New “Surprise Lately” Episode

It's another episode of Surprise Lately! The retail survey results are in, see what retail and restaurant you love and want in Surprise! Plus, find out when city pools are opening up.

Surprise hosting 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships

The NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships will be returning to Surprise as teams from across the country compete for the national championship title. The City of Surprise Sports and Tourism Department, in par...

The 2021 Surprise Retail Survey results are in!

The City of Surprise launched its annual Surprise Retail Survey on April 5 and more than 5,100 responses later, we have the results! 

The city uses the survey data to identify the city’s retail strengths, as well as opportunities to bring addition...

Perfect Game & USA Baseball host series of amateur youth baseball tournaments in Surprise

The City of Surprise is set to sizzle this weekend as it marks the start of summer youth baseball tournaments at the Surprise Stadium Sports Complex. Competition play begins this weekend for the 2021 Mountain West Elite Championship, which is the first in...

Join city of Surprise for a Day of Service May 26

Looking for a way to serve your community? Surprise is seeking volunteers for a Day of Service event on Wednesday, May 26.

Volunteers will assist with sorting bulk food items, creating food baskets and loading food into vehicles; helping in the pr...

Surprise Storm swims out of an award-winning short course season

The Surprise USA Swim Team, the Storm, has concluded its 2020-2021 short course season with numerous swimmers placing in the top eight in Arizona!

In March, the Storm competed in Arizona State Age Group short course competition. Results from the competitio...

Peoria Deputy Police Chief Benny Pina selected to serve as Surprise Police Chief

City Manager Mike Frazier announced today that he has selected Peoria Deputy Police Chief Benny Pina to serve as the next Chief of the Surprise Police Department. 

“The Surprise Police Department has a mission centered on serving the com...

Attend a “Pick Your Path” session and help shape the Valley’s transportation future

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is building a long-range transportation plan, and we need your input on what you want to see in Surprise and across the Valley as we help shape our transportation future. 

A number of virtual “Pick You...

Surprise lights city buildings blue for National Police Week

In honor of National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, the City of Surprise is lighting City Hall and its Public Safety Building blue from the evening of Monday, May 10 through Sunday night, May 16.

These recognitions occur annually in May. In 1...

Floyd Gaines Park Dedication Ceremony May 15; Live stream available

A dedication ceremony for the new Floyd Gaines Park will be held on May 15 at 9 a.m. in celebration of the park’s completion and in honor of its namesake, Floyd Gaines. 

The community is invited to watch a LIVE stream of the ceremony on ...

City pools open May 22; Itty Bitty Beach Party on May 28

Surprise Aquatic Center and Hollyhock Community Pool will reopen for limited-capacity swim lessons and open swim on Saturday, May 22. Aquatic special events such as the Itty Bitty Beach Party will also resume with the opening of the pools.

Open swim fees a...

City of Surprise Opens Recruitment for Parks & Recreation Director

The City of Surprise is seeking an experienced servant leader to support and guide an accredited Parks & Recreation Department as Parks and Recreation Director. 

Strong candidates will be visionary team leaders who exhibit high energy and an e...

Arizona History and Culture Virtual Speaker Presentation June 8

Experience stories of Arizona history and culture at a  speaker event presented by the Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission in partnership with Arizona Humanities.

A local expert from Arizona Humanities’ AZ Speaks program will present on...

City of Surprise begins phased reopening of Senior Center

The City of Surprise is reopening programs at the Senior Center in a phased approach, with limited front desk access and exercise classes available now. The center, located at 15832 N. Hollyhock St., is a hub for connection and activities for those age 50...

Surprise hosting NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis West Regional Tournaments

The City of Surprise has been selected to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Tennis West Regional Tournament, in addition to hosting the 2021 NCAA National Championship.

This is the first time the NCAA regional has been pl...

New “Surprise Lately” Episode

Special events are starting to come back! In this episode of Surprise Lately, Nichole tells us about those, as well as a new resource for military & veterans and a survey where you can share what businesses you want to see in Surprise!

Search for Surprise Police Chief narrows to six candidates

The search for a new City of Surprise Police Chief is moving forward, with finalist interviews set to take place on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. 

The application period for the position closed on March 23 after receiving 62 applications. 

The s...

Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex racquetball courts temporarily closed, May 5-22

The Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex racquetball courts will be closed to public play from Wednesday, May 5 through Saturday, May 22, due to tournaments being held during this time.

Please Note: Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex summer hours begin...

