News & Events

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch Ratings, leading providers of credit ratings, both assigned a ‘AA’ rating to the Town of Queen Creek’s Certificates of Participation (COP). S&P and Fitch Ratings also affirmed the Town’s Issuer Credit Rating (ICR) at ‘AA+’, one notch below the highest possible rating, with a stable outlook.

The COP ratings are significant as the Town prepares to fund the purchase of 1.2-million-acre feet of water (over 100 years) from Harquahala Valley. The purchase will be funded with COPs and a Water Infrastructure Financing Authority (WIFA) loan.

At the Nov. 19 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council approved investing in a water supply that will allow the Town to become water self-sufficient. The Council approved funding a second purchase from Harquahala Valley, transitioning away from local groundwater pumping and replenishment obligations through Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD).

The Town approved to fund the additional 12,000-acre feet of water (1.2-million-acre feet over 100 years) using Water Infrastructure Financing Authority of Arizona financing and Certificates of Participation for an amount not to exceed $250 million. This is a historic investment for today and the future. The price of water continues to rise. And the water from Harquahala Valley is a reliable source, not subject to drought conditions and significantly reduces local groundwater pumping.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has recognized the Town of Queen Creek with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the fiscal year 2025/26 budget. This is the 24th consecutive year that the Town has received this recognition.

This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and represents a significant achievement by the Town. In order to receive the award, the Town had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the Town’s budget serves as a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan and a communication device.

“Approving the Town’s budget is one of the most important actions we take as a Council,” stated Queen Creek Vice Mayor Leah Martineau. “This Council, and Councils that served before, have been very mindful of how taxpayer money is spent, balancing fiscally responsible decisions with maintaining Queen Creek’s high quality of life. We are so appreciative of the staff that work year-round to ensure that budgets are accurate, reflective of the community and balanced.”

To learn more about the Town’s budget, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Budget. For more information about the Town, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov. To report non-emergency issues, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SeeClickFix.

The Town of Queen Creek’s fiscal year (FY) 2025/26 budget was approved by the Town Council at the May 21 meeting. The $627.7 million budget goes into effect on July 1, 2025, and continues to prioritize infrastructure, with nearly 50% dedicated to transportation, public safety, water and wastewater, parks, and other infrastructure projects.

“We are committed to providing a high quality of life, promoting a strong sense of community, protecting residents and providing world class public services,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Our budget reflects our commitment to infrastructure and public safety, as well as being fiscally responsible. The overall budget is a 13% decrease from last year, without cutting any of these areas. In fact, we are investing $66.8 million to public safety and $119.1 million to transportation.”

In addition to investments in infrastructure and public safety, the budget follows the Town’s Corporate Strategic Plan to prioritize its allocation of resources. Highlights include:

• Secure Future

  • $68.8 million in water infrastructure and $17.2 million in wastewater.

• Qualify Lifestyle

  • $11.8 million to relocate the dog park, invest in the Town’s trail system and close out final costs for the Recreation & Aquatic Center.

• Effective Government through Fiscal Responsibility

  • $3.8 million in property tax savings for residents thanks to the property tax freeze.
  • $1.5 million in savings from eliminating the additional Town Center sales tax.

The budget includes a recommendation to lower the primary property tax rate from $1.63 to $1.55 per $100 of assessed value. In November 2022, Town Council approved a policy that freezes the primary property tax for existing taxpayers for five years, which means the tax rate will go down as property values go up. The primary property tax rate will be adopted by Town Council at the June 4 Town Council meeting. The Town’s primary property tax was approved by voters in 2007 at a rate not to exceed $1.95 per $100 of assessed value and is dedicated solely for public safety.

To view the full budget, click here or visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Budget.

The Town of Queen Creek proposed a 15% water rate increase to continue to ensure a safe, reliable, high-quality water supply. The proposed increase equates to approximately $3-$6 per month for most residential customers. If approved, the new rates will take effect on Aug. 27, 2025, and will be reflected on water bills beginning with the Oct. 7 billing cycle.

This is the first residential water rate adjustment in more than 15 years, driven by essential system infrastructure improvements, rising costs for renewable water supplies, and overall service enhancements. The increase is the first step in a multi-phase approach to align rates with the true cost of delivering safe, reliable, high-quality water to the community both now and into the future.

The proposed increase impacts both residential and non-residential water customers.

