Surprise, Desert city in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, spread across desert terrain with residential areas, commercial zones and recreation facilities. The built environment alternates between low houses with front yards, wide multi-lane streets and large shopping centers separated by expansive parking lots.
Flora Mae Statler founded the settlement in 1938 and gave it a name expressing her doubts about the future success of the project. Over the following decades the place grew gradually until it accelerated in the 1990s and gained city status.
The local baseball stadium draws visitors every spring to watch professional teams during their training sessions. Parking lots, food stands and souvenir shops have grown around the venue, becoming especially busy on game days.
The best time to visit falls between October and April, when temperatures are tolerable and outdoor activities become more comfortable. The regional park area on the western edge offers shaded picnic spots and walking trails suitable for families with children.
The public aquatic complex features competition pools and recreational slides that become heavily used during the hot summer months. Locals often use the facility in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is less intense.
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