McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park opens after completing renovations, unveils new artwork

PHOENIX — Scottsdale’s McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is open for business after completing several renovations and adding public artwork.

The tourist attraction’s facelift was approved by city residents in 2019, with $13.1 million going primarily toward a splashpad and indoor playground. Both were announced in April, with the 5,000-square-foot splashpad being “the most requested enhancement,” according to a City of Scottsdale press release.

The park, which generates about $2.5 million annually and serves roughly one million guests, hopes to boost its summer tourism from the modern additions. It’s greatest public draw is during October to April.

Details on new artwork at Scottsdale railroad park

A three-dimensional mural, “Parrallel Companion,” handcrafted by Arizona-based artist Kristine Kollasch now sits at the park’s entrance, which was also touched up a bit during the renovation with new seating, restrooms and trees.

The piece by Kollasch, who has been working in public art creation since 1998, features a 9-foot tall cactus with a overhanging light as a divider for a bench seat.

The mural itself displays a desert landscape to illustrate “Arizona’s natural beauty,” with another flat cactus on the most extreme left end and other desert flora extending to sun rays, clouds and a rainbow on the right.

One other notable aspect of the recently installed artwork is a time capsule located within the bench seat. According to a Scottsdale Arts press release, it is just the “second artwork in the the Scottsdale Public Art Permanent Collection to have a time capsule inside it.”

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park will be celebrating its 50th birthday on Oct. 4-5 by hosting Railfair 2025, a free public event for all ages who want to learn more about model railroading via guest exhibitors and hands-on displays.

Learn more about the upcoming fall event online.

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