We're a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit raising funds, building partnerships, and giving time so every child in Payson can play, every park can thrive, and every neighbor has a place to gather.
The Friends of Payson Parks & Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board to provide financial and community support for Parks & Recreation in Payson.
We raise funds to provide scholarships for children to participate in town programs like soccer, baseball, and swimming lessons. We support the events that make Payson special. And we help the Town keep our parks and trails beautiful for generations to come.
We strive to make sure that no child who wants to participate in a program is left behind.Join Our Mission
From keeping sports programs alive during budget crunches to helping fund the Gateway Project roundabout, we've shown up for Payson in ways big and small.
Every dollar raised and every hour volunteered flows into these three commitments to Payson.
We make sure no child is sidelined by family finances. We provide scholarships for Parks & Rec programs — soccer, baseball, swimming, ice skating — and welcome applications year-round through the Town office.
Help a child play
From the Gateway Project roundabout to the new disc golf course and the Ubuntu mountain bike trail, we provide funding and the 501(c)(3) framework that helps our parks keep getting better — one project at a time.
See current projects
Easter Extravaganza, the Heritage Festival, Trunk or Treat, farmers markets, concerts in the park — we underwrite, volunteer, and rally our neighbors around the traditions that make Payson feel like Payson.
Upcoming eventsFriends of Payson turns local generosity into things you can see and use — new trails, free places to play, and fields full of kids. Here's a look at what's underway across Rim Country.
Eighteen holes of free, year-round recreation. Tee pads are being poured and the front nine is already framed — a brand-new way for the whole town to get outside together.
18 holes · free to play Help us finish itVolunteer-built singletrack at the Payson Event Center. “Ubuntu” means I am because we are — a trail built by the community, free and open to everyone.
Built by hand · open to all Explore the trailsOur youth sports scholarships cover registration and gear, so every child in Payson can make the team — no matter what their family can afford.
Every sport · every kid Send a kid to playThe Town of Payson's Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department keeps the official guide to local trails, events, and adventures at Adventure Payson — the work we're proud to help fund and support.
Everything to see and do across Payson and the Rim Country, all year round.
Hiking, camping, fishing, golf, and the parks and playgrounds we help improve.
Find your trail on Payson's network — home to our Ubuntu trail and disc golf course.
The official, always-current calendar of festivals, markets, concerts, and more.
Travel planner, lodging, and the Payson Visitor Center for first-time guests.
Why Payson is recognized as Arizona's premier trails destination.
Whether you have five dollars, five hours, or a trunk full of raffle prizes — there's a place for you here.
Your gift funds a scholarship, a park improvement, or a community event. We're 100% volunteer-run, so overhead stays low and impact stays high. All donations are tax-deductible.
Quick, secure, and instant. Donate any amount with your PayPal account or a debit/credit card.
Donate with PayPalMake checks payable to Friends of Payson Parks & Recreation and mail to our PMB address.
See mailing addressJoin our community as a Single, Family, Patron, or Super Friend member starting at just $15/year.
See membership tiersOur board runs on dedicated volunteers. Even a few hours around an event creates real momentum.
Your business, restaurant, or garage may hold exactly what we need. Tax-deductible receipts provided.
We welcome community-minded neighbors to serve on our board and committees. Bring your perspective to the table.
Recurring gifts let us say "yes" when a kid needs cleats the week before tryouts, when a trail needs immediate repair, or when a scholarship application lands unexpectedly. Steady support creates steady impact.
Supporter
$120 a year — roughly one youth sports scholarship
Most ImpactfulAdvocate
$300 a year — covers a team's full season fees
Champion
$600 a year — funds trail signage or equipment
Leader
$1,200 a year — underwrites a named park project
Cancel or change your amount anytime. 100% tax-deductible. Secure processing through PayPal.
All membership funds go directly to projects and activities for the citizens of Payson.
Individual membership
Whole-household support
Most PopularSustaining supporter
Champion-level giving
Top-tier patronage
Download the membership and donation form and mail it with your check or money order to Friends of Payson Parks & Recreation, P.O. Box 841, Payson, AZ 85547-0841.
Download Form (PDF)Eight community members guiding the Friends, plus an ex-officio partner from the Town of Payson.
We welcome community members with energy, ideas, and time to give. Board service means monthly meetings, committee work on topics you care about, and direct influence on where our funds go.
Questions about scholarships, how to give, or how to volunteer? Drop us a line.
