It’s Parks and Recreation Month, a great time to enjoy the many opportunities to play while celebrating our hardworking city employees who make these experiences possible.
National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) has marked July as the official Parks and Recreation Month since 1985. Our Parks and Recreation Department is encouraging all residents to complete daily challenges at our recreation and community centers, along with our pools and splash pads. Some events include slip-and-slide family kickball, rock wall-climbing, dance fitness, a luau, an open art hour and a cornhole clash. Check out the activities on our city’s Parks and Recreation webpage.
Our city has more than 130 sports courts, 73 parks, five community centers, two fishing lakes, more than 100 playgrounds, two pools and 28 sports fields, among other amenities. The Parks and Recreation Department has 86 fulltime employees and more than 200 temporary and seasonal workers, who aim to offer memorable experiences to anyone who comes to our city.
This department is proud to be the recipient of the Agency Accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. It has earned this honor due to its commitment to the parks and recreation field by following standards deemed essential to the quality of services delivered and the professionalism of its operational system, as well as demonstrating best management practices.
Get to Know our Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Administrator Manny Padia in the video to the right.
GREAT NEWS IN GLENDALE
CHANGE PASSWORDS AMID DATA BREACH
Security researchers recently reported a data breach involving a set of 30 databases containing 16 billion records. They said the databases differed in size - from “smaller” ones with millions of entries, to gigantic ones housing billions of records.
Attackers can use personal email addresses in phishing attacks or to steal people’s identities. Our Innovation and Technology Department is strongly urging all employees to change their social media passwords at their earliest convenience. IT also recommends employees change their city passwords. Employees also are urged to never reuse city passwords for non-business purposes and to never email or text city passwords to anyone.
Curious about the latest happenings around the city and how you and your colleagues are making a difference? Check out the latest City Manager’s Update video.
MODERN, RENOVATED FIRE STATION CELEBRATED
Enthusiasm was high at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for our Fire Station 153 on North 59 Avenue on June 26. th
A crowd packed the sleek, renovated station, touring its nine dormitories, fitness center, Recharge Room where firefighters can recuperate from their work by using red-light therapy, an ice bath and other treatments and the other modern amenities of the facility that is nearly 12,000 square feet. The original station was built in 1973, and in April of this year, crews officially moved into the newly constructed station on the same property.
Mayor Jerry Weiers, City Councilmember Ray Malnar, Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff and Councilmembers Lupe Conchas and Leandro Baldenegro joined our City Manager Kevin Phelps, Fire Chief Ryan Freeburg and city employees, residents and our partners in the project - CORE Construction and COLE Architects - to mark this special occasion. Officials said the trailblazing station has unique features that aim to keep first responders healthy.
MORE STORIES OF SUCCESS IN THE CITY
CITY SPREADS LOCAL LOVE, DEALS DURING ‘623 DAY’
Downtown Glendale was buzzing when business owners, along with city officials and employees celebrated "623 Day” on June 23. This unique, first-ever occasion, named after the area code used here in the West Valley, encourages neighbors to explore our downtown, support small businesses and embrace our pride in Glendale.
More than 20 shops in Historic Downtown Glendale offered special items for only $6.23 that day. Our City Councilmember Leandro Baldenegro read a proclamation from our Mayor Jerry Weiers officially recognizing the day. One of our videographers, Mike Harris, known as “Glendale Mike,” mingled with Baldenegro and business owners, in a fun video our Communications Department’s videographers captured. Thank you to everyone who helped promote pride in downtown and our city as a whole!
COMMUNICATIONS CREW DELIGHTS CROWD WITH PR PRESENTATION
Three women from our comms team spoke at a National Conference in June! The topic? Glendale’s successful strategy for planning award-winning events on a very small budget. Our Communications Department Director Sue Breding, along with Senior Communications Strategist Lesley Miller and Communications Strategist & Content Creator Jessica Mensch dazzled the crowd when delivering a fun presentation during the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)’s 2025 Public Affairs and Government Summit in Tempe.
They shared how our Communications Department combined cool graphics, videos, press releases and renaming of Glendale to “Swift City” and a day in 2024 as “Ruby Tuesday” to promote Taylor Swift’s concert at State Farm Stadium in 2023 and The Rolling Stones’ stop there last year.
