The most impressive part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Mike Ingram Heritage Park wasn’t the huge crowd, the prestigious speakers, the food spread or the train-themed goodie bags.

It was how quickly the crowd of children went running for the playground.

The red ribbon barely hit the ground this morning before a few dozen children ran past the adults for the train-themed slides and other playground equipment.

“It was great. The kids came up and stood in front of the ribbon for a photo, but they couldn’t wait to get to the park,” said Councilmember Bob Marsh. “As soon as the ribbon was cut, they were ducking between our legs running for the park.”

Homestead parent Guadalupe Rojas said that’s what brought her to the ribbon cutting — plus her 6-year-old daughter’s love of trains.

“She loves them. We’ve been traveling a lot, so we’ve been seeing the trains coming from Tucson to San Diego,” Rojas told InMaricopa. “It’s very much a conversation she loves to have.”

Rooted in railroad history

The ribbon cutting celebrated the official grand opening of the city’s fourth park, not only creating another play spot for the kiddos but also paying homage to Maricopa’s railroad history.

The train-themed playground joins Maricopa Museum and Visitor Center, the historic Zephyr railcar and a historical walkway. A new amphitheater also sits immediately north of the railcar. The expansion began in September and cost approximately $1.469 million.

These updates come nearly two years after the city opted to name the park for Scottsdale developer Mike Ingram, who donated $100,000 toward the park. He founded El Dorado Holdings, which developed several Maricopa neighborhoods, including Rancho El Dorado, and has long been identified as a key component in the city’s growth.

Before the ribbon cutting, Ingram reflected on what it meant to have a namesake park.

“They put my name on it and I’m very grateful for that … but you think about the people that came before us, the people that really made it happen, and it took a really strong effort of everybody to make this happen,” he said.

Photo gallery by Monica D. Spencer:

Maricopa City Manager Ben Bitter speaks to a crowd during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mike Ingram Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Attendees sit in the shade during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mike Ingram Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

A view of the new Mike Ingram Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Mike Ingram, Heritage Park's namesake, speaks to a crowd during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Mike Ingram shakes hands with Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi following a ribbon cutting ceremony at Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Children play on equipment at the new Mike Ingram Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Councilmember Bob Marsh holds a gift bag containing a toy train, a cookie and leather luggage tag from the Mike Ingram Heritage Park ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Members of Maricopa City Council, Maricopa Historical Society, city staff and a crowd of children stand for a photo just prior to the ribbon cutting at Mike Ingram Heritage Park on Feb. 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]