Investing in Water Infrastructure

Over the past 15 years, the Town has made significant investments in its water system while keeping rates among the lowest in the East Valley. Key improvements include:

• Expanding Service Area: Increased coverage from 36 to 69 square miles, enhancing reliability.
• Water Production & Distribution Enhancements: Added 15 water production sites and implemented electronic meter reading for real-time efficiency.
• Water Reliability Investments: Developed a lake water reuse program, acquired Cibola Water, and secured additional renewable water sources.
• Regional Partnerships: Partnered with neighboring municipalities to recharge treated effluent and develop additional groundwater storage facilities.
• Customer Service & Operational Efficiencies: Launched a new online utility billing system, expanded conservation programs, and achieved consistently high customer satisfaction ratings.
• Financial Stewardship: Implemented strategic policies that have saved the Town $157.6 million over the past six years, including $66 million directly related to water and wastewater services.

New Water Bill Estimate Calculator

Customers can estimate their water bill increase using an online calculator at QueenCreekAZ.gov/WaterRateUpdate.

The calculator will also show if customers have a CAGRD (Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District) fee on their annual property tax bill. In 2018, the Queen Creek Town Council adopted a policy to help offset increasing CAGRD costs, saving customers money. In many cases, the CAGRD fee reduction on property taxes is similar to or greater than the 15% water rate increase, helping to minimize the financial impact.

Customers in the former Diversified Water Service Area (portions of east San Tan Valley) will not experience a rate increase, as their rates already align with the proposed updated water rates.

The increase will be considered at the July 16 Town Council meeting, which will include a public hearing.

For more information, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/WaterRateUpdate.

Celebrate the opening of the new Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center on Saturday, March 29 with a ribbon cutting at 7:30 a.m. followed by grand opening festivities and tours from 8 – 10 a.m. (the facility will remain open for tours and membership purchases until 6 p.m.).

The Recreation Center will be open for use with a membership or pass beginning Sunday, March 30. The Aquatic Center will open in May, not on March 29. The new facility is located at Frontier Family Park, 22343 E. Ryan Road.

Featuring an indoor track, fitness area, zero-depth entry pool, lazy river and more, the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center enhances recreational opportunities for residents.

The facility was approved in December 2021 following resident input received through the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update (adopted in 2018) and recreation amenity survey that was completed in the summer of 2021. In the most recent Citizen Survey (2023), 83% of Queen Creek residents reported visiting a Town park in the past year, with 32% visiting a park more than 10 times. In a separate survey conducted in 2023, 75% of residents reported wanting a Town aquatic center and/or multi-generational center.

Memberships for residents will be available for purchase on March 29, and passes will be available for purchase starting March 30; both memberships and passes include individual and household options. Residents must have an active CivicRec account to purchase a membership and proof of residency (photo ID and utility bill, lease agreement, or tax document). Non-residents may purchase a day pass if accompanied by a Town of Queen Creek resident (who also has a membership or day pass) at the time of purchase.

Membership and day passes will not include access to registration-based programs. Programs at the Recreation & Aquatic Center will align with the Town’s current practice, which includes a resident and non-resident rate (confirm residency on the Town’s website, QueenCreekAZ.gov/DoILiveInQC). For more information about what is included in memberships and passes, and for rates, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation.

Additional amenities within the facility include indoor sport courts (basketball, volleyball, pickleball), teen room, child watch and classrooms. The outdoor Aquatic Center includes a competition / lap pool and slides. The Aquatic Center amenities will open in May; grand opening activities for the Aquatic Center will be limited to tours.

The Recreation & Aquatic Center was designed by DWL Architects and constructed by Haydon.

Learn more about the Town’s parks and recreational opportunities at QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation. To stay updated on events and activities in the community, follow the Town on Facebook.com/QueenCreek or X.com/TownofQC. For general information about the Town visit QueenCreekAZ.gov.

The Town Manager submitted his FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget to the Town Council on March 20, 2025. The full budget packet can be found here.

The budget is one of the most significant policy documents considered by the Town Council. The FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget totals $682.7 million, with 52% of the total budget dedicated to building infrastructure. Major cost drivers include building facilities identified in the Master Plans of Police, Fire, and Parks; continued investments in critical transportation and utilities infrastructure; and additional staffing resources for the Police Department and other Town departments.

