A ‘World Class’ Surf Park is Coming to Arizona. Here’s Where & When it Plans to Make a Splash Article originally posted on AZ Central on January 25, 2024 A “world-class surf experience” that has been in the works in Maricopa since 2021 is looking at a significant downsizing and an indeterminate opening date. PHX Surf was supposed to have sandy beaches; a hotel; play pools; and food, beverage, retail and outdoor recreational elements, according to the lease agreement approved by the Maricopa City Council in May 2021. Mesa-based PHX Surf LLC proposed the park as a “unique attraction” with “the sound of crashing waves breaking in the desert sun,” according to their preapplication narrative obtained by The Arizona Republic in 2021. But the plans have been scaled back and construction has yet to start, according to www.inmaricopa.com. Here’s the latest update on the PHX Surf park. Does Arizona have a surf park? As of January 2024, no surf parks are open in Arizona. Revel Surf Park at Cannon Beach in east Mesa is under construction, with a soft opening expected in spring 2024. Cactus Surf Park in Gilbert is expected to open by September 2025. Where will PHX Surf be located? PHX Surf is being built about 35 miles south of central Phoenix. It was originally planned to occupy more than 70 acres of vacant land at the southeast corner of State Route 238 and Loma Road in Maricopa. Now planned for 13 acres, the park will be built in the same area but the layout is not confirmed. What is the status of PHX Surf? PHX Surf may break ground this summer, according to city records obtained by InMaricopa.com. Construction is expected to start in late June. Rodolfo Lopez, director of the Maricopa Development Services Department, told InMaricopa that the city is waiting for PHX Surf to submit its formal Development Review Permit. Land agreements are being finalized by the city and PHX Surf. This includes a lease of about 13 acres of land that will have a wave pool. Most of the land is owned by PHX Surf LLC but state statutes require that a facility with such a large body of water be leased on land that is city-owned, City Manager Rick Horst told InMaricopa. PHX Surf LLC originally proposed a 71-acre facility with two surf lagoons, water slides, a lazy river, a pump track (an adventure course for bikes, scooters, skateboards and inline skates), a spa and an outdoor concert stage. Plans updated in 2023 included one pool and no lazy river, slides or music venue. When will PHX Surf open? No date has been announced. There is a substantial completion date (when a large portion of the surf park is expected to be ready) of February 2026.