Sun City Lakes Fe - Glendale, AZ

Peoria began to grow after the completion of the Arizona Canal in 1885. The canal brought water from the Salt River to the desert areas of the northern Salt River Valley, adding large tracts of potential agricultural land to the 8,000 acres that were already under cultivation in the region that would later become the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Settled and named in 1890 by pioneer farmers who came from Peoria, Illinois, the original town stood 14 miles outside of Phoenix, at that time a frontier city of about 3,500 people. Peoria remained a slowly growing farm town until 1960, when the upscale retirement community of Sun City opened a few miles west of the town. This drew more residents to Peoria, which began growing rapidly. As the town expanded, farmlands to the north of town transitioned to residential development, and upscale planned neighborhoods and large-lot rancho developments filled the area.

Residents of the Outer Deer Valley neighborhood find the nearest dining and entertainment options in the Arrowhead Town Center/Sports Complex retail district, along Thunderbird Road on the southern side of the neighborhood, or in the urban districts of downtown Peoria.

Along with most of the national chains, locals can enjoy eateries such as Dillon’s Restaurant and Sports Bar where award-winning St. Louis-style barbecue tops a menu of American classics and regional favorites. Try some burnt ends, a traditional Kansas City specialty made from the deeply smoked ends of beef brisket, along with a side of coleslaw and a bowl of Arizona chili made from pinto beans and slow-smoked brisket pieces.

Ballpark Pizza and Subs on West Thunderbird Road serves local favorite chicken wings along with pizza, subs and salads in a friendly neighborhood atmosphere. Five flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi make this an easy place to sit a while with a cold beer or glass of wine.

When area residents look for Chinese food, 8 Fortune Chinese Cuisine gains recognition for its extensive menu and great specials, all available for dine-in or takeout with the convenience of online ordering. Any one of the dinner combinations, served with soup, fried rice, an egg roll and more, makes a hearty meal at a reasonable price.

Evening entertainment and adult beverages can also be found along Thunderbird Road. Enoch’s Sports Lounge serves cheap drinks in a dive bar atmosphere, and weekend karaoke nights pack the place with locals. FuNuGyz AZ in the Thunderbird Beltway Plaza, a casual, high-ceilinged sports bar with pool tables and many flat-screen TVs, features a full food menu but draws the highest praise for its homemade potato chips and spicy chicken wings. For an authentic middle-eastern experience, try the Silver Q Hookah Lounge. Locals relax here with pool tables and darts along with a DJ and the area’s largest selection of flavored hookah tobaccos.

About 83 percent of area residents rely on cars for transportation, and quite a few carpool to work in downtown Phoenix. Convenient access to State Route 101 and Interstate 17 via major surface roads make it easy to get around the area by car, and ample free parking exists throughout the neighborhoods and in downtown Peoria. Several taxi companies in Peoria and Glendale serve the area but must be called, and Uber and Lyft operate here as well.

Valley Metro, the Phoenix regional public transportation system, provides bus coverage along Thunderbird Road on the southern boundary of the neighborhood, and on 67th Avenue to the east, but buses do not run on the interior streets. Flat terrain, good weather and generally light traffic allow for easy bicycling. However, a lack of dedicated lanes and bike paths along with relatively long distances to retail and commercial districts render the neighborhood unfavorable for the use of bikes as transportation. In a similar vein, the neighborhood cannot be considered as walkable.

Deer Valley residents can take advantage of a number of neighborhood parks and recreational facilities that the City of Peoria makes available for public use. At the top of the list, the Peoria Sports complex opens its professional-level baseball facilities and sports fields on a rental basis for large events like sports tournaments, concerts and car shows.

The 12-acre Paseo Verde Park has many amenities including a large open turf area, sports and picnic facilities and a lighted path ideal for dog walking. Hikers and runners as well as dog walkers enjoy the Skunk Creek Trail that runs along the boundary between the Deer Valley residential areas and the Sports Complex on the northwest edge of the neighborhood.

Sweetwater Park features 11 acres of green space along with lighted basketball and tennis courts, volleyball and a shaded playground. Ramadas with picnic facilities and off-street parking make this park popular for family gatherings and other group activities.

While life in downtown Peoria can be considered inexpensive at 8 percent below the U.S. average, the cost of living in the northern suburban areas runs 4 percent higher than the national average, mainly due to high single-family home prices. A one-bedroom apartment averages $747 per month. Gas prices come in 23 percent below the national average, and a bus ticket to anywhere in the Phoenix metro area costs only $2. A pint of domestic draft beer craft costs $3 to $4, while a bottle of import averages about $5.

The expansive Arrowhead Towne Center in the northwest corner of the neighborhood at the junction of Bell Road and State Route 101 anchors a large retail district and adjoins the Peoria Sports Complex, making for a regional shopping and entertainment hub.

Area residents head there for groceries, as Trader Joe's and Costco have locations near the mall. More supermarkets, including Sprouts Farmers Market, Safeway and a Walmart Supercenter sit a short distance to the south. For locally grown treats and specialty craft items, residents and visitors alike enjoy the Peoria Farmers Market and Sunday Art Stroll on North 83rd Avenue. Since most shopping activity concentrates around the large shopping centers with their many national chain retailers, locally owned specialty shops tend to be scarce in the Deer Valley area. The Stained Glass Shop on Bell Road specializes in stained-glass windows and glass products for home or office and offers a complete inventory of supplies, as well as classes for the stained glass hobbyist. Home Fashions University features supplies and classes for local quilters and all those who enjoy sewing their own home decor items. Xtreme Vapour provides local smokers with e-cigarette supplies and accessories, along a wide selection of flavored liquids.