two-week swimming lesson program is available for only $6 at all city pools. If your children have not yet learned to swim, register them for lessons by calling 602-534-SWIM (7946).
Each year, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department offers the community plenty of free entertainment set against the backdrop of beautiful Steele Indian School Park. Residents and visitors can enjoy live music and classic movies at the park’s outdoor amphitheater located at Third Street and Indian School Road.
My district is once again hosting the Moonlight Movies series and the next feature will be perfect for the whole family. Join me at sunset on Saturday, June 16, to watch “The Goonies”, a movie that features a group of kids, including Sean Astin and Corey Feldman, who embark on a wild adventure involving a pirate’s treasure map and an underground maze filled with traps and skeletons. Thanks to donations and generosity of Valley businesses, the films are free to the public. So pack a picnic basket and spread out under the stars to enjoy this fun flick. Also, be sure to mark your calendar now for the rest of the movies featured during the fall.
Moonlight Movies schedule:
For music lovers, there are plenty of concerts and festivals to keep you rockin’ around the city, but did you know about the Concert under the Stars series held at Steele Indian School Park? The free concerts cover every kind of music and start at 8 p.m.
Concert under the Stars schedule:
Our Phoenix Public Libraries located throughout the city also provide options for children and teens to stay busy during the summer. The city libraries also will be open starting at 9 a.m., one hour earlier than before. One free summer reading program is the “Extra! Extra! Read Your Way to the Ballpark,” sponsored by the Arizona Diamondbacks and The Arizona Republic. The program runs through the end of July at 11 library systems throughout the county. Participants can win prizes and those who complete the program will receive a ticket to a Diamondbacks game.
Be sure to put on plenty of sun block and take advantage of all the opportunities for summer fun available through our city.
Councilman Tom Simplot represents District 4, which includes parts of north central Phoenix. If you have questions, comments or suggestions on this or any other issue, contact his office at council.district.4@phoenix.gov or call 602-262-7447.