The Town Council will review the Recommended Budget at a public meeting on Wednesday April 16, 2025. Based on input from the Town Council at that meeting, staff will then prepare a Tentative Budget for the Town Council’s consideration on May 7, 2025. The Tentative Budget sets the maximum budget, or budget ceiling, for the next fiscal year. Approving the Tentative Budget is the required first step by state law. Once the Tentative Budget is approved, the Final Budget can go no higher; however, the budget can be reduced or re-allocated between programs and/or funds prior to adoption of the Final Budget.

The Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and adopt the Final Budget on May 21, 2025.

The Town of Queen Creek presented its 2025 State of the Town event last night in partnership with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. The Town Council and Chamber President shared a number of the community’s accomplishments that align with the Town’s Corporate Strategic Plan, in addition to hearing from members of the Mayor’s Teen Advisory Committee.

Highlights of the 2025 State of the Town can be found here.

The full State of the Town video, along with a complete list of the Town’s 2024 accomplishments and prior years’ accomplishments, are available online at QueenCreekAZ.gov/StateoftheTown.

The Town of Queen Creek celebrated the Queen Creek Wash Trail extension, from the Crismon Road alignment to Rittenhouse Road, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The project, completed by Haydon, included extending the Queen Creek Wash Trail, with a new asphalt path for pedestrians / cyclists and ramps down to the bottom of the wash for equestrian users.

“Our wash trail system is so important to our community,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “It provides a beautiful place for our residents to get outside and recreate, a safe alternative way to get around town and is an opportunity to preserve some of our equestrian heritage! And this project brings us one step closer to our goal of having a complete trail loop.”

Trail opening ribbon cutting

In addition to extending the wash trail, the project also included a half-mile section south along Signal Butte, which will connect to the future east trail connection between the Queen Creek and Sonoqui wash trails.

For additional information about the Town’s trail system, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/trails.

Queen Creek’s new Recreation & Aquatic Center is expected to Open in the spring of 2025. Featuring an indoor track, fitness area, zero-depth entry pool, lazy river and more, the Queen Creek Recreation & Aquatic Center will enhance recreational opportunities for residents. The new facility, located on Signal Butte north of Queen Creek Road, is scheduled to open in spring 2025.

“This facility has been years in the making,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Our residents have been asking for a pool, slides, indoor sports courts and I am so excited that we are almost there! This facility will be a staple in our community - it will be where families and friends gather, being active and creating lasting memories. As a Council, we are so looking forward to celebrating the grand opening of this wonderful facility in just a few months!”

The facility was approved in December 2021 following resident input received through the Parks & Recreation Master Plan Update (adopted in 2018) and recreation amenity survey that was completed in the summer of 2021. In the most recent Citizen Survey (2023), 83% of Queen Creek residents reported visiting a Town park in the past year, with 32% visiting a park more than 10 times. In a separate survey conducted in 2023, 75% of residents reported wanting a Town aquatic center and/or multi-generational center.

Additional amenities within the facility include indoor sport courts (basketball, volleyball, pickleball), teen room, child watch and classrooms. The outdoor aquatic center will include a competition / lap pool and slides. The facility was designed by DWL Architects and is being constructed by Haydon.

The Recreation & Aquatic Center will be located at the new Frontier Family Park, a new 85-acre park with a variety of amenities. The park features an inclusive play area, five-acre fishing lake, lighted ball fields, picnic areas, splash pad, basketball and volleyball courts. New amenities include 24 pickleball courts and a 1.5-mile multiuse path that spans the perimeter of the park.

The 13-acre expansion of Mansel Carter Oasis Park opened with a ribbon cutting and tennis clinic on Wednesday, July 10. Located at 19535 E. Appleby Road, the new section includes tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, additional restrooms and parking, and passive green space.

“As a young, growing community, we are focused on building a well-rounded community – one that is safe, has the necessary infrastructure, provides a high quality of life, is effective and is providing a secure future,” stated Council member Dawn Oliphant at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “This park, along with our recently opened Frontier Family Park, directly relate to our strategic priorities of superior infrastructure and quality lifestyle. We see the value in parks, our residents see the value in parks – from the early morning into the evening, our parks are a gathering space. And we are so excited to offer new amenities at this expansion.”

