Jun 16, 2022
As we officially begin our Park and Recreation Month celebrations with the July issue of Parks & Recreation magazine, I’m thrilled to be joined on today’s bonus episode by a few of the people involved with the event highlighted in this month’s cover story. Our cover this month, which is the winner of our annual Park and Recreation Month cover contest, is a photo that was taken during the tribal dedication of the Ocotillo Ramada at Phoenix's Piestewa Peak.
Formerly known as Squaw Peak, the City of Phoenix renamed the mountain Piestewa Peak, in honor of Lori Piestewa, who lost her life in the Iraq War in 2003. Lori, a member of the Hopi tribe, was the first Native American woman to her lose her life in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
I’m honored to be joined today by two members of her family, her mother Percy and son Brandon Whiterock, as well as Cynthia Aguilar, the director of City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation. Tune in to the full conversation below to learn more about Lori, this dedication, and how this space is providing inclusive recreational opportunities for the community. You’ll also learn: