Litchfield Park made headlines after it became the first Arizona city in decades to become a charter city
While Litchfield Park is now a full-blown city of nearly 7,000 residents (and not many more as the city nears buildout)
it was once a small company town largely utilized for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company executives
More: How Litchfield Park turned from a company town to a tourist destination
Litchfield Park has retained its reputation as an affluent community
In 2022, the city’s median household income was over $117,000
The city also only has a 5.26% poverty rate
where the 2022 median household income was $72,000
Here’s what to know about Litchfield Park’s history and how it got its name
This one is rather self-explanatory: in 1916
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company sent Paul W
Litchfield to Arizona from Ohio to purchase land for cotton
More: Goodyear is named after the tire company, but there's a lot more to its history
At the time, Litchfield was an executive in Akron
He would later go on to become the first CEO of the company
At the time, cotton was needed for the airplane and truck tires being used in World War I. At the time
there was a cotton shortage because countries that exported cotton were war-torn
Litchfield purchased about 16,000 acres of land in what is now Goodyear
Goodyear Ranch was established in what is now near downtown Chandler
Litchfield Ranch was located in the West Valley and Southwest Cotton Company was established
it took nearly a day to travel between Phoenix and Litchfield Park
So company executives needed somewhere to stay
An organization house was built in 1918 to accommodate six people
Litchfield Park effectively grew as a city around the Wigwam
which officially opened to the public in 1929
Litchfield himself was essential in the development of the city
he and his wife built their own estate that they called Rancho La Loma
Litchfield wanted to help with the war effort during World War II and established a training facility called Goodyear Aircraft at the southern end of Litchfield Road
Litchfield also helped to establish Luke Field
which later became known as Luke Air Force Base
Many World War II veterans stayed in the area
Despite the area being known as Litchfield Park in 1926
it wasn’t incorporated as a city until 1987
These days, the Wigwam continues to thrive as a historical resort and recently underwent $20 million renovations
It's a place where locals go for staycations and out-of-towners escape the winter cold
And there's still plenty of history to be found: the Fire Room
which was part of the original Organization House
looks almost exactly identical to how it did nearly 100 years ago
Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-259-8545. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle
ARIZONA NEWS
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved $5 million of funding towards a new library in Litchfield Park
The project has an expected completion date of January 2027
BY PAYNE MOSES
PHOENIX — A new library will be built in Litchfield Park after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved $5 million to cover construction costs on Wednesday
The investment, which is being pulled from Community Solutions Funding, will see library construction begin during the summer of 2025. The project has an estimated completion date of January 2027, according to a press release
County officials said the library will be 40% bigger than the current building and feature more modernized technology
a larger program space and shorter periods for book turnarounds
“The existing library has been such an important community gathering place for Litchfield Park residents since it was built in 1979,” Thomas Schoaf
“With this generous support from Supervisor (Clint) Hickman and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
we hope to build a new facility that will deepen the community’s engagement and enhance the library experience for Litchfield Park families for years to come.”
