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Cholla District Weekly Update
April 2, 2026
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Dear Cholla Residents,
I have listened to concerns from residents and been advocating for investing in improvements at Thunderbird Conservation Park, including the roadway conditions for some time. The good news is that this will be part of the trailhead improvements outlined in the park master plan, with construction beginning this coming Monday, April 6.
The upgrades to the trailheads include adding shade structures and new restrooms, adding historical and environmental signage, paving parking areas, and planting new native plants. The maintenance road that connects the 59th and 67th Avenue trailheads will also be addressed towards the end of the project schedule, and the loop road will be improved and transformed into a one-way road as part of this project. Download a PDF file of Trailhead Improvements on the web site.
All trails will remain open during construction. The planned improvements are expected to be completed in late summer 2027.
- The 59th Avenue trailhead between Deer Valley and Pinnacle Peak Roads will be the first trailhead closed for improvements beginning April 6 to December 2026.
- Improvements to the 55th Avenue trailhead are expected to run from August 2026 to February 2027.
- Improvements to the 67th Avenue trailhead are projected to run from January 2027 to August 2027.
You can also visit the Thunderbird Conservation Park web page for additional information on construction. If you have questions or concerns about the construction, the Project Information Hotline is (602) 532-6250.
| The City Council met for the third FY27 Budget Workshop meeting on Monday, March 30, focused on department operating budgets. Over the last 6 years, the City and Council have demonstrated strong fiscal responsibility by ensuring our tax revenue received exceeds the adopted budget, as well as ensuring that actual expenditures have remained within or under budget. You may recall in a previous newsletter that I confirmed the City Council remains in consensus to continue conservative budgeting and not to increase property taxes for the 11th year in a row, even with pressure from inflation with some contracted services, supplies, and materials. City Manager Patrick Banger noted that departments are making fewer supplemental request than years past, and the city is focused on maintaining its workforce and the ability to compensate employees adequately through wages and benefits that are on par within the region. The next workshop meeting related to the FY27 budget will take place during the regular Council Workshop Meeting on April 28. | | |
I hope to see some of you this Saturday, April 4 beginning at 7 AM if you have paper to shred or batteries to recycle at a joint Cholla and Saguaro District Shred Event in the Foothills Library parking lot. Glendale residents can bring up to 5 banker boxes of paper to shred with more details outlined at the top of this newsletter.
My office is always open and ready to assist you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. I value your input and opinion.
Warm Regards,
Lauren Tolmachoff
Glendale City Council, Cholla District
623-930-2247
LTolmachoff@GlendaleAZ.com
| | CHOLLA DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS | | |
Phoenix Ukulele Group at Foothills Library: Saturday, Apr. 4, 1 PM - 3 PM
This friendly bunch of ukulele enthusiasts loves to strum and sing along to all kinds of songs, from classic hits to modern favorites, folk tunes to toe-tapping pop and Hawaiian tunes. Bring your uke or other acoustic instrument and take part in the joy of playing together. Singers and audience welcome. Click here for more information.
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Foothills Fan Club Minecraft at Foothills Library: Friday, Apr. 10, 4 PM - 5:30 PM
This month the Foothills Fan Club will celebrate the Minecraft franchise with trivia and crafts inspired by the game and the hit film. Space is limited and registration is required. Open to tweens and teens ages 9-18. Click here for more information.
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Daddy Daughter Dance: Saturday, Jun. 20, 6 PM - 8 PM (REGISTRATION NOW OPEN)
Aloha! Get ready for dancing, a photo booth, and games. Girls ages 3-15 bring your dad, grandfather, uncle, or any special male guest. It's $20 per Dad/Adult and $20 per daughter. Registration opened on April 1. Click here for more information and to register online. (Select Youth Activities from the top colored tabs and scroll for the Daddy Daughter Dance info.)
| | ROAD CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC ALERTS | | |
From Councilmember Tolmachoff:
I recognize the frustrations with the light timing for the left turn lane both at 67th Avenue and 75th Avenue to access southbound Loop 101/Beardsley frontage road. I have reached out to ADOT and requested that they evaluate the light timing for improving traffic flow at these locations during the construction closures and restrictions currently taking place. I will continue to keep you informed of any updates and changes as I learn of them.
