Free Flagstaff Fun: Concerts in the Park Roadshow in June and July

Concerts in the Park Roadshow is coming soon to a park near you!
The City of Flagstaff – Recreation Services is taking you on a tour of the City of Flagstaff park system, while combining great music, arts and crafts for the kids, and food vendors. 
The free concert series is on Wednesdays in June and July from 5:30-7:30pm.
This year’s performers include:
·       June 8th at Wheeler Park (212 W Aspen Ave): Chuck Cheesman and Bookman’s (folk)
·       June 15th at Foxglenn Park (4200 E Butler): Summit Dub Squad (reggae)
·       June 22nd at Wheeler Park (212 W. Aspen Ave): Dave Logan Band (folk)
·       June 29th at Bushmaster Park (3150 N Alta Vista): Knockabouts (Celtic)
·       July 6th at Foxglenn Park (4200 E Butler): Denise Allen Band (blues)
·       July 13th at Wheeler Park (212 W. Aspen Ave): Northern AZ Celtic Heritage Society Day with the Knockabouts, Bagpipers and Celtic Choral Groups
·       July 20th at Bushmaster Park (3150 N Alta Vista): Chris Laterzo (rock)
·       July 27th at Foxglenn Park (4200 E Butler): Isrobel (rock)

For more information contact City of Flagstaff Recreation Services at (928) 213-2300 or visit our website at www.flagstaff.az.gov/recreation.

Indoor Flagstaff Fun: Camp Wannaplay playground in the Flagstaff Mall

Camp Wannaplay is a free indoor playground for kids 42 inches and shorter inside the Flagstaff Mall (4650 N Highway 89) near JC Penney.
This playground is the only one of its kind in the city, featuring soft objects to climb on and slide down. There's a cute slide inside a big tree, a slide across a mountain, a bridge and other fun stuff plus some space to run around and play. If it's too crowded little ones won't have fun, but when there's only a few kids there, it's a blast!

Flagstaff Parks: Thorpe Park

Thorpe park (191 N. Thorpe Rd) is a massive Flagstaff park near downtown and Lowell Observatory with lots of amenities. It has two playgrounds, one of which is aimed at the 2-5 year old crowd, the other for five plus... plus two sets of swing sets, including lots of baby seat swings... plus a jungle gym type firetruck for climbing on and plenty of space for running around. There's also a section with lots of ride-ons of dinosaurs and such.
Add to that, Thorpe has several tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, basketball court, soccer fields, youth baseball fields, adult softball fields, a picnic ramada and picnic tables with grills,  racquetball courts, horseshoe courts a disc golf course, a dog park and thankfully portable and permanent restrooms.
It's a fun park that you can always expect to find other kids to play with while you're there.

Flagstaff Parks: Ft Tuthill

Playground at Ft Tuthill

Ft Tuthill County Park is on the southern end of Flagstaff. It has tons of picnic areas, 6.5 miles of trails plus a playground. The playground is small but in a nice wooded area and next to a picnic ramada, three picnic tables, two small grills and a composting restroom facility (with two handicapped-accessible unisex facilities). Read about having your birthday party at Ft Tuthill HERE.
There's also camping allowed in the park from May 1 through September 30.

Flagstaff Parks: Kiwanis Southside Park

The Kiwanis Southside Park (1600 S. San Francisco) is across from NAU's Skydome and behind Kinsey Elementary. This is a fabulous park for toddlers. There are two playgrounds here with several slides of all sizes plus nicely enclosed areas for little ones to walk across and play on. There's also a little frog to ride and several wheels to spin. The park has several picnic ramadas for covered eating as well as a big grill and several uncovered tables. For more fun, there's a sand volleyball court (bring your own net and ball) and two horseshoe courts (bring your own horseshoes). It also has a portable restroom in the summer months.

Flagstaff Parks: Ponderosa Trails Park

A great park to take small children is the Ponderosa Trails Park (3875 S. Wild West Tr), just behind the Mountain School (map).
This park has a giant soccer field to run and play plus a nice playground, four swings (two baby seats, to regular seats) and a picnic ramada. There's also a portable restroom in the summer months in case potty trainers need one "now."

Flagstaff Parks: Bow and Arrow Park

Bow and Arrow park is a smaller neighborhood park, just off Lake Mary Rd. at 3701 N. Cochise Dr (map). It has two baby swings, slide, climbing playground, a half basketball court, and a nice sized field to run and play in plus several picnic tables. The area is shaded by lots of tall trees. There's also a port-a-potty in summer months. There's a long fence seperating the park from Lake Mary Road to make sure little ones can't wonder out into the busy street.

Flagstaff Birthday Party Spots: Fort Tuthill County Park

If you're planning a large birthday party with lots of friends and family, consider renting a ramada all day (6am to 10pm) at Fort Tuthill County Park. Fees are as follows plus a refundable $100 deposit.

• Navajo Ramada (maximum  250 people)  $68.00 
• Pima Ramada (maximum 250 people)  $68.00
• Maricopa Ramada (maximum  150 people) $60.00
• Posse Ramada (maximum 250 people)  $68.00
• Yavapai Ramada (maximum 50 people) $53.00
• Cochise Ramada (maximum 150 people) $60.00

The Yavapai ramada is a great one for kids parties, as it is next to a playground, has two small grills and three picnic tables.
Picnic area reservations can be made at the CCPR office during regular business hours after January 1 for that year.  But reservations are taken only for the period of May 1 through September 30.The areas are available for use for free other times of the year, but are not available for reserved parties. They are open to the public to use.
For more info on Ft Tuthill park, go to their website or call (928) 679-8000.

Flagstaff Parks: Sawmill Park

Just east of NAU's northern campus is Sawmill Park (703 East Sawmill Road at Lone Tree). There are several slides, monkey bars, short tunnels, a small rock climbing wall and other fun playground stuff in this small area. The park also has a giant mural, an art park and several picnic tables. It's adjacent to the Willow Bend Educational Center and trails. Here's a video:

Flagstaff Birthday Party Spots: City park ramadas

If you want to have some outdoor birthday fun, a great option is reserving a ramada at one of Flagstaff's many public parks. Reserving the ramada guarantees you a covered picnic table at the location of your choosing. Then you can plan out your party - even a big barbeque- on the day of your party.
The city doesn't begin taking reservations for ramadas until April and there's no water in any park until May. Ramadas aren't available to reserve in the winter months... but you can still have your birthday party there for free, you just won't be guaranteed the covered tables.
Reservations can be made at any of the city's Recreation Centers. Applicants must complete a Facility Use Permit and pay the required fees at the time of reservation.  Fees are as follow as of 2011, but may change each year:
Bushmaster South, Foxglenn #1, and Thorpe Ramadas $10.50/hr
Bushmaster North, Foxglenn #2 and #3, and Ponderosa Ramadas $8/hr
Buffalo, Kiwanis, Mobile Haven, Old Town Springs, and Ponderosa Trails Ramadas $5.25/hr
For questions, call (928) 213-2300.
Find out more about each park's ramadas by folowing these links:

• Buffalo Park
• Bushmaster Park
• Foxglenn Park
• Kiwanis Park 
• Mobile Haven Park
• Old Town Springs Park 
• Ponderosa Park 
• Ponderosa Trails Park
• Thorpe Park

Flagstaff's McPherson Park

McPherson Park north of downtown Flagstaff has a fenced in playground with several slides, lots of swings, monkey bars and a ramp for easy access for little kids or wheel chairs. It's is across the parking lot from the Jay Lively Activity Center/Ice Arena. There are also several picnic tables, a tennis court, free disc golf course and hiking trails next to the playground.
McPherson Park is located at 1650 N. Turquoise Dr. (map)
Here's a video:

Flagstaff's Fox Glenn Park

Fox Glenn Park is located in east Flagstaff off Butler at Foxglenn St (map). This park is quite large with a playground for toddlers, playground for big kids, several baby and big kid swings, a skate park, restrooms, a giant field for running around or playing soccer and baseball diamonds.
It's the home to the Soar Into Spring festival each April as well as the Celtic Festival in July.
Here's a video:

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