The existing library off of Wigwam Boulevard and Old Litchfield Road will not go untouched
as supervisors said it will continue to serve the community for other unspecified civic purposes
The latest addition to the city of Litchfield Park will join the P.W
Hilltop Park and proposed Agua Fria Arts Academy as part of an eventual hilltop cultural complex
The City of Litchfield Park and Maricopa County Library District will work together to design the new library
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You might be familiar with the history of Litchfield Park's Wigwam
but did you know that you can watch a straight-to-DVD film that takes place there
or at least at a possibly fictionalized version of the resort
The Wigwam is perhaps most well-known for its golf courses
providing locals and snowbirds with a cozy resort experience
having served as the anchor of Litchfield Park since it first opened as an organizational house to accommodate six people in 1918
it was a place for Goodyear Tire and Rubber executives to stay while visiting the then-company town
The Wigwam has since become a famous West Valley landmark
It recently underwent $20 million renovations
although it has kept much of its historical charm
there's one room that looks virtually the same as it did when it was first built
How Litchfield Park turned from a company town to a tourist destination
But an interesting and potentially overlooked blip in its history is the fact that a 2017 film called "Love's Last Resort" was filmed at the resort
Let's just say that the Wigwam may not be known for being the filming location of critically acclaimed movies
"Love's Last Resort" is a 2017 film starring Alix Angelis
It was directed by Brian Herzlinger and was written by Melissa Rundle and Blaine Chiapetta
The film follows a woman named Chloe who breaks up with her boyfriend of 10 years because he won't commit to their relationship
she coincidentally runs into him and his new fiancé just days before his wedding at none other than the Wigwam
To make matters worse, the wedding will be taking place at the Wigwam. Thankfully, there's a handsome hotel employee who offers to be Chloe's fake boyfriend to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. You'll have to watch the movie to see the shocking plot twist— no spoilers here! Stay away from the trailer unless you want the entire movie spoiled
"Love's Last Resort" has an unflattering 32% rating by audience members on Rotten Tomatoes
But while it may not be the most critically acclaimed
it could be a fun movie to watch and see all of your favorite places at the Wigwam
"This place is really gorgeous," Chloe says of the Wigwam in the trailer
"Love's Last Resort" is available to stream on Peacock. It's basically free, assuming you already bought a subscription to watch "Love Island" this summer
It's also available for rent on Google Play Movies
A new performing arts school is coming to the southwest Valley
The Agua Fria Union High School District governing board approved the $60 million project in December
which is being funded by a 2023 bond initiative approved by voters
said the Fine Arts Academy & Performing Arts Center would will be built in partnership with the city of Litchfield Park
which is leasing the land to the district for $1 per year for 75 years
The Fine Arts Academy will be located on the La Loma Hilltop
which is where Litchfield Park’s new library and cultural center will also be built
The city is also revitalizing the 20-acre Hilltop Park
who was an executive at Goodyear Tire and Rubber
The Litchfield Park Historical Society is raising money to repurpose a guest house to be used as a museum
The Fine Arts Academy will be able to accommodate 400 to 500 students
“They’re going to be focusing on career paths that will be in theater
Students also will have traditional classes like math
The classrooms are being designed from the ground up with input from Agua Fria teachers to fit specific needs for each pathway
students will have their elective in the arts
The campus will include a 700-seat performing arts center
The performing arts center will be used to bring arts to the southwest Valley more broadly
Students will use it about 100 nights a year
A promoter will work to fill the other nights with different acts
More: What to know about Litchfield Park's new library and cultural complex
Students will have the opportunity to help out those performers with tasks like sound check or set/stage design to help them continue to learn
“That’s the exact purpose: to align what our students are doing in the classroom to meet industry standards,” Griego said
The four-year intensive program is for students who want to be fully immersed in the arts
New schools typically roll out with one class added per year
But all 400-plus students who will attend the school will be added at one time across all grade levels
Students will have to apply and audition to attend
although it will still operate as a normal public school
Students will enter the school with a program of study selected that will also cross over into different areas of the arts and related industries
students who are studying vocal performance also might have to take piano and dance classes
They also will have to take classes that teach them to use a recording studio
The school is designed to help students who want to have a career in the arts
teaching them about different avenues they can take
“It’s not a school where we’re going to spend time trying to invoke a passion
These are the kids that already are there and ready to go,” Jones said
While many students may be preoccupied with wanting to be a famous singer or actor
