By Andrew Lwowski
Mail

Fountain Hills is a planned community, started by McCulloch Properties. Development began in 1969 when Fountain Park and the future downtown areas were the first creations. The community was built out from that center.

On Dec. 15, 1970, the world’s tallest fountain was turned on for the first time. With the startup of the fountain came new residents from far and wide. Work on the first homes began in 1971, and in 1972, new homeowners had moved in. While the Fountain no longer holds its “world’s tallest” title, it is still a hallmark and major draw for the community.

Beyond the fountain, the community is home to dozens of attractions including parks with many amenities, countless miles of trails for hiking and biking, a large public art collection, community theaters, a busy civic center and more. Here are just some of the highlights that make Fountain Hills a special place to live in and visit.

The heart of the community, Fountain Park includes the iconic fountain, as well as playgrounds, a music park, splash pad and more.

(Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

Fountain Park

The 64-acre park is the namesake of town and includes a 29-acre lake with one of the world’s tallest fountains. The park was built in 1970 with the incorporation of the town and is maintained the Town of Fountain Hills. Natural grass, wildlife of all kinds, shade covers, a pair of playgrounds fit with restrooms and picnic tables encapsulate the beauty of Fountain Hills.

However, the water of the lake is effluent and swimming, fishing and boating is not allowed. It is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. an the Fountain runs at the top of the hour for 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Fountain Hills Botanical Garden offers visitors a safe place to park and hike through the desert, taking in all the flora and fauna the area has to offer.

(Independent Newsmedia/Duke Kirkendoll)

Botanical Garden

The easy, 1.2 mile out and back trail is located on Fountain Hills Boulevard. It opens the doorway into the Sonoran Desert with eight acres of natural landscape and features information on native plants and an e-bird site. It also gives site to the a historic stone dam on Emerald Wash that was built by rachers in the 1940s. It is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

The Civic Plaza houses the International Dark Sky Discovery Center, as well as the local library, River of Time Museum, Community Center and more. (Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

(Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

Civic Plaza

The Fountain Hills Civic Center located at 13001 N La Montana Drive holds the town hall, Community Center, library, River of Time Museum, community garden and soon-to-be open International Dark Sky Discovery Center. At the center of the plaza is the Centennial Pavilion that hosts concerts and other events and various pieces of art depicting nature and what makes Fountain Hills beautiful. The Dark Sky Discovery Center has one of the largest telescopes in the state and other space-themed exhibits and activities to fully embrace the dark sky community. The Community Center is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday while the library is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and closed on Sundays. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and cost of admission is $12 for adults 17 years and older, $10 for seniors over 65 years old and children tickets are $7. The museum will be permanently closing at the end if the year, pending a new resolution with the town.

Fountain park is home to an 18-hole disc golf course.

(Independent Newsmedia file photo)

Disc Golf Course

Fountain Park is also home to a championship disc golf, widley regarded as one of the best in state. The 18-hole course wraps around the lake and hosts events, tournaments and clinics throughout the year. The course is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is free.

The Veterans Memorial offers a somber tribute to those who have served their country.

(Independent Newsmedia/Bob Burns)

Veterans Memorial

Located in Fountain Park at the corner of El Lago Boulevard and Kiwanis Drive, this memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 2005 and honors American soldiers with a bronze statue of a World War I veteran, which was unvieled in 2006.

The memorial also features a Howitzer field artillery piece obtained through the U.S. Army. The Howitzer was manufactured during World War I and also used through Vietnam War. Alongside it are plaques commemorating U.S. foreign conflicts dating back to the Spanish American War and names of area veterans etched into the Memorial Wall. The memorial is free and open to the public.

Visitors can pick up a map at the Community Center and take a self-guided tour of the dozens of public art pieces spread throughout downtown Fountain Hills.

(Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

Public Art

Fountain Hills has more than 150 pieces of sculpture, flat art and fountains through the community, giving to its scenic beauty. Pieces have been added by the community, residents and businesses with nearly all privately funded. There is an active Public Art Committee that has oversees and helped spur interest in the community and beyond.

The overlook trail offers one of the best views in town.

(Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

The Overlook Trail

For arguably the best view in Fountain Hills, the two mile Overlook Trail rises 300 feet and provides panoramic views of town, the fountain, McDowell Mountains, Goldfield Superstition and Mazatzal Mountains. The south trailhead is located at Panorama Boulevard between Vista Del Lago and Diamante Drives. There are restrooms and water filling stations near the trailhead. The hike is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

The Adero Canyon Trailhead leads hikers of every skill level a variety of distances and difficulties to take in the desert landscape.

(Independent Newsmedia/Bob Burns)

Adero Canyon Trailhead

Located at the south end of the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve at 14800 N Eagle Ride Drive, it allows access to over 100 miles of trails through Sonoran Preserve and 50 miles of trails through the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The trail head is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

One of the standout parks in town, Golden Eagle Park offers a variety of playgrounds, as well as many sports fields and courts for visitors to enjoy, alongside multiple picnic ramadas.

(Independent Newsmedia/Ryan Winslett)

Golden Eagle Park

Golden Eagle Park occupies 25 acres of Golden Eagle Boulevard, north of Fountain Hills high school. The park features three lighted multi-purpose fields of baseball, softball little league, youth soccer and high school sports. There are also courts galore with two beach volleyball courts fitted with lights to beat the summer heat, a pair of basketball courts, four tennis courts, pickleball courts and horseshoe pits.

The park has paved parking lots and paths making it accessible to use its barbeque grill, various shaded picnic areas and shaded playground structures. Vending machines and a concession stand are also available. The park is open to the public daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. with bookings of fields or amenities avilable through the town website.

Desert Vista Park is home to the local skate park, as well as outdoor exercise equipment, dog park and more.

(Independent Newsmedia/Bob Burns)

Desert Vista Park

This park features activities for those whether on two legs or four as well as those on wheels. Desert Vista Park features a premier dog park with two separate areas for dogs of all sizes to safely play. The dog park is open from 6 a.m to 9 p.m. and dogs must be wearing a license and have proper vaccinations.

For those with a fury companion, the park features multiple soccer fields and playgrounds for al sorts of outdoor physical activity. A skate park popular with skateboarders, rollerbladers and biking was recently refurbished in 2023 and includes an expended riding area and pump track. In 2024, an outdoor exercise area was added. The skate park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset.

Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Andrew Lwowski can be reached at alwowski@iniusa.org.

Andrew Lwowski
Reporter | North Valley

alwowski@iniusa.org

Andrew Lwowski graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism. He worked for then-Wrangler News -- now Wrangler News Tempe Independent -- for a little over three years before moving to Southwest Washington for a daily news paper covering prep sports. He relocated back to the Valley writing for the Fountain Hills Times Independent in October 2025 where he is covering community news and sports.