The expansion was designed by J2 Design and built by Haydon. The expansion completes the popular park, which originally opened in 2018, and includes a variety of amenities (playground, splash pad, fishing lake, fitness zone, baseball fields and multipurpose fields). A pump track was also added earlier this year.

“Maintaining the high quality of life we enjoy in Queen Creek is so incredibly important,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “And our parks and trails not only provide opportunities for our residents to stay active, they also provide opportunities for our residents to connect. When we connect with our friends and neighbors, we create a stronger community.”

The Town recently celebrated the opening of Frontier Family Park, a new 85-acre park located on Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road. The Town’s Recreation & Aquatic Center, slated to open in 2025, will also be located at Frontier Family Park.

For additional information about Queen Creek’s Parks & Recreation visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation.  To stay updated on Town events and activities, follow the Town on Facebook.com/QCRecreation or X.com/TownofQC. To report non-emergency issues, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SeeClickFix.

Featuring Queen Creek’s first pickleball courts, a fishing lake, a one-of-a-kind inclusive playground and more, Frontier Family Park provides an opportunity for the community to play together. Located at 20039 S. 220th Street, Frontier Family Park officially opened on June 8 with a ribbon cutting and community event.

“Frontier Family Park is the largest park in Queen Creek at 85-acres and aligns with our strategic priorities of quality lifestyle and superior infrastructure,” shared Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “Not only do our parks provide an opportunity to get outside and be active, but they are also a great place to get to know your neighbors and continue the small town community feel we know and love about Queen Creek. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us! I love that this park was designed to embrace our past while celebrating the present and providing a place for our community to come together – and play together - for generations to come.”

Designed by J2 Engineering & Environmental Design, Frontier Family Park includes a large playground where individuals of all abilities can play together and can have a different experience each time they visit the park.

“Everybody of every ability, there is something for, on this playground,” said Jill Moore, Inclusion Specialist for Landscape Structures. “When you go and enjoy (the playground), I think that is something really special to celebrate. That Queen Creek has invited everybody to be a part of the play experience and be part of why this park is so special.”

Hunter Contracting built the park, which includes 24 pickleball courts, three multipurpose fields, six baseball / softball fields, two sand volleyball courts and two basketball courts.

The park also includes the Town’s second fishing lake, which also serves as a water conservation strategy. The park is irrigated with water from the lake, which is filled with recovered water from the ground.

Nods to the Town’s heritage are throughout the park. A memorial bench in honor of late Mayor Barney and a statue of his parents, Newell and Katherine Barney, known for being pillars of the community. Mayor Barney served the Queen Creek community for 24 years, including 12 as Mayor.

Access to the park is off Signal Butte north of Queen Creek Road, and 220th Street from Queen Creek Road.

For additional information about Queen Creek’s Parks & Recreation visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/Recreation.  To stay updated on Town events and activities, follow the Town on Facebook.com/QueenCreek or X.com/TownofQC. To report non-emergency issues, please visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/SeeClickFix.

On November 17, 2023, the Town of Queen Creek secured a $50 million short-term loan from Wells Fargo Bank to cover cash flow needs during construction of new streets, water and wastewater improvements adjacent to the future LG Energy Solution (LGES) facility in the northeast part of Town. The loan is secured by a subordinate lien pledge of excise tax and state-shared revenues, bears a fixed interest rate of 4.09%, and matures on June 1, 2027. The loan and all of the project costs are intended to ultimately be paid using construction sales taxes generated by LGES during construction of its facility.

The relevant Town Council actions were as follows:

1. 9/6/2023 - Approval of Loan Authorizing Resolution
2. 10/18/2023 - Approval of Amendments to Purchase Agreement
3. 12/6/2023 - Report of Final Results

The relevant Town Council materials can be found below.

After a five-year process, the Town of Queen Creek has begun receiving 4th priority Colorado River Water from Cibola, Arizona – reducing the reliance on groundwater.

In 2018, the Town approved a purchase agreement with a landowner in Cibola Valley for a portion of their water rights. The Town followed the established process for transferring Colorado River Water, which included reviews by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and the Bureau of Reclamation USBOR).

In May 2022, the Queen Creek Town Council approved eliminating the Library impact fee when enough funds were collected to pay off the debt associated with the fee. Effective today, July 10, 2023, the Library impact fee will be eliminated.