they will learn about the depth of careers in the arts
The school is expected to attract students from all over metro Phoenix
When the district was crafting its 10-year plan
students and families requested more academic freedom and choices
Griego said the district noticed the lack of arts present in the southwest Valley
which is younger in terms of development than most parts of the Valley
we feel like we have a responsibility to help develop the workforce pipeline,” Griego said
The district will develop an arts consortium
in which companies and organizations will help make sure what's being done in the classroom will translate into the real world
The district also will host public outreach events soon to seek feedback on mascots
Reach the reporter at ahardle@gannett.com or by phone at 480-708-1633. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @AlexandraHardle
AZ — Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has called off the search for a 12-year-old boy who did not return home from school on Tuesday
Thomas Heck Middle School near El Mirage and Bethany Home roads in Litchfield Park
He was supposed to arrive back home around 3:40 p.m
Details of where he was have not been released
Report a typo
Litchfield Park will see two new faces on its City Council after its summer election
It will be the city's first election under its new charter
Three candidates will be running for three open seats
Incumbent Ron Clair will be running for his second term alongside newcomers Suzanne Allen and Andrew Fraser
The new candidates will be the first ones to have implemented term limits under the city's new charter
voters approved Litchfield Park to become the first charter city in Arizona in four decades
All candidates who were in office at the time are eligible for one more term limit if they have reached their maximum of four terms
which means he will be eligible for two more
Litchfield Park is one of the wealthier cities in Arizona: in 2022
compared to nearby Avondale's $76,500 and Goodyear's $97,300
some of the issues facing Litchfield Park include development— such as the city's $26 million Litchfield Square — and traffic and transportation
The Arizona Republic sent the three candidates a series of questions
The campaign has been a relatively uneventful one
with none of the candidates operating active campaign websites or social media pages
Arizona elections: Read our full coverage of the Litchfield Park council race
Early voting began July 3. Voters can check on the status of their mailed-in ballot on Maricopa County’s website at https://elections.maricopa.gov/voting/voter-dashboard-login
Those who choose to vote by mail are advised to mail their ballot by July 23 or drop it off at a ballot drop-off location or voting location by July 30
Who are the Litchfield Park candidates?Fraser and Clair have waged very low-key campaigns
was raised in the West Valley and has been a resident of Litchfield Park for over 15 years
She worked for the state in the general accounting office before becoming a special agent in the FBI’s Phoenix Division
where she investigated securities and investment fraud
She operates a direct primary care practice
Allen's first priority will be getting involved in the city's development projects
She has also said that she has witnessed the growth in the West Valley over the past four decades and wants to ensure that the city can sustain the needed infrastructure to support the growth
That includes attracting businesses and also ensuring that the city has the needed water
and schools to support a growing population
is already familiar with some of the workings of Litchfield Park
He currently serves on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission
He works for the Maricopa Water District as the district engineer
was appointed in 2019 and re-elected in 2020
He is currently the regional operations manager of All My Sons Moving & Storage and has worked with the company for 20 years
BY DAVID VEENSTRA
PHOENIX – The Agua Fria High School District announced a new arts academy and 700-seat theater expected to open in August 2026
The Arts Academy and Performing Arts Center will be located in Litchfield Park on the La Loma hilltop site at Litchfield and Camelback roads
Additional amenities on the campus include a grand lobby
rehearsal and studio spaces and recording and cinematography studios
The total cost of the academy and campus were not disclosed
but funding is coming via a 2023 community bond
The city of Litchfield Park is also leasing the land to the district for $1 per year for 75 years
“For many years, I’ve been working on building up the development situation so the city is sustainable,” Litchfield Park Mayor Thomas Schoaf said in a press release
“We have the property because the Litchfield family wanted to make sure the property was used in a way that was consistent with what Paul Litchfield envisioned back in the 1920s – a cultural and performing arts area
so the challenge was how we could bring it back.”
The high school will provide students with the opportunity to attend six different academies with curriculums centered around different visual and performing arts
sculpting and performance will also provide mentorship to students
“The Arts Academy and Performing Arts Center will not only support academic choice for our students but also enhance the cultural vibrancy of the entire West Valley,” Superintendent Mark Yslas said in the release
foster community connections and leave a lasting legacy for future generations
This project embodies our mission to champion creativity
educational excellence and strong ties with the community.”