Free Arizona Small Business Association membership available to Surprise small businesses

The City of Surprise Economic Development Department is teaming up with the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) to support the Surprise small business community. In recognition of the continued small business recovery process as result of the COVID-...

Full browsing access available at Surprise libraries starting Monday

Full browsing access will be back at all three Surprise libraries beginning Monday, April 26. The city’s library operator, Maricopa County Library District (MCLD), is moving into its next phase of reopening at all county-run libraries, including Asante Li...

New West Valley Hub for Veteran Resources and Support Services Launches in Surprise

Public-Private Partnership, Donor Network Help Grow West Valley Military and Veteran Success Center

Veterans, service members (active duty, Guard and reserve) and their families now have a new place to access resources, support and assistance in the West V...

City of Surprise Seeking Applications for Voluntary Commission Vacancy

The City of Surprise is currently accepting applications for the following Commission.  All Board/Commission positions are voluntary and you must reside in the City of Surprise.   

• Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commissi...

Surprise Parks & Rec announces three special events in April, May

As the City of Surprise continues to open, our Special Events calendar is starting to fill up! The Parks & Recreation Department is offering three events for you and your family to enjoy in April and May!

*NEW* Surprise Swims Safe - April 30, 5 p.m. Th...

FY2022 Recommended Budget addresses city growth; adds personnel

City Manager Mike Frazier’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Recommended Budget, presented at the Special City Council meeting on April 16, proposes a budget focused on maintaining our current level of service as the city continues to see steady growth. The budget c...

Passport services return to Surprise City Hall April 19

Passport services will return to Surprise City Hall beginning April 19, by appointment only. 

Normal business hours for passports will be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the City Clerk’s Office. 

City staff can acc...

Watch the 2021 State of the City Video

Following an April 13 live premiere, the 2021 State of the City video is now available for on-demand replay. 

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted so many people in so many ways last year, and in this video, we highlight the resilience of our community....

Public comment invited on 2021 Maricopa County Hazard Mitigation Plan

The City of Surprise, other municipal governments and Maricopa County have completed a final draft of the 5-year Hazard Mitigation Plan and are looking for members of the public to review and provide feedback. The 2021 Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdictional...

Spring 2021 Progress Magazine available now!

The latest issue of Progress Magazine has hatched!

Read about blooming development, how you can take the Surprise Retail survey, where to find budding art around the city, and much more!

View the digital edition now: Surprise Progress Magazine Spring 2021

City Hall reopens to public 4/12; City Council & public meetings open to in-person attendance

On Monday, April 12, Surprise City Hall and other city administrative buildings will open to the public, following a temporary closure due to COVID-19. Additionally, meetings of the City Council and all boards and commissions will open to in-person attend...

Governor Announces New Phase of COVID-19 Mitigation; Events of 50+ No Longer Need City Approval

With the state of Arizona hitting several important public health benchmarks, Governor Doug Ducey today announced several updates to the state’s COVID-19 measures, including on events, businesses and local ordinances.

Several key data points contributed to...

Arizona History and Culture Virtual Speaker Presentations April 14 & June 8

Experience stories of Arizona history and culture through two virtual speaker events presented by the Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission in partnership with Arizona Humanities.

Local experts from Arizona Humanities’ AZ Speaks program will prese...

Governor Ducey Announces Next Phase of Business and Safety Protocols

Governor Doug Ducey today announced the next phase of COVID-19 mitigation.

The announcement follows 7 weeks of declining cases in Arizona, and the distribution of more than 2 million vaccines.

The following changes are reflected in a new Executive Order fro...

City of Surprise Opens Recruitment for New Police Chief

The City of Surprise is seeking an experienced public safety professional with outstanding leadership skills to serve as its next Police Chief. 

Strong candidates will be forward thinking and will continue to lead the Department consistent with ou...

Say it, Surprise! National Community Survey coming soon

What do you love about living in Surprise? What services do you value most? What can the city do better to improve the quality of life in our hometown?

You can share your thoughts in the 2021 National Community Survey (NCS)!

What you tell us helps to identi...

City Council names Duffy as Vice Mayor

The Surprise City Council selected District 3 Councilmember Patrick Duffy to serve as Vice Mayor at their regular meeting Tuesday night.

Per city code, City Council must select a new Vice Mayor to serve on an annual basis no later than January 30. The Vice...

City debuts anti-litter campaign, “Keep it Beautiful, Surprise!”

The city of Surprise takes pride in being a safe, clean and attractive city, where residents and businesses can thrive and visitors are impressed. In an effort to keep our city as clean as possible, we are releasing a campaign encouraging residents to &am...

