Phoenix, AZ. – (October 18, 2022) – Each year, a symbolic Super Bowl “Golden Shovel” is passed from one Super Bowl host community to the next. The National Football League, (NFL), Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, Arizona Cardinals, Keep Phoenix Beautiful, Phoenix Parks and Recreation, and NFL partner Verizon will join forces for this iconic moment, which is the kickoff for numerous Super Bowl LVII community greening projects across the state.
Following the ceremonial passing of the Golden Shovel from Los Angeles to Arizona, volunteers from Verizon and the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee will join parks department staff and students from Sunridge Elementary School to plant 57 trees at Sunridge Park in West Phoenix in honor of Super Bowl LVII. The trees will provide shade, beauty and cooling at the park for neighbors and for the students who walk through the park on their way to and from school. Low water usage desert trees including mesquite, oak and Chinese elm will be planted. The project is a gift from the Los Angeles Super Bowl LVI Host Committee, NFL Green and Verizon and marks the start of the NFL’s community greening program for Super Bowl LVII in Arizona.
“As Arizona, the Host Committee and our incredible partners prepare for Super Bowl LVII, the focus is not just on the field, but also in the community,” said Jay Parry, Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee President and CEO. “Thanks to the Los Angeles Super Bowl LVI Host Committee, we are thrilled to kickoff beautification efforts for locals and visitors to enjoy.”
Additional Super Bowl LVII community greening projects include habitat restoration at Rio Salado in West Phoenix, planting trees at Tempe’s Corona del Sol High School, replacement of storm damaged trees at the historic Mesa Cemetery, planting trees and shrubs at Goodyear’s historic Loma Linda Park, increasing the tree canopy in Tucson’s El Rio Acres neighborhood, expanding Flagstaff’s Southside Community Garden, creating a school garden in Fountain Hills, planting trees in Glendale, and an extensive project to revitalize the lower Salt River in partnership with OdySea Aquarium, the Phoenix Zoo, Natural Restorations, FORCE BLUE special ops military veterans, the Forest Service and hundreds of volunteers.
The NFL has implemented a comprehensive community greening program around all of its tentpole events for nearly 20 years. Impactful community projects create greenspace, enhance the natural environment, build community gardens and create shade, cooling and beautification in traditionally under resourced neighborhoods.
Supporting the NFL’s community greening efforts in Arizona are NFL partner Verizon, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, APS and Footprint.
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About NFL Green
The National Football League has incorporated environmental projects into the management of tentpole events for nearly 30 years. NFL Green is the NFL’s sustainability program which aims to reduce the environmental impact of events and leave a positive “green” legacy in host communities. These efforts include food recovery and distribution, recycling and solid waste management, recovery and donation of event and building materials, community greening and reforestation projects, the use of “green energy” to power events and Super Kids-Super Sharing, a community initiative to help support local youth.
About the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee is a non-profit corporation responsible for planning and executing a successful Super Bowl LVII in 2023. The goal of the Host Committee is to galvanize local stakeholders in a united approach to hosting the largest single-day sporting event in the world by maximizing positive media exposure, fueling the economic engine of Arizona and leaving a lasting legacy. The Host Committee serves as liaison between the NFL and all regional efforts, culminating with the game in 2023 at State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals. This is the fourth time Arizona is hosting the Super Bowl, following 1996, 2008 and 2015. Only four other sites (South Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay) hold this distinction. For more information, visit azsuperbowl.com or follow @AZSuperBowl on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