There’s a new face at Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, and she’s already larger than life — literally. Bailey, a reticulated giraffe calf, was born on March 15 and is an impressive six feet tall
Zookeepers report that both mom and baby are doing well
and visitors can meet them at the zoo’s giraffe exhibit
Bailey has wasted no time settling into her surroundings
Reticulated giraffes are a subspecies of giraffes predominantly from eastern Africa
Due to population declines, the species was added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species as endangered in 2018
Bailey's birth will help sustain the population in captivity
Guests eager to meet Bailey can visit the zoo — open daily — to see the growing calf
She joins over 600 species living at the zoo
More information about the zoo and upcoming events can be found at wildlifeworld.com.
LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ — Concerns still remain nearly a year after ABC15 started reporting on water pressure issues in Litchfield Park
The provider behind those pressure problems is Liberty Utilities
the company just announced changes to its curtailment tariff
at least here in my household," said Liberty customer John Connolly
Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip
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That's how he feels after his experience last summer
During the worst of the water pressure issues
some people in Litchfield Park and parts of Goodyear north of Interstate 10 barely had water coming out of their faucets
Liberty Utilities has continued to blame the hot
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Anna Tovar opened an investigation into the utility company after ABC15's first report, even holding a town hall last fall to address the issues
Liberty told ABC15 in January that they made changes and showed us their new well
“Liberty really apologizes for the experience that our customers did experience last summer,” said Liberty Senior Operations Manager Terry Gilbertson
“We are actively bringing on new assets like this [well]
and evaluating our system to prevent any issues like that again in the future."
On Thursday, Commissioner Tovar told ABC15 her investigation sparked change, including an ongoing reporting requirement if Liberty experiences pressure problems again. Tovar, ultimately, confirmed the ACC's approval of a request from Liberty to expand its service area
"We're just trying to wait it out," said Connolly
He and Commissioner Tovar are both hopeful that last year's issues won't return
But just before the summer months, Liberty made another change, sending customers its updated curtailment plan that's broken up into four stages. The curtailment tariff allows Liberty to request customers to reduce water consumption when demand is greater than production
"Now everything is mandatory in Stage 3," said Connolly
"You're not watering outside except livestock."
The updated plan lowered the threshold for mandatory conservation from Stage 4 to Stage 3
homeowners wouldn't be able to do things like fill their pools
Liberty told ABC15 the updated plan "reflects the company's current sustainability goals and curtails water use more efficiently during times of water shortage or peak demand."
The company said customers are still in Stage 1
which means conservation is just recommended
ABC15 is still working to clarify what stage customers were in last summer
"While there is no ongoing investigation by the Commission
rest assured that my office is monitoring the Company’s operations with a hope that the same issues do not occur again," said Commissioner Tovar
ABC15 will continue to follow up on the water pressure throughout the summer
Liberty Utilities sent the following statement regarding the tariff:
"Liberty’s updated Curtailment Tariff was reviewed and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) on May 8
The Updated Curtailment Tariff reflects Liberty’s current sustainability goals and curtails water use more efficiently during times of water shortages or peak demand
Customers in the Liberty Utilities Litchfield Park water service territory received notification of the revised Curtailment Tariff as required by the ACC
A curtailment tariff is an approved tariff that allows a utility to request customers to reduce water consumption when the demand is greater than the production
The Curtailment Tariff includes four stages
and each stage indicates the detailed conservation measures for customers to follow
Please see Conservation Tariff [arizona.libertyutilities.com] on our Water Rates and Tariffs webpage [arizona.libertyutilities.com] for further information
but conservation efforts are encouraged as a best management practice
If there are any changes to the curtailment stage
Liberty will update the webpage in addition to providing direct communication with impacted customers
Stage 2 would be voluntary conservation efforts with Stage 3 being mandatory conservation as detailed in the Curtailment Tariff."