Winter 2021 Progress Magazine Now Available

A new issue of Progress Magazine is here! The Winter 2021 issue is now in resident mailboxes, and the digital is edition available online. Check it out to reminisce some of our top Spring Training memories, learn about a new park and other exciting develo...

Mayor and Councilmembers in Districts 2, 3 & 4 sworn in

The first Regular City Council Meeting of the New Year included the swearing-in ceremonies for mayor and three councilmembers. 

Skip Hall was sworn in as Mayor after winning the seat in the August Primary Election. He previously served as Mayor by...

DevelopNEXT: Council approves updates to city’s land development ordinances & design standards

The Surprise City Council approved the adoption of new Land Development Ordinances (LDO) and Planning and Engineering Design Standards (PEDS) at the December 15 City Council Meeting following a more than two-year process that engaged both residents and de...

Governor Ducey Shares Latest On COVID-19

Governor Doug Ducey today toured the vaccine distribution site at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and announced ten Arizona health care frontline workers who will be among the first Arizonans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 

After the tour, the Gov...

Surprise breaks ground on Fire Station 308 at Litchfield & Cactus roads

Construction began December 7 on City of Surprise Fire Station 308 at the southeast corner of Litchfield Road and Cactus Road. This voter-approved project is being funded by the 2017 Decide Surprise General Obligation Bond.

The southeast portion of Surpris...

Governor Ducey Announces Latest Actions to Fight COVID-19, Increase Hospital Staffing

Governor Doug Ducey today announced a series of actions to fight the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona.

Today’s actions include: 

• Update on vaccine distribution plan
• Executive Order ensuring all Arizonans receive the vaccine without financial barriers
• Ex...

Greenway Rd improvement project begins, Cotton Ln to Sarival Ave

Construction of the voter-approved Greenway Road improvement project will begin Thursday, December 3.

The project will finish the south half of Greenway Road from 800 feet west of Loop 303 to 1600 feet east of Loop 303 (approximately Cotton Lane to Sarival...

Governor Ducey Announces $25 Million for Medical Professionals, Additional Safety Measures

At a press conference at the state Public Health Lab, Governor Doug Ducey today announced a list of new actions to support hospitals and medical professionals and combat the spread of COVID-19. Arizona will invest $25 million to bolster hospital staffing ...

Hastings sworn in as new District 5 Councilmember

Jack Hastings was officially sworn in as the new District 5 (D5) Councilmember today at Surprise City Hall.

Hastings won the D5 seat during the August Primary Election over David Sanders, the council-appointed incumbent. 

Sanders was appointed on J...

Council approves Temporary Expansion of Premise permits for Surprise restaurants during COVID-19

City Council last night approved the use of Temporary Expansion of Premise (TEP) permits for local restaurants to help expand their ability to serve more customers while maintaining social distancing requirements during COVID-19. 

The TEP permit a...

Governor Ducey and Health Leaders Urge Arizonans to Get Flu Shot

As Arizona continues efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, state health agencies and the Governor’s Office are partnering with health care providers and businesses to prepare for the upcoming flu season.

Governor Doug Ducey today was joine...

Arizona Department of Health Services Phased Reopening Plan for Paused Industries

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) today announced public health recommendations for the eventual safe reopening of paused businesses in the state of Arizona.

On June 27, Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-43 “Pausing of Ari...

Gov. Extends Pause of Some Business Operations; Announces Plan for Schools

Governor Doug Ducey today extended an executive order pausing operations on gyms, bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, water parks, and tubing. The order also prohibits large events and enables local law authorities to take immediate enforcement action to en...

Governor Extends COVID-19 Eviction Protections; Expands Rental Assistance Access

Governor Doug Ducey today signed an Executive Order extending a moratorium on residential evictions until October 31, 2020, providing continued protections for renters who are facing economic hardship as a result of COVID-19. The order ensures renters imp...

Governor Ducey Announces New Actions To Contain COVID-19

Governor Doug Ducey yesterday announced additional actions to contain the spread of COVID-19, including the signing of an Executive Order that requires restaurants with indoor seating to operate at less than 50 percent capacity. The announcement to limit ...

Governor Ducey Takes Further Action to Reverse COVID-19 Spread in Arizona

As part of continued efforts to reverse the trend of COVID-19 spread in Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey today signed an Executive Order to prohibit large gatherings, cease the issuance of new special event licenses and pause the operations of bars, gyms, mov...

Surprise requires face coverings in public effective June 20; City Hall will reclose to public

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, Surprise Mayor Skip Hall, with support of the Surprise City Council, has issued a Declaration of Emergency Proclamation requiring face coverings within the City of Surprise with limited exceptions.

