Fountain Hills is slated to be the first community in Arizona to host the unique entertainment event “Slide the City” later this month.

The company organizing the event will roll out a quarter-mile Slip-n-Slide like track along Palisades Boulevard between Sunflower and Lost Hills drives.

Salt Lake City-based Slide the City has been sweeping the country the past couple of years and this summer will make its first foray into Arizona.

Besides Fountain Hills, events are being scheduled for Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.

About 4,000 are expected to enjoy the oversized waterslide on Saturday, April 25, according to town Recreation Supervisor Rachael Goodwin.

The plan calls for the closure of Palisades Boulevard in both directions between Lost Hills (at the bottom of the slide) and Sunflower Drive (at the top of the hill). The street will be closed for 24 hours from midnight Friday to midnight on Saturday.

There are several residences along Palisades Boulevard that will have the event almost in their front yard.

However, Goodwin said the event will not interfere with the residents’ ability to come and go from their home. The frontage road between Lost Hills and Sunflower will remain open for residents and emergency traffic.

Goodwin said everyone who is preregistering for the event is being given instructions on how to come into town and where to find parking.

Generally people are being urged to use Fountain Hills Boulevard.

However, anyone who comes in on Palisades will be detoured onto El Lago to Fountain Hills Blvd. Parking will not be permitted in the residential neighborhoods.

Event organizers are making arrangements with Fountain Hills High School and various private church entities for event parking.

Goodwin said a shuttle route is being established that will operate tentatively from El Lago and Fountain Hills boulevards past the high school parking lot to Bainbridge and west to Golden Eagle, where it will turn to drop people off at Palisades.

Goodwin said in selecting the site for the slide, Palisades was chosen for its slope obviously, along with the ability to designate parking and operate a shuttle system.

Also, the affected residents can still have uninhibited access in and out of their private homes.

Avenue of the Fountains was the first choice for the event, but it was decided the slope on the street was inadequate, according to Goodwin.

Those attending the event will be able to spend the day on the slide, which will operate between 12 noon and 5 p.m. (there will be one hour set aside from 11 to noon and again from 5 to 6 p.m. for those with VIP passes for the event).

Participants will need to use a tube on the slide; they can bring their own, or there will be ones available for sale or some ticket packages include one.

There will be three or four food trucks parked along the slide route (southbound lanes of Palisades) for food and refreshments.

Participants will also be able to run home for food or to nearby restaurants and return for more fun.

There will be no alcohol permitted.

There are no restrictions on swimwear other than no rivets (like jeans cutoffs might have). Wear a pair of shoes similar to those used for river tubing or flip flops for walking back up the street.

Rain should not interfere with the event.

Goodwin said this is a new event and there may be some unknowns that crop up. However, she said the town and the organizer are working hard to address issues before they come up.

“It’s hard to know with something new,” Goodwin said. “But (Slide the City) is working to expand and wants to build a good brand and reputation that will appeal to other communities. They are working hard to avoid problems.”

“(The town) sees this is a great event as things wind down toward summer. It has direct appeal for families with kids. We are excited to see what it can do.”