Speakers at the conference shared strategies and lessons learned when publicizing information about Maui wildfires, enhancing empathy at crime scenes and communicating about marijuana’s legalization, among other diverse topics.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
ENJOY PATRIOTIC CONCERT
City offices will be closed on the Fourth of July, but there is a fun, FREE way to celebrate our nation’s independence ahead of time on July 3.
Check out the Patriotic Show: America Hurrah! from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Heroes Regional Park Library. Singer Jan Sandwich and her pianist will perform a tribute to George M. Cohan, the late composer who wrote “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “The Yankee Doodle Boy.” This concert will honor each branch of the armed services and celebrate veterans.
Join our city’s Wellness Program Manager, Ali WaelchliBrooks for a quick The Good Life, Take 10 at 10 wellness Zoom webinar at 10:05 a.m. on July 8. This webinar occurs the second Tuesday of every month. Ali will provide information on changes to the WellStyles portal and incentive program. Register for this event at this link.
EXPAND YOUR PHONE SKILLS
Learn ways to manage your time while making and receiving phone calls in the Time Management: Phone Calls video lesson through NEOGOV.
This lesson is the second of six in the Overcoming Barriers to Time Management video course, which describes how to handle common time management hindrances. During this lesson, viewers will learn how to use screening to manage incoming calls and how to conduct outgoing calls efficiently, among other skills. Register for the lesson via NEOGOV.
MORE GREAT EVENTS IN GLENDALE
HYDRATE FOR HEALTH AND POINTS
We all know it’s important to drink plenty of water here in the desert, and now there is even more incentive to do so.
Join the Stay Refreshed Challenge, going from July 9-31, in order to meet your daily water intake goals. You can earn WellStyles points when you track how much water you drink an average of four days a week Hydration is important year-round and especially in the summer heat. Water helps to lubricate and cushion joints, as well as regulates body temperature and protects spinal cords.
You can register for this challenge starting July 7 at the Personify Health link.
GET TASTE OF MEDITERRANEAN
Did you know the Mediterranean diet is a healthy-eating plan that helps prevent heart disease and stroke?
You can learn about this plant-based diet that incorporates the traditional flavors and cooking methods of the region from noon to 1 p.m. on July 30 in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Cooking Demo: Mediterranean Style Meals webinar.
Learn about creating meals filled with plant-based foods, lean proteins and healthy fats. Register for this Zoom webinar at this link.
WAYS TO GROW AND GIVE BACK
BUY SUPPLIES TO HELP STUDENTS GET BACK IN CLASS
There is still plenty of time to donate much-needed items to the Glendale Employee Giving Committee’s 4 Annual Backto-School Drive. th
Supplies are being collected in bins through Aug. 1 at these locations: Glendale Adult Center, Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC), Field Operations (P Building), Main Library and Velma Teague Library.
Pencils, crayons, spiral notebooks, scissors and many other materials are needed. View a full list of needed school supplies on the GRID here.
Don’t have time to shop? Contact Deputy Director of Community Services Michelle Yates, at myates@glendaleaz.com to make a monetary donation.
DIVE INTO DATA DURING FRIENDLY COMPETITION
The GlendaleViz Challenge invites you to turn raw data into captivating stories through charts and creative insight.
The goal is to help you push boundaries, share your unique experience and collaborate with fellow data enthusiasts.
This inspiring event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the Civic Center. Any Glendale employees interested in growing their analytical skills are welcome to participate. You may participate as an individual or as part of a team. This is not about perfection but progress, and the main goal for holding this event is for you to learn and grow in your data analytical journey.
Register for this event at the GlendaleViz link.
EMPLOYEE CELEBRATIONS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Maylee Acosta - Mayor & Council Office
Bradey Bejarano - Police
Mackenzie Belton - Police
Thomas Britton - Field Operations
David Carson - Emergency Management
Logan Daniel - Police
Manuel Figueroa III - Field Operations
Tess Garvey - City Clerk
Zachary Gawlinski - Police
Abigayle Glazner - Community Services
Michael Gomez - Police
Isaac Hutton - Innovation and Technology
Craig Lang - Water Services
Shayla Lee - Community Services
Wilfredo Lopez - Field Operations
Stevie Palmer - Community Services
Alejandro Ramos - Development Services
Zacary Richards - Water Services
Luke Townley - Police
Nathan Villalba - Water Services
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY
Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated!
