City of Flagstaff Beautification – Arts & Sciences News & Opportunities

Volunteers are needed for the Northern Arizona Book Festival April 9-12, 2026. Whether you have loved a past event or just want to see the behind-the-scenes choreography, this essential work will connect you to Northern Arizona’s literary community. What does volunteering look like? From moving chairs and helping at check-in, to pointing attendees toward the right room and occasionally solving a “literary emergency,” your availability will be matched with your interests.

The Northern Arizona Book Festival is supported by the City of Flagstaff Bed, Board & Beverage (BBB) tax fund.

City of Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045 — Register to Vote in the Upcoming Regional Plan Election

Monday, April 20th is the deadline to register to vote in the special election on the Flagstaff Regional Plan.

To register to vote or check the status of your registration: Click here to visit the Coconino County Voter Registration website. 

Did your household receive this card in the mail? If so, a member of your household is registered to vote in the special election on the Regional Plan.

The NAU Review — Celebrate National Volunteer Month with us!

This April, spring into service

Ready to put those paid community engagement hours to use? NAU’s Center for Service and Volunteerism is hosting its first Spring Into Service Challenge from April 1-22, bringing fresh volunteer opportunities, fun events and a recognition party with prizes and fun.

Pine needle drop off beginning April 3 in Railroad Springs, additional neighborhoods to follow

FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Fire Department and the City of Flagstaff Public Works Division are facilitating the placement of roll off dumpsters in neighborhoods around the City to allow residents to dispose of pine needles near their homes. This project follows the success of last year’s initiative. The Flagstaff Fire Department recommends that residents remove excess pine needles from their yards and areas near their homes to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire.   

Grand Canyon National Park announces increased water restrictions effective April 1

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Beginning April 1, Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 3 Water Restrictions due to a break in the water pipeline along the North Kaibab Trail. Until park staff repair the break and water in storage tanks reaches sustainable levels, the park will remain in conservation mode.

Sedona Arts Center — CALL TO ARTISTS & Creative Opportunities — 2026

CALL TO ARTISTS
The Face of Diversity: The Big Gay Art Show
Exhibit Dates: June 5 – June 28, 2026
Opening Reception: June 5, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, AZ
Deadline to Apply: April 17, 2026
Notification: April 24, 2026

A vibrant juried exhibition celebrating creative expression by artists from the rainbow communities and their allies. Open to artists of all backgrounds, levels, and mediums — bringing diverse voice and energy to the visual arts scene.

Theatrikos Theater Co. — Opening next week: A Night of Music, Memories and Magic

The Marvelous Wonderettes is not just a show, it is a full experience. From the moment you walk into the Doris Harper-White Playhouse, you are transported to prom night in 1958, surrounded by music, energy, and the unmistakable feeling that something special is happening all around you. Four incredible performers take you on a journey through love, friendship, and growing up, all set to the songs you know and love. You will find yourself laughing, reminiscing, and maybe even singing along before the night is over.

Water conservation measures implemented on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Effective immediately, Grand Canyon National Park is implementing water conservation measures on the South Rim following a break in the pipeline along the North Kaibab Trail. As a result, water is currently unable to be pumped to the South Rim.

All park residents and visitors are required to conserve and reduce water usage wherever possible in homes, hotel rooms and campgrounds.

Water conservation measures include:

Bilingual report — City of Flagstaff provides update on potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities

FLAGSTAFF — One of the commitments we made to our community is that we would inform you if we received information on the presence of ICE in our community. We recently became aware that ICE is looking at space to station agents within the City of Flagstaff. We are unaware of the final location or the status of a lease or purchase.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Good news on Data Centers!

Yesterday, March 25, the Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-3 in favor of  recommending the adoption of Proposal #2 to City Council as an amendment to the city zoning code. This proposal specifically excludes land use for data centers except as ancillary to another primary land use.  

City Council is scheduled to discuss and vote on the proposed zoning code amendment at the Public Hearing scheduled during their next meeting on April 7. Both Proposal #1 and #2 are currently included in the Draft Council Agenda located online here.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: March 23-27, 2026

Grand Canyon National Park will reopen the North Rim for the 2026 summer season beginning at 6 a.m. on May 15, marking an important step in recovery following the Dragon Bravo Fire. Visitors will once again be able to access iconic scenic drives and the North Kaibab Trail will also reopen for foot traffic, though stock use is suspended and trail work will continue throughout the season.

NPS Trail Crew operations on the North Kaibab Trail are scheduled to begin around April 10, with multiple crews working throughout the season to clear rockfall and complete trail rehabilitation projects. Hikers should expect possible delays or temporary closures as this work progresses.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — What’s the State of AZ’s Bioscience Sectors?

We hope you’ll join us virtually for an opportunity to find out the state of the bioscience sector in Arizona during the annual Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report from the Flinn Foundation.
The online presentation will take place from 12 – 1 pm on Wednesday, April 8th. It will come just seven months after the launch of the state’s new long-range strategic plan to guide bio innovation and impact through 2030. You can register to attend HERE.

The report will examine the state of bioscience from two perspectives:

United Way of Northern Arizona — Together, We Are Stepping Up for Youth

As we prepare for our Annual Meeting and Community Impact Breakfast next month, I’ve been reflecting on what we accomplished together in 2025, and I have to say that the stories and statistics coming across my desk have genuinely moved me.

Because of you — your generosity, your trust, your belief in our region’s children — United Way of Northern Arizona spent the past year stepping up for youth in ways that will shape this community for years to come. 

Let me share a few highlights:

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Your membership, donations support the work of CCC&Y

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.

The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.

When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.

Each week, the Coalition produces a weekly newsletter where we share partner news and events in our blog section and links to community resource meetings.