By Lauren KobleyPublished: Mar
2025 at 4:34 PM MSTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLITCHFIELD PARK
Aquarium & Safari Park is welcoming a newborn reticulated giraffe to their family
The zoo says Bailey was born strong and healthy and is thriving under the watchful care of her attentive mama DeeDee
Guests can see baby Bailey up close as she explores her new exhibit and bonds with her mother
There is also an interactive experience at the zoo where guests can hand-feed the adult giraffes
Wildlife World Zoo supports organizations like Save Giraffes Now
which work to protect these animals in the wild
through its renowned giraffe breeding program
the zoo helps play a vital role in conservation efforts
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The Litchfield Park City Council race won’t be a particularly competitive one, with three people running for the three open seats
Current Councilmembers Ann Donahue and John Romack declined to run for an additional term
Incumbent Ron Clair will be running alongside newcomers Suzanne Allen and Andrew Fraser
The Arizona Republic sent the candidates a number of questions about various city and state issues
Arizona election: Read our full election coverage of the Litchfield Park City Council race
Why are you running for Litchfield Park City Council
Suzanne Allen: I am running for Litchfield Park City Council because I want to make a difference in my community through public service
I demonstrated my dedication to Litchfield Park in my role as Vice-Chair of the Board of Freeholders
where I was elected to draft the Charter for Litchfield Park
I want to take that commitment further by serving as a council member
all of which I am eager to apply for the betterment of our city
My first priority as a councilmember will be to get involved with the ongoing development projects in the city
ensuring they align with our values of community spirit
Taxing and spending: Where do the Litchfield Park City Council candidates stand?New state policies will affect city budgets
will you support raising taxes to maintain city services or cutting programs
Which specific services and/or taxes would you consider first and why
Allen: The City of Litchfield Park is fortunate to have both elected and staff leadership committed to fiscal responsibility
I have actively supported this commitment through my work on the City of Litchfield Park Charter
where I supported the inclusion of a minimum reserve policy and debt policy in the Finance and Taxation article
These policies have strengthened our financial security
ensuring that our city operates with sound fiscal management practices
Arizona election 2024: Here's everything to know about registering and voting
I am dedicated to maintaining and enhancing this financial security
My vision is to strike a balance between funding initiatives that benefit our community and being fiscally conservative
This includes exploring sustainable revenue streams
implementing efficient budget management practices
and fostering economic development that aligns with our long-term financial goals
By continuing to prioritize fiscal responsibility and prudent financial planning
we can ensure that Litchfield Park remains a resilient and prosperous community for years to come
In recent years finding affordable housing for working people has become increasingly difficult
How do you balance the need to provide workforce housing with community pressures to limit density
What is your philosophy and if you had to choose between these competing interests
Allen: I have witnessed firsthand the substantial growth in the Valley over the past 40 years
My primary concern is ensuring that both Litchfield Park and Arizona have the robust infrastructure necessary to support this growth effectively
It's not just about attracting businesses; it's about ensuring we have the energy
and amenities required to sustain our expanding population
“Through collaborative efforts and intentional planning
we can address these infrastructure needs while promoting our economic growth sustainably
If we develop comprehensive plans that prioritize infrastructure development in alignment with our long-term sustainability goals
we can ensure that Litchfield Park remains an attractive place to live
What is the best thing about Litchfield Park that you would never change
What is the first thing that needs changing and why
Allen: I love the strong sense of community that embodies Litchfield Park
and foster a welcoming environment that makes everyone feel at home
In addition to this vibrant community spirit
Litchfield Park is known for its dedication to preserving its historic character and cultural heritage
The city's historic buildings and sites are honored and maintained
reflecting the pride residents take in their local history
it is essential to continue honoring this legacy while also attracting businesses and local entrepreneurs who share a similar commitment to preservation
we can enhance job opportunities and promote economic growth without compromising the unique character that defines Litchfield Park
Inspiration: Who shapes the Litchfield Park City Council candidates' thinking?Who in public life
And what lesson do you draw from that person’s experience
Do you think Arizona elections are fairly run
Elections are a key pillar of democracy and give citizens the ability to choose their representatives
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