Welcome to the neighborhood
Your free guide to the West Valley
Cool places to beat the heat, trails, libraries, dog parks, free meals for kids, and a move-in checklist for every city. Official sources only, all in one place.
A community resource from The Sears Group | West USA Realty
Beat the heat
Cooling centers & free water stations, with live "open now" status.
36 placesNew-resident guide
Trash day, water & power, library card, voter registration: one checklist per city.
12 cities & areasTrails & hikes
White Tank, Skyline, Estrella, Lake Pleasant & Thunderbird, filtered by difficulty and length.
69 trails · 5 parksLibraries & free programs
Every branch, how to get a free card, storytimes and reading programs.
22 branchesFree summer meals for kids
Where kids 18 & under ate free last summer, and when the 2027 list comes out.
204 sites · Summer 2026Dog parks & splash pads
Off-leash dog parks and splash pads, with who can use them.
24 dog parks · 48 splash padsRight now in the West Valley
- OpenCooling centers: 2026 season sites listed through Oct 31. See what's open today →
- ClosedCooling centers: the 2026 season has ended; the network usually reopens May 1. Last season's list →
- SeasonalSplash pads: many shut off for winter (Avondale's close Nov 1 – Mar 31). Check before you go →
- SummerKids' summer meals: the 2026 season ended Aug 8. The 2027 list usually comes out in late spring. Last summer's sites →
- Great nowHiking season: cooler months are prime time at White Tank, Skyline and Estrella. Find a trail →
From your neighbors at The Sears Group
Why we made this
As a real estate team with West USA Realty, we get asked the same questions over and over: where's the closest cooling center, what day is trash pickup, which trails are good for kids, where can the dog run. The answers are spread across dozens of city, county and state websites.
So we put them in one free place for everyone in the West Valley, whether you're buying, renting or have lived here for years. Official sources only, no sign-up and no sales pitch. If something's out of date, email media@searsgroupaz.com and we'll fix it.