Impact fees are one-time fees assessed to new development to pay for the new growth’s proportionate share of necessary public services. Historically, the Town of Queen Creek assessed six impact fees and two capacity fees. Effective July 10, 2023, the Town will assess four impact fees and two capacity fees (the Town Facility Development Impact Fee was eliminated in May 2022).

At last night’s meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council unanimously approved ordinance 813-23, lowering the Town’s primary property tax rate for existing residents from $1.83 to $1.72 per $100 of assessed value. The action is a result of the Resolution 1500-22, approved last year, which freezes the amount of taxes paid by property owners in Queen Creek by reducing the property tax rate each year as property values increase.

“Lowering the primary property tax for residents is significant,” shared Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “It is a testament to the Town’s financial stability, the community continuing to be a desirable place to live and this Council’s commitment to being fiscally responsible. This is an opportunity to pass savings on to our residents without comprising our investment in public safety. I applaud the previous council for approving Resolution 1500-22 last year, which laid the foundation for lowering the property tax rate– and my fellow Council members for approving the lower tax rate.”

At the May 17 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council approved a budget of $867.1 million for the 2023/24 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2023. The approved budget continues to prioritize infrastructure, with nearly 70% of the budget dedicated to transportation, parks and trails, public safety, water and wastewater, and other infrastructure projects.

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on a new Recreation & Aquatic Center, which will be located off Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road. Slated to open by late 2024, the state-of-the-art facility will enhance the recreational opportunities in Queen Creek.

The Town of Queen Creek’s budget serves as a spending plan and communication tool. The budget is developed through incorporating both projected revenues and expenses. The proposed budget, available for review on the Town’s website, will be considered by the Town Council at the May 3 meeting for tentative approval, with the final approval scheduled for the May 17 Town Council meeting.

Shea Joachim has been selected as the Assistant Town Manager for the Town of Queen Creek, effective June 5. Joachim was chosen following an extensive national search to fill the role after Bruce Gardner, the previous Assistant Town Manager, was named Town Manager in November 2022.

The complex marks the largest single investment for a stand-alone battery manufacturing facility in North America, creating thousands of jobs (full release).

This announcement augments LG’s original planned investment of $1.4 billion that was announced in March 2022 (original release).

Approvals for phase 1 remain (approved in 2022) - the Town and County will be working with LG Energy Solution on next steps to bring this state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing complex to the region. LG Energy Solution will continue to go through the applicable regulatory and administrative processes.

The project is anticipated to break ground this year, with production anticipated in 2025.

The Town maintains a dedicated web page with the most current information on the project, which can be found here.

Queen Creek’s 2022 State of the Town was presented last night in partnership with the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce. The Town Council and Chamber President shared a series of the community’s accomplishments that align with the Town’s Corporate Strategic Plan.

The State of the Town, along with a complete list of the Town’s 2022 accomplishments, are available online at QueenCreekAZ.gov/StateoftheTown (video).

The Town of Queen Creek recently purchased the Barney Family Sports Complex to be used for a future public safety facility.

The nearly 65,000 square foot facility is located at 22050 E. Queen Creek Road on 10 acres. Current operations may continue at the facility through the summer of 2023.

“Public safety continues to be one of the Town’s top priorities,” stated Queen Creek Mayor Julia Wheatley. “The Town has been evaluating options for a public safety complex to meet the needs of the police department and the fire and medical department. The purchase of the Barney Family Sports Complex not only meets the functional needs of the public safety facility, but the location is ideal, and the cost is less than purchasing land and building a new facility.”

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on three roadway connectors in the downtown core. Aldecoa Drive and Munoz Street will both connect from Ellsworth Road to Ellsworth Loop, and Summers Place will connect from Aldecoa to Munoz.

“These connectors are an important step in implementing the Town Center Plan, with a vision to create a vibrant and walkable district in the heart of Town Center that complements the heritage of the community and provides a range of venues,” stated Queen Creek Mayor-elect Julia Wheatley. “As a Council, we know the importance of investing in infrastructure to spur quality development that will not only provide more options for our residents when it comes to shopping and dining, but also more revenues to support programs like public safety, parks and recreation." VIDEO

The Queen Creek Town Council unanimously voted to appoint Bruce Gardner as Queen Creek’s next Town Manager, effective Jan. 23, 2023. With more than 28 years in the public sector, Gardner currently serves as Queen Creek’s Assistant Town Manager.

