Tempe, AZ – Last Saturday, over 230 members of the Tempe community gathered for bonding, games, live music, and fun in Kiwanis Park as part of the second annual Neighborhood Celebration. Twenty amazing neighbors, community members and local businesses were awarded for being great neighbors, impacting Tempe’s arts and culture, contributing to sustainability and resilience, conserving water and more.

Tempe would like to congratulate award winners for their impactful contributions to their community and thank the Neighborhood Advisory Commission for another successful neighborhood party.

Pictured above are 2023 award winners with Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and the Neighborhood Advisory Commission members. This year’s Neighborhood Awards winners include Mike Bell, JC Tovar, Debbie Keller, Estate la Colina Neighborhood Association, Drink Me! Tea Room and the Celebration of Life event for Paul Cardone “P.C. Day.”

Arts and Culture award winners, awarded for creative and cultural community impacts, are Ed Wong, Dan Thompson, Kara Roschi, Peggy Moroney and Dr. Michael Willson. Sustainability and Resilience Awards winners are Shalae Clemens, Mauricio Juarez Leon, Keep Tempe Beautiful and Culdesac Tempe. Water Conservation Award winners include Glenn and Barb Hackbarth, Raquel Gutierrez and Ward Jacox, and L3 Harris.

Dolores Huerta Scholarships were also presented at the event to honorees Rohn Ragland and Katie Ritchie.

Saturday morning was spent drinking Brick Road Coffee, eating breakfast burritos from Rusty Taco, listening to live music by local band Bohemian Insurgence, donating to local nonprofit Threadz, making arts and crafts, and winning raffle prizes.

Attendees were also able to shop at small business vendors on site, including: Arizona Desert Glow, Uplighten Life, Voyce Threads, Map Stand, Within the Chaos and Lemon Roots.

“The Tempe Neighborhood Celebration embodies what we should try and accomplish in our individual neighborhood,” Neighborhood Advisory Commission Chair Joel Stern said. “When we congregate with the people we live with in harmony accompanied by food, music, and friendship, the neighborhood can become a strong and thriving community.”

If you missed it, you can watch an event preview tour and the awards ceremony live on the City of Tempe’s Instagram. Event photos are available for view and download.

The city thanks Salt River Project for their ongoing event partnership and contributions to the community event. Local nonprofits on site included Bike Saviors, Tempe Bicycle Action Group and Tempe Mountain Park Health Center.

The City of Tempe looks forward to next year’s Neighborhood Celebration. See details and stay up to date on the event at tempe.gov/NeighborhoodCelebration.

Learn more about Tempe’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission.

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