For families in Northern Arizona, we share information on variety of family-friendly events throughout the county, recent and upcoming information through our stories and photographs to food security, education, health and other programs. We also share links to a variety of resource guides in Northern Arizona.

READ MORE​​​​​​​

Sedona Arts Center — check out these classes and workshops at SAC!

At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.

Grand Canyon National Park announces 2026 North Rim Summer season access

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will welcome visitors back to the North Rim for the 2026 summer season beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026.

All paved roadways within the park will reopen, including Highway 67, Cape Royal, and Point Imperial Roads. These scenic drives provide access to many of the North Rim’s iconic viewpoints, including Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and Angels Window. Vehicles over 22 feet in total length are not permitted on the Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads due to tight turns, limited parking, and narrow roadway conditions. 

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Action Alert — Data Centers

Action Alert

F3 encourages you to submit your written comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission at CDPandZCommission@flagstaffaz.gov or make verbal comments in person to the Planning and Zoning Commission at their meeting starting at 4:00 on Wednesday, March 25 at the City Hall Council Chambers. More information and F3’s position are detailed below.

Data Centers

City staff recently identified that Flagstaff currently doesn’t have the regulatory framework to address land use by data centers should such a request be received in the future. The City of Flagstaff has not received any requests for data centers to date.

The NAU Review — Happy Health Careers Week

Every spring, Health Careers Week at the College of Health and Human Services lets students explore the multitude of health degrees NAU offers—and the many roads they lead to. In celebration of Health Careers Week, four inspiring CHHS alumni shared what they wanted to be when they grew up and how those interests evolved into unique, high-impact careers in the health sector thanks to NAU.

Weekly prescribed fire plans modified due to weather

FLAGSTAFF — This week’s tentative prescribed fire plans have been modified due to unseasonably warm and dry weather.

Several projects located around Flagstaff – including the Flagstaff Urban Interface Mount Elden, Campbell Mesa and Mountainaire projects – have been postponed.

Prescribed fire plans will always be postponed or canceled if current and predicted weather plans do not align with forecasts outlined in the burn plan.

Projects are always listed and updated on InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.

Planned projects at this time include:

City of Flagstaff channel improvements to begin in a section of Fanning Wash

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Starting in early-April, the City of Flagstaff (City) and their contractor Eagle Mountain Construction will begin channel improvements within a section of Fanning Wash, between Steves Boulevard and Linda Vista Drive (as shown in the map). This work includes the removal of vegetation and trees as needed, as well as slope and channel enhancements to improve channel capacity for this section of the Fanning Wash. This project is part of the “5-year Stormwater Capital Improvements Program” and is scheduled to be complete in summer 2026. This project is the first of three planned improvements in Fanning Wash that, once complete, will mitigate flooding risk in this area. Note that the channel will remain naturalized upon completion of this project.

Denova Collaborative Health opens first Flagstaff Clinic

FLAGSTAFF — Denova Collaborative Health, Arizona’s largest outpatient behavioral health provider, is expanding access to behavioral health and primary care services in Northern Arizona with the opening of a new clinic in Flagstaff. The clinic, located at 555 W. Forest Meadows St., Suite 18, is already open to patients and will soon celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.

The new 1,818-square-foot clinic offers both in-person and virtual care, providing psychiatric services, therapy and primary care in a coordinated setting designed to improve access to timely healthcare for residents of Flagstaff and surrounding communities.

Deadline is March 27 to be part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel 100th Anniversary Celebration ‘Centennial Magazine’

FLAGSTAFF — The Guadalupanas of Our Lady of Guadalupe are seeking advertising sponsors for 100th Anniversary Celebration keepsake “Centennial Magazine” to be produced by the Arizona Daily Sun.

The celebration, to be held beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 at the chapel, 224 Kendrick Ave., Flagstaff, supports the preservation of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel.

Flagstaff prepares to join nationwide ‘NO KINGS III – Flagstaff’ Protest March 28 at the Flagstaff City Hall

FLAGSTAFF — Thousands of local residents and visitors are expected to take part in the national NO KINGS III protest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.

Some past events at the Flagstaff City Hall have exceeded more than 4,000 protesters.The event is being organized nationally by Indivisible and supported locally by Indivisible Northern Arizona.

“There are 3267 events worldwide, 78 of which are in Arizona!,”Indivisible Northern Arizona reported Friday.

Some other Arizona cities that have already scheduled events include Anthem, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Goodyear, Maricopa, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sedona, Show Low and Tempe, according to the national protest map created by Indivisible.

Flagstaff joins other cities nationwide in canceling or renaming annual César Chávez event in light of allegations linked to the farm labor leader

Groups move swiftly nationwide to remove images, honors for César Chávez, while others promote access to sexual assault and mental health counseling services

By Frank X. Moraga • www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2026

COCONINO COUNTY — Flagstaff joined other cities nationwide in canceling or renaming their annual César Chávez celebrations in light of the sexual assault allegations linked to the late farm labor leader.

For Coconino County, the cancellation included what would have been the 8th annual Community Recognition Breakfast, which was scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2025.

A new Hispanic community recognition event is scheduled for later this year.

In Arizona, actions have included the cancellation of the Tucson César Chávez March, while legislation is quickly moving forward to cancel César Chávez Day.

Since early this month, cities across the nation either canceled or renamed their celebrations ahead of the labor leader’s birthday on March 31, 2026. Their actions followed news of a potential explosive story by a national publication that was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News on March 6, 2026. The reports focused on revelations of a “sensitive matter” involving Chavez.

Those reports were confirmed when an extensive story by the New York Times was published on March 18 detailing allegations of years of sexual abuse by Chavez of minors and sexual assault incidents involving farmworkers rights labor leader Dolores Huerta. Huerta confirmed those assaults in the story.