In his role as Assistant Town Manager, Gardner assists the Town Manager in providing leadership for a variety of departments, long-term planning for the organization, policy development and regional coordination.

The Town of Queen Creek broke ground on phase II of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, located off of Sossaman Road, north of Ocotillo. The 13-acre expansion is slated to open in late 2023 and will include tennis courts, volleyball courts, pickleball courts, an outdoor fitness zone, additional restrooms and parking, and passive green space.

During the Nov. 2 meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council unanimously approved resolution 1500-22, a new financial policy to freeze primary property taxes for existing taxpayers for the next five years.

The Town of Queen Creek’s Human Resources Director, Michele Brown, recently received the Ann Byrnes SPHR Award for Professional Excellence from the Arizona Society for Human Resource Management (AZSHRM). The award honors an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the human resource profession, serving as a role model, and setting standards for others. Michele received the award for the instrumental role she played in the development of the Queen Creek Police Department (QCPD), and her ongoing commitment to the profession.

The Town of Queen Creek celebrated the completion of the Sonoqui Wash Trail improvement project, from Hawes Road to Crismon Road, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting.

The project, completed by Nesbitt Contracting, included extending the Sonoqui Wash Trail from Ellsworth to Crismon, with a new asphalt path for pedestrians / cyclists and ramps down to the bottom of the wash for equestrian users. The new portion also included wayfinding signage and landscape features, in addition to enhanced pavement markings at the road crossings for increased safety.

The segment of the trail from Hawes to Ellsworth builds upon the existing trail by widening the path and creating separation between the pedestrian trail and equestrian users.

“The Town worked very hard to ensure the safety of all trail users, within the scope of the overall project,” shared Friends of Horseshoe Park President Jon Wootten. “Items as simple as moving the equestrian push button back from the edge of the road, installation of railings between trail and road in risky areas, line of sight considerations and non-slip asphalt treatments, are all relatively small in comparison to the overall project but greatly increase the safety for all trail users.”

Queen Creek’s Park and Trail System provides connectivity throughout Town and with neighboring communities, including Town Center and San Tan Mountain Regional Park. The trails highlight the natural beauty of Queen Creek and honor the community’s equestrian and agricultural heritage.

For additional information about Queen Creek’s trails, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/trails. To stay updated on Town news and events, follow Facebook.com/QueenCreek and Twitter.com/TownofQC.

As growing community with a focus on families and quality of life, the Town of Queen Creek broke ground on a new, 85-acre park. Frontier Family Park will be located off Signal Butte, north of Queen Creek Road, offering a variety of new and expanded amenities.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch Ratings, leading providers of credit ratings, completed independent reviews of the Town’s credit rating, both resulting in an upgrade from AA to AA+, just one notch below the highest possible rating.

The bond rating upgrade is timely as the Town considers funding for the completion of Mansel Carter Oasis Park, the east park site and the recreation and aquatic center.

“This rating upgrade acknowledges the continued, tremendous financial growth and maturation of the Town, which is all encompassing but is rooted in two things,” stated Queen Creek Finance Director Scott McCarty. “First, the leadership of the Town Council in building a community, and second, our population growth and economic development as a result of being a desirable place to live and run a thriving business.”

The Town has received a series of credit rating increases over the past 15 years from both S&P and Fitch Ratings. Rating agencies look at four main categories: debt burden, management, financial performance, and economic base.

“The rating increase is a testament to all the hard work for many years by the Town Council and staff,” stated Queen Creek Town Manager John Kross. “The higher a community’s rating, the better credit risk they are, and by extension, the lower interest rates received when funding roads, parks and other projects. As a young, growing community, we know there are necessary investments and will continue to make sound financial decisions.”

S&P indicated several factors contributing to the upgrade including the Town’s continued strong revenue growth prospects, increasing reserves, and recent progress regarding pension funding. In addition to the items noted by S&P, Fitch Ratings cited strong pledged revenue growth prospects, expected solid resilience during recessionary economic periods, and development underway and the Town’s ongoing infrastructure plans boding well for continued economic expansion.

For more information about either report, visit StandardandPoors.com and Fitchratings.com. For more information about the Town, including the Town’s budget visit QueenCreekAZ.gov. To keep updated on Town news and events, follow Facebook.com/QueenCreek or Twitter.com/TownofQC.