Carlos Hadaway thanks FH Parks Department with unique gift of art

Carlos Hadaway and his Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Bonnie

Carlos Hadaway (aka The Arizona Kid), artist, cowboy and western museum curator, created the painting as a tribute to the employees of the town's Parks and Recreation Department.

Hadaway has lived in Fountain Hills for about 14 years, and over the past couple of years in an effort to lead a more healthy life, he and his Welsh Corgi, Bonnie, make regular visits to the parks in Fountain Hills.

As a result of walking in all of the parks, including the dog park, Hadaway has struck up acquaintances with both residents and employees.

"It's been like having a different family at each park," Hadaway said.

Fountain Park has its morning walkers, of course the common thread through the dog park at Desert Vista Park are the four-legged friends, he enjoys seeing the children out at Four Peaks Park in the afternoon and Golden Eagle Park is the place where families gather in the evening to enjoy sports and other family activities.

"When you see the work the employees put in each day, and how seriously they take their job, I just can't say enough about the (town parks) organization," Hadaway said.

"I have never seen such fine park facilities in any community where I have been. People from Scottsdale come here because we have such a great dog park, something we sometimes take for granted.

Hadaway said he chose to paint the Grand Canyon because it is such a great National Park.

"We asked that it go on this landing so the parks employees can see it every day as they go in and out," he said. "This is my tribute to the town parks workers."

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