The Fight to Make It Happen
On a hot morning in July 2018, Chris Cummings and another resident met with city representatives to open the discussion of getting the park built. That October, I wrote The Forgotten Scottsdale North Park to spark community interest, and by the end of the month, over 200 of you gathered at Winfield Clubhouse for the first town hall. The representatives from the city were overwhelmed with the response at the meeting. There would have been more people but there wasn’t enough parking!! That night, it was clear—we weren’t giving up.
By March 2019, we packed a town hall at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, pushing forward with videos, emails, and calls. Later that year, we secured a $6.1 million bond — our big win. We thought we’d crossed the finish line.
Then came the challenges in 2021. With meetings having moved online due to COVID, we flooded the city’s virtual comment site, making sure our voices were heard. There were compromises made — no dog park, only eight pickleball courts — but by working with the city’s fantastic team, we created a park catered to all parts of the community.
The Eleventh-Hour Challenge
The fight wasn’t over. Just when we thought everything was settled, a small but determined group tried to derail the project behind the scenes. As I understand it, some claimed they had no idea a park was planned before buying their homes — despite the massive signs that had been there before the homes were sold. Others argued it would disrupt their lifestyle, though extensive city studies showed otherwise. They were committed to stopping progress and almost pulled it off. Almost. But our community wasn’t about to let years of hard work be erased.
That was the moment the community of Scottsdale North stepped up and showed its true strength. We refused to let a handful of voices undo what we had built together. So we fought back. The STOP THE STOP campaign took off — emails, newspaper articles, and conversations between neighbors. Over 600 of you signed a petition, hundreds sent emails, and countless more called city council members, urging them to protect the park. And many of you stood with us at City Hall, making sure our voices were heard. Scottsdale North had never been more united.
The city council meeting was intense. We stood before them, side by side with the folks from the city, our community united in a cause that mattered to us all. It was touch and go for a while, but then one council member took a stand, recognizing what this park meant to us. One by one, the votes were cast. The final count: 7-0 in favor of the park. We did it!
In late 2023, we finally broke ground. But this wasn’t just about moving dirt — every shovel of earth was proof that persistence pays off. Now, as we stand on that very ground, we don’t just see a park. We see a testament to our persistence, a place where neighbors came together to create something lasting, turning an empty lot into the heart of Scottsdale North.
Naming it Scottsdale North Park honors that journey. It represents more than a space; it embodies our spirit, our resilience, and our love for this place we call home. But no matter the name, this park stands as a lasting symbol of what we can achieve together. True to any good story, the good guys prevailed. Now let’s go enjoy our park!!
Reliving the Journey
This journey has been nothing short of amazing, from the first spark of an idea to the park standing here today. If you want to relive how we made it happen together, check out the full timeline at ScottsdaleNorthPark.com. You’ll find articles, videos, even the Change.org petition — and a video of that first town hall where you all blew the city officials away!
And just for fun, we’re giving the first eight people who visit the site $25 in Scottsdale North Yiftee Bucks — yours to spend at local shops right here in the community you helped build!
