Poker ride aids Larkyn Memorial Arena
MARC BUCKHOUT ~MANAGING EDITOR ