New Surprise Lately episode!

In this episode of Surprise Lately... we head out in the community to see what you're thankful for, take you to the dedication ceremony at the Veterans Reflection Circle and give you a glimpse of what you'll find at the next Surprise Party!

ADOT: Speed limit changes in place along Grand Avenue in northwest Valley

Speed limits along parts of Grand Avenue (US 60) in the northwest Valley have changed, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

For safety reasons, ADOT waited until the completion of recent construction projects before evaluating t...

Surprise offers free online “Startup Space” to connect entrepreneurs, small businesses

Free business support is now only a click away in the City of Surprise! A new online platform called Startup Space is now available to all Surprise small businesses, startups and residents free of cost, courtesy of the City of Surprise Economic Developmen...

Flash Flood Watch in effect; Free sandbags available for flood protection

The National Weather Service is forecasting multiple rounds of widespread rain and thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon thru Thursday. They expect localized flooding and strong winds, especially Wednesday. Dust, lightning, and hail will also be possible this w...

Waddell Rd full closure, Sarival Ave to Loop 303, scheduled Nov 18 thru Jan 31

Waddell Road will be completely closed between Sarival Ave and the Loop 303 beginning 4 a.m. November 18 to 6 p.m. January 31, 2020, while crews work to improve the roadway. 

Turn movements and north/southbound travel at the Sarival Avenue and Wad...

City of Surprise Revenue Bond Rating Raised to ‘AA+’

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings raised its long-term rating to 'AA+' from 'AA' on Surprise, Ariz.'s series 2015 pledged revenue and revenue refunding obligations. The outlook is stable.

The raised rating action reflects the applica...

Home modifications available to improve accessibility & safety for residents

The city of Surprise Neighborhood Services Division has partnered with Ability360 to help persons with disabilities and/or seniors get modifications to their home to improve accessibility and safety.

Low-to-moderate-income residents needing accessibility a...

Royals, Rangers Spring Training tickets on sale Nov 16!

The 18^th annual Surprise Spring Training season will kick off on Friday, February 21^st at Surprise Stadium – featuring Surprise’s home teams, the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. 

Tickets go on sale at SurpriseStadium.com starting Sa...

City opens permanent yellow cooking oil disposal station

Beginning November 14, residents will have a permanent station for disposing yellow cooking oil in Surprise.

The yellow oil station, located in the parking area of Fire Station 305, 15517 N Parkview Pl, will be open year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a wee...

City announces Veterans Day Parade entry winners

Surprise would like to thank all of the 2019 Veterans Day Parade participants for helping us honor the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our freedom.

Congratulations to the following parade participants for winning in their entry category:

• Be...

Surprise Police host Bike Rodeo to promote bicycle safety on Nov 23

Looking for a fun event for a Saturday morning? Want to make sure your child is in the know on bicycle safety? If you said yes, then we have the event for you! Join YOUR Surprise Police Department on Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 for a Bike Rodeo.

Build-A-...

New "Surprise Lately" episode

Everybody loves a cute puppy! Meet our newest city resident. And survey says, it’s time to tell us what you think of e-scooters.

Weekend closures of Bullard Ave, Waddell Rd to Old Oak Ln, in Nov

Consecutive weekend closures have been scheduled for Bullard Avenue, Waddell Road to Old Oak Lane, so the city can perform maintenance on a water well.

The first full closure will occur from 5 a.m. Saturday, November 16 to 8 p.m. Sunday, November 17; the s...

Surprise Fire-Medical receives award from the American Heart Association

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Eve...

Surprise seeking sponsors, volunteers for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration & Service

Surprise is seeking event sponsors and community service volunteers for its Fourth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration & Service on Saturday, January 18, 2020. 

A program celebrating Dr. King’s life will begin at 9 ...

City seeks entries for annual Gingerbread House Contest

Surprise is seeking entries for the 18th Annual Surprise Party Gingerbread House Contest! 

The contest will offer four categories: adult, teen (ages 13-17), youth (ages 12 and under) and groups (families, culinary groups, after school programs, or...

Registration opens for third annual Surprise Spring Training 5K/1K

Get your Major League juices running at Surprise Stadium on Friday, March 6 with the Third Annual Surprise Spring Training 5K, presented by Jimmy John’s!

This 5K & 1K fun run will begin at 7 p.m. at Surprise Stadium and take you on a scenic, ...

Arizona History & Culture Speaker Series returns with new speakers, topics

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

Local experts from Arizona Humanities’ AZ Speaks program will present on the ...

Surprise Fire-Medical announces 2019-2020 fire station open house schedule

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department is opening their fire station doors for the 2019-2020 series of open houses!

Residents can come out and meet the firefighters, check out the living and eating quarters, walk through the bays and see the fire trucks!&...

Surprise Economic Development honored with two AAED Golden Prospector Awards

The city of Surprise Economic Development department is the recipient of two Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) Golden Prospector Awards. 

The innovative social media-based video campaign “#SnackswithSurprise” received a Golden Pr...

City requests public input on Shared Active Transportation Vehicle operation in Surprise

The city is now seeking community feedback on the deployment of vendor-owned, commercially-operated Shared Active Transportation Vehicles (SATV), commonly referred to as electric scooters (e-scooters) or electric-bicycles (e-bicycles), in Surprise.

The SAT...

Surprise designated as BNSF Railway Certified Site

Two properties within The Surprise Railplex Industrial Park, Cactus Commerce Center and Summit Business Park, have been awarded BNSF Railway Company’s Certified Sites designation along with five other industrial locations across the country. The Surprise ...

Take a shot! Register for a Winter Sports league or camp

Registration for Surprise Parks & Recreation 2020 Winter Sports programs will be open November 4 – November 23.  A special Saturday registration will be held on November 23 at the Parks & Recreation office from 8-11 a.m. 

Winter Y...

Beginner, intermediate skateboarding classes now registering

Grab your skateboard and get ready to ollie, kick-flip and skate your way around the skate park! 

The city of Surprise offers beginning and intermediate skateboarding classes so children and teens ages 6 – 13 can sharpen their skills and learn adv...

Surprise Fire-Medical Awarded 8 New Firefighters Through Federal Grant

The Surprise Fire-Medical Department was awarded eight new firefighters through a federal grant. This newly-awarded grant pays for the majority of the training costs and salaries for a period of two years and a little less than half of the costs for a thi...

Bell Rd pavement preservation underway, Cotton Ln to just west of 183rd Ave

Activities to prepare Bell Road, Cotton Lane to just west of 183rd Avenue, for pavement preservation are currently underway.

Overnight work to mill sections of the roadway is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 28. Paving activities will begin on Monday,...

CALL OF ELECTION - Public Notice of the City of Surprise, Arizona.

Notice is hereby given that the City of Surprise, Arizona will hold elections as follows:

Primary Election: Tuesday, August 4, 2020General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (If Applicable)

Offices to be filled – Mayor (4 year term ending in December 2024)...

Update: Learn about Wills & Trusts, Estate Planning in free fall workshops

**The release has been updated to show new class dates and room locations.**

The city is hosting free classes to help you plan your financial future.

November 5 & December 3 – Wills vs. Trusts

Most American adults do not have a living trust, a ...

Spring Training season tickets and specialty packages on sale Oct.19!

Another exciting year of Spring Training in Surprise is just around the corner and season tickets and group specialty packages will be on sale starting Saturday, October 19 at 8 a.m. (MST).   

Ticket Packages Don’t miss your chan...

Surprise expands library services with increased hours & new location

The City of Surprise and Maricopa County Library District are excited to announce that in early 2020 a new library will open and another will offer expanded hours. 

Starting in early January 2020, expanded hours are coming to Hollyhock Library, lo...

Get trained as a tax preparation volunteer & provide free tax help

Volunteers are needed to provide free tax return preparation for low-to-moderate income individuals and families through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. No prior tax preparation is needed; training will be provided. 

There are ...

City Manager Statement on Public Safety

Dear Residents of Surprise,

As your City Manager and a retired law enforcement officer with 40 years of experience, I can assure you that public safety is and always has been the top priority for the City of Surprise, not only for me personally, but for th...

Lunchtime and Sunset Theater performances set for 2019-2020

Jazz, Opera, Broadway and the Classics are included in the line-up for the Lunchtime Theater Series during the fall - spring seasons!

The City of Surprise Arts and Cultural Advisory Commission and the West Valley Arts Council, in partnership with the West ...

Citizen Review Meeting & Public Hearings set for Major Amendments to General Plan 2035

The city of Surprise is considering Major Amendments to its General Plan 2035 related to transportation and growth, and the public is invited to several upcoming meetings to provide comment.

While the 60-day review period for public comment closed on Octob...

Surprise Stadium announces 2020 Spring Training schedule with game times

The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals have released their finalized 2020 Spring Training schedule, revealing their game times and a new opening day game on Friday, February 21! The season opener, featuring the Texas Rangers vs. the Kansas City Royals, ...

Surprise Police donate retired cruiser to West-MEC campus

Officials from YOUR Surprise Police Department and Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) Northwest Campus met on October 3 for an official exchanging of keys, as a retired police cruiser was donated to the school.

The 2012 Dodge Charger was donated ...

Oregon State returns to Surprise for Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic

Join the Oregon State Beavers at Surprise Stadium as they host their 2020 season debut right here in Surprise.

The Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic will take place February 14-17 at Surprise Stadium, featuring the Oregon State Beavers, New Mexico Lo...

Fall 2019 Progress Magazine released

Does this cooler weather have you wanting to cuddle up with some hot chocolate and a good read? Progress Magazine is out now! This issue has all you need to know about upcoming festivals & entertainment, road improvement projects, Census 2020, and mor...

City wins national video award for “The Moving Wall Vietnam Memorial” visit

The City of Surprise Marketing & Communications Department earned a first place win in the National Association of Telecommunications Officers & Advisors’ (NATOA) 34th Annual Government Programming Awards.

Surprise took first place for ou...

Surprise draws national attention showcasing growing sport of pickleball

The City of Surprise is gaining national attention for the fast-growing game of pickleball - a paddle sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. This season, the city is hosting more players and spectators from across the country than e...

City of Surprise recruiting new tourism events; grant funding available

The city of Surprise, Arizona is a hotbed for tourism events like MLB Spring Training, NCAA college baseball, USTA tennis, arts festivals, and amateur sports tournaments. In an effort to continue growing successful tourism opportunities, the city&rsqu...

Surprise Fire-Medical donates fire engine to Valley Vista High School Fire Science program

 The Surprise Fire-Medical Department (SFMD) donated a fire engine to the Valley Vista High School Fire Science Program on September 24.

The fire engine is a 2006 EONE Cyclone Pumper with a 1500 gallon per minute pump and seating for up to six cre...

Mayor proclaims Surprise a Dementia Friendly City

Mayor Skip Hall proclaimed the city of Surprise as a Dementia Friendly City at last night’s City Council meeting. This action created the second Dementia Friendly city in Arizona, joining Tempe as part of the Dementia Friends initiative, in partnership wi...

Citywide transportation projects update; Litchfield Road widening begins 9/30

To meet the needs of a growing Surprise, the city is working on several significant transportation improvement projects. The projects range from constructing additional travel lanes to improving pavement conditions.

The city has created a Transportation Pr...

Surprise breaks ground on new Fire Station 304

The city of Surprise broke ground today on a new Fire Station 304 at 163rd Avenue and San Ysidro Road, located in the city’s growing northern area. This voter-approved project is being funded by the 2017 Decide Surprise General Obligation Bond a...

New Explore Surprise Episode - Youth Programs!

Youth are an important part of our community! That’s why the City of Surprise makes it a priority to keep them involved – through recreation, social events, career readiness programs and more. Check out this new episode of Explore Surprise to learn about ...

Surprise Youth Earn Arizona Career Readiness Credentials

This summer, 20 Surprise teens in the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program gained invaluable work experience alongside city staff, and also earned the Arizona Career Readiness Credential (ACRC).

Maricopa County’s Human Services Depart...

Recycling Drop-off Location Opens

Waste Management is accepting resident drop-off of specific recycling materials at their Surprise facility for Surprise residents through the end of the year. If you are able to participate, please do as the city works to find a fiscally-responsible solut...

Major League Baseball announces 2020 Spring Training schedule, games start 2/22 at Surprise Stadium

Major League Baseball has released the 2020 Cactus League Spring Training schedule. Opening Day in Surprise, Arizona is set for Saturday, February 22 with the Texas Rangers taking on the Milwaukee Brewers at Surprise Stadium.

Surprise’s home team...

Rising costs amid a volatile recycling market result in changes to city’s collection

Like many communities across the country, the city of Surprise recycling program is struggling to maintain existing service levels amid soaring operational costs.

The city began curbside recycling in 2004 and the revenue generated by the recyclables helped...

Register for Tot Time before it fills up!

The City of Surprise Parks & Recreation Department is excited for another session of Tot Time!

Program registration begins this week. Scorecard members can register starting August 6, Surprise residents on August 8 and non-residents beginning August 15...

Surprise wins marketing award at the Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism

The city won the Outstanding Marketing Campaign – Rural for its Find Your Surprise marketing campaign, including the website ExploreSurprise.com! 

This award, given at Tuesday night’s Arizona Governor's Conference on Tourism (G...

Judge Gaudreau Appointed to AZ Supreme Court Committee

Surprise City Court Associate Judge Catherine A. Gaudreau was recently appointed by the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court to serve a three-year term as a Limited Jurisdiction Judge member of the Committee on the Impact of Domestic Violence and th...

Registration open for fall youth sports leagues and classes

Fall youth sports registration is now open! The city is offering soccer and flag football leagues, as well as skills classes in basketball, baseball and softball.

Fall Youth Soccer and Flag Football League: These are recreational leagues for boys ...

Neighborhood Grant Program application now available

The Surprise City Council approved funding to support the Neighborhood Grant Program, providing eligible neighborhoods with small grants to fund neighborhood events, functions or community improvements. 

Recognizing an opportunity to encourage com...

Council adopts FY2020 Budget to address city growth; maintain existing assets

City Council approved a $412.7 million Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Budget, during their Regular Meeting Tuesday.

The budget continues to focus on Council’s commitment to maintain quality public services and infrastructure, while also addressing the needs of a gr...

National Indoor RV Centers expands to Surprise, brings head-of-household jobs

Texas-based National Indoor RV Centers (NIRVC) has selected the City of Surprise, Arizona for its new expansion location. The new Surprise business center will grow 65 full-time jobs and will be dedicated to the sales, servicing, storage and maintenance o...

Hollyhock Library adjusts Saturday hours starting May 11

The Hollyhock Library will soon change its Saturday hours to better serve the community! 

Starting May 11, Hollyhock Library, located at 15844 N. Hollyhock Street, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Tuesday and Thursday hours w...

2019 Surprise Retail Survey results are in!

The City of Surprise launched its annual Surprise Retail Survey in March… and more than 3,000 responses later, we have the results! Plus, for the first time ever, we polled city youth in a separate survey. More than 1,000 of our 6th – 12th graders offered...

City of Surprise 2019 State of the City focuses on growth and sustainability

Mayor Skip Hall introduced the 2019 State of the City video premiere Thursday night at Surprise City Hall, highlighting the city’s most shining moments over the past year – and true to his words, 2018 was certainly a bright year for the city! 

The...

New tourism website launches; showcases city as a place to “Find your Surprise”

The city has launched a new tourism website to help showcase the city of Surprise as a year-round travel destination.  

The website, ExploreSurprise.com, features the slogan “Find your Surprise,” and highlights the many ways to play, dine, shop an...

Rock your block! Free block party trailer rentals available

What better way to get to know your neighbors than by throwing a great party? Surprise offers free rentals of its Block Party Trailer, and we’ll even deliver it to you! 

The block party trailer includes chairs, tables, coolers, canopy tents, sport...

Council selects Sanders to fill D5 vacancy

The Surprise City Council appointed David Sanders to serve as the new District 5 (D5) Councilmember. 

He was immediately sworn into office and joined the council at the Jan. 3 Regular Meeting.

Sanders has lived in Surprise for nine years. His profe...

Surprise Progress TV: 2018 Year in Review

From new business and university growth to award-winning city programs and spectacular community events, we had a memorable 2018 here in Surprise! Check out this ‘Year in Review’ episode of Surprise Progress TV for a look back at some ...

City of Surprise program offers free support services for crime victims

The city of Surprise offers a Victim Services Program that assists crime victims in the aftermath of their victimization – as they navigate the court system and seek resources to get back on their feet. 

Services provided to any victim of a crime ...

Councils oks new Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commission

The Surprise City Council moved to approve the formation of a volunteer Veterans, Disability and Human Services Commission at Tuesday’s regular council meeting. 

The 11-member advisory commission will assist in the development of city pr...

DevelopNEXT: Drafts of Land Development Ordinances Chapters 104 & 105 Now Online

The city’s DevelopNEXT effort to simplify and modernize its development and design standards is advancing, with drafts of chapters 104 and 105 of the Land Development Ordinances (LDO) online for public and stakeholder review and comment.&nbs...