Peoria

Play in Peoria

• Soar in a glider above the beautiful Sonoran Desert

• Water ski, boat or fish on pristine Lake Pleasant

• Relax on the grass berm for an exciting spring ballgame at the Peoria Sports Complex

• Fly a space mission at the Challenger Space Center

• Take in a play at Theater Works or the Arizona Broadway Theatre

• Chill out at the Desert Schools Coyotes Center ice skating facility

• Dine in the tantalizing Entertainment District

Still a visionary community, the City of Peoria was established in the 1880s after a settler's vision.

William J. Murphy saw his dream of fertile farmlands fed by water from the Salt River become a reality with the completion of the Arizona Canal in 1885. From these humble beginnings, a dynamic desert community of 140,000 has grown.

Peoria prides itself on having a wealth of recreational opportunities, first-class housing, outstanding city services, and one of the best school systems in the state. Peoria is located adjacent to Glendale and is a convenient drive from anywhere in Greater Phoenix via Loop 101. Future development of Highway 303 in northern Peoria will add a corridor of residential, business and entertainment development that will not only give additional freeway access through the city, but also add exciting new amenities for our visitors and residents.

The bustling city is most famous for its Spring Training home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, the Peoria Sports Complex; its Smithsonian Affiliate, Challenger Space Center; as well as the oasis in the desert, Lake Pleasant Regional Park.

In fact, the 11,000-seat Peoria Sports Complex, with 12 practice fields and team clubhouses, is a year-round Major League Baseball facility. The Cactus League Spring Training Complex hosts games every day in March, and the two teams use it for their Summer Rookie and Fall Instructional Leagues as well. In addition, the facility is used throughout the year for concerts, festivals, youth and adult national and local baseball tournaments as well as a myriad of spectacular public events.

A recent addition to the city is the award winning Rio Vista Park and Recreation Center. Numerous recreational amenities are offered at this spectacular site for those looking to add to their healthy lifestyle.

On the northern end of the city, the gleaming blue waters of Lake Pleasant beckon water-skiers, Jet-skiers, scuba divers, sailors and anglers. At 10,000 acres, the lake is Arizona’s second-largest and appropriately named. The bass fishing is excellent, and a marina offers a full selection of fishing boats, speedboats and Jet Skis. To start your aqua adventure, step into the Visitor Center at the south side of the park for information, books, pamphlets and gifts. And, visit the Desert Outdoor Learning Center, which offers excellent learning opportunities about not only the lake, but also the surrounding desert area.

The highly desirable land around Lake Pleasant is becoming the place to live with new home communities in various stages of construction. These communities will be unique in that they will blend commercial and residential development with the high Sonoran Desert. Combining golf, trails, open space and activity centers, Peoria is creating lifestyles for all ages.
Also near Lake Pleasant, the thrill of aerial adventures draws people to Turf Soaring School, one of the finest glider facilities in the country.

Providing an astronomical thrill is the Challenger Space Center of Arizona, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Part of an international network, the center allows groups of visitors to simulate a two-and-one-half-hour space mission, varying from a trip to the moon to a visit to a comet. Stargazing opportunities are also offered throughout the year. Within the beautiful facility, one of the wall murals was created by Robert McCall, NASA’s official space artist and an Arizona resident.

Peoria’s contribution to the arts scene includes Theater Works and Arizona Broadway Theatre. Theater Works, Arizona’s largest community-based theater group, has received many awards for its performances. Theater Works also sponsors workshops and classes for all ages of performers. The City of Peoria’s partnership with Theater Works places them in a new $14 million Performing Arts Center located in the southern Old Town, a major piece of this area’s revitalization plan.

How about dinner and a Broadway musical? The Arizona Broadway Theatre offers you a state-of-the-art performance center devoted to presenting the finest in musical theater with elegant dining. Operating year-round, Arizona Broadway Theatre will produce six to eight major musical theater productions each year, encompassing a wide spectrum of Broadway favorites.

Peoria is fast becoming famous for its shopping and dining scenes. Surrounding the Peoria Sports Complex is the city’s Entertainment District featuring a wide variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities including live theater, music and sports. This area has it all.

From the outdoors, to sports, entertainment and the arts for the whole family, Peoria offers the best of Arizona. Find out more about Peoria at www.visitpeoriaaz.com.

Peoria prides itself on having a wealth of recreational opportunities

Visit www.visitpeoriaaz.com for more info!