Loop 101 Current and Upcoming Closures & Restrictions
The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to plan for the following closures as part of the Loop 101 widening project. You can subscribe to automatic project updates with this link.
Upcoming Traffic Control, Closures & Restrictions:
- 31st Avenue will be closed in both directions at Loop 101 from 10 PM Thursday, April 2, to 5 AM, Friday, April 3.
- DETOUR: Use east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to navigate around the closure.
- Westbound Loop 101 will be narrowed to two lanes between 75th Avenue and Union Hills Drive from 10 PM Monday, April 6, to 5 AM Friday, April 7. The westbound Loop 101 off ramp at Union Hills Drive also will be closed during this time.
- Westbound Loop 101 will be closed between I-17 and 59th Avenue from 10 PM Friday, April 10, to 5 PM Sunday, April 12.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting ahead of the closure and using Union Hills Drive or Bell Road to 59th Avenue to access westbound Loop 101.
- 35th Avenue will be closed in both directions at Loop 101 from 10 PM Friday, April 10 to 5 PM Sunday, April 12.
- DETOUR: Use east and westbound frontage road (Beardsley) to navigate around the closure.
- The eastbound Loop 101 ramp to north and southbound I-17 will be closed from 9 PM Thursday, April 9, to 5 AM Friday, April 10, and again from 9 PM Monday, April 13 to 5 AM Tuesday, April 14. Westbound Loop 101 also will be narrowed to two lanes between I-17 and 35th Avenue during this time.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting Loop 101 at 35th Avenue and using Union Hills Drive or Deer Valley Road to access I-17.
Ongoing Restrictions & Closures:
- 75th Avenue will continue to be narrowed to one through lane in each direction between Rose Garden Lane and Arrowhead Clubhouse Drive through April.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider using 67th or 83rd Avenues to access 75th Avenue via Deer Valley Road or Union Hills Drive.
- The eastbound Loop 101 frontage road is reduced to one lane between 37th and 35th Avenues through mid-April.
Ongoing Long Term Ramp Closures:
- The eastbound Loop 101 off ramp at 59th Avenue is closed until late May.
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider exiting at 67th Avenue and using the eastbound frontage road to reach 59th Avenue.
- The eastbound Loop 101 on ramp at 67th Avenue is closed until mid-May
- DETOUR: Drivers may consider taking the eastbound frontage road (Beardsley) to 59th Avenue to access Loop 101.
- The westbound Loop 101 off-ramp at 75th Avenue is closed until early May.
- DETOUR: Westbound drivers may exit at 67th Avenue and travel north to Deer Valley Road or south to Union Hills Drive to reach their destination. 75th Avenue will have ongoing lane restrictions between Loop 101 and Rose Garden Lane that are expected to end in mid-April.
Drivers should use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching and traveling through any work zones.
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Cholla District Upcoming Pavement Work Scheduled
Click here for an interactive dashboard of City of Glendale Road Closures and Restrictions
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83rd Avenue, Bell Road to Union Hills Drive - Micro milling to take place during night hours April 6 to prepare for a Slurry Seal application during night hours beginning April 7.
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59th Avenue, Bell Road to Union Hills Drive - Micro milling to take place April 11 to prepare for a Slurry Seal application during night hours beginning April 15.
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Streets between Union Hills Drive and Beardsley Road, and between 75th Avenue and the Loop 101 – Latex Modified Surface Seal (LMSS) application to begin in late-April.
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Sack Drive and 64th Avenue on the northeast corner of Union Hills and 67th Avenue - Slurry Seal application in mid-May.
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51st Avenue, between Beardsley Road and Tonopah Drive - Slurry Seal application has been postponed to late 2026 or early 2027 to accommodate the current Loop 101 Improvements Project.
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67th Avenue Corridor Improvements Project Update (City of Peoria)
The City of Peoria's 67th Avenue Corridor Improvement Project, Pinnacle Peak Road to Happy Valley Road will widen 67th Avenue to three travel lanes in each direction and includes bike lanes, curb, gutter, sidewalk, streetlights, and drainage components to complete the streetscape. As this area is adjacent to the Cholla District, click here for all the latest construction updates to see how it impacts your drive.
| | CITYWIDE HIGHLIGHTS & CALENDAR | | | | |