Effective Sat...

Letter from Surprise City Council

Dear Residents of Surprise,

This is an important time to reflect on our history, one in which, we must have honest dialogue about race and inclusivity; and listen intently to these conversations.  

We must be mindful that our children, our future, ...

Governor Ducey Announces Enhanced COVID-19 Action Plan

Following COVID-19 case increases and hospitalizations, Governor Doug Ducey today announced enhanced actions to contain the spread of the virus and protect Arizona’s most vulnerable residents. The announced actions build on Arizona’s s...

Letter from Surprise Police Chief Terry Young

Dear Residents, Business Owners and Visitors of Surprise,

In July of 2016, I felt compelled to share a message with each of you expressing YOUR Police Department’s commitment to professionalism and our appreciation for your partnership and extrao...

City splash pads, basketball & racquetball courts reopen June 8; ramada, sports field rentals resume

The city of Surprise is preparing to reopen several additional city-owned parks and recreation amenities on June 8, including splash pads, basketball courts and racquetball courts. Rentals of park ramadas and sports fields will also resume on that date.&a...

City Hall reopens June 1; select recreation amenities phase in

On June 1, Surprise City Hall and select park amenities will reopen to the public. Additionally, some pool programming will begin June 8.  

The following City Hall service modifications will be implemented on June 1 and until further notice:

• Cashie...

Surprise Introduces Phased COVID-19 Reopening Plan

With Governor Ducey’s stay home order lifted, and in the spirit of his recent “Stay Healthy, Return Smarter, Return Stronger” Executive Order, the City of Surprise has prepared a phased reopening plan. 

Each phase wil...

Mayor Hall Declares Local State of Emergency in Surprise

In consultation with members of the Surprise City Council, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Skip Hall announced a State of Emergency for the city of Surprise today in an effort to preserve public health.  

Effective 5 p.m. this even...

Valley Metro adjusts Express, RAPID bus service schedules due to COVID-19

Valley Metro has released the following information:

Valley Metro is adjusting the Express and RAPID commuter bus service schedules to operate fewer trips each weekday morning and evening. This is a proactive step to maintain local bus route service for th...

City webpage provides community support resources, volunteer opportunities amid COVID-19

This is an overwhelming time for communities around the world, and it is important that our residents know how to access the resources they need.Here’s a look at what is available on the webpage:

• Community Resource Guide – provides contact information for ...

City temporarily amends A-frame sign policy during COVID-19 Pandemic

Beginning, Monday, March 30, 2020, businesses in the city of Surprise will be allowed to display an A-frame sign along the adjacent roadway or roadway closest to their business subject to certain requirements set forth below.

The temporary use of A-frame s...

Change to City Council Meeting public comment; Cancelation of several public meetings

In an effort to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, public comment options have changed for City Council and Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings and several other public meetings have been canceled until further notice.

City Council

Coun...

Surprise Partners with Meals of Joy to Offer Hot Lunches to Vulnerable Populations

The City of Surprise has partnered with Meals of Joy to deliver meals at no cost to seniors aged 62 and over, as well as individuals 55 and over with a disability. This temporary, federally funded program is designed to help vulnerable residents maintain ...

Surprise Resource Center Reducing Public Hours

Due to COVID 19 concerns, the Surprise Resource Center is reducing the number of public walk-in hours while maintaining call-in hours to ensure service to the community.

The Surprise Resource Center is a one-stop-shop for social services. Through strategic...

Governor Ducey Announces Latest COVID-19 Actions

Governor Doug Ducey today announced additional mitigation strategies to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona. His executive actions include ensuring food access; increasing hospital capacity; Updated guidance and flexibility for restaurants, bars and ...

Changes to public participation during Planning & Zoning meetings effective March 18

Out of an abundance of caution, and in an effort to protect the health and safety of our employees, residents and visitors, the Council Chambers will be closed to the public during city Planning & Zoning Commission Meetings until further notice. Publi...

Changes to public participation during Council Meetings effective March 17

Out of an abundance of caution, and in an effort to protect the health and safety of our employees, residents and visitors, the Council Chambers will be closed to the public during City Council Work Sessions and Regular Meetings until further notice. Publ...

Surprise cancels/postpones events and programs due to COVID-19

After careful consideration, the city of Surprise is canceling or postponing all city-sponsored events, programs, and sports effective March 16 and continuing through May 10. 

The decision comes as COVID-19 (coronavirus) has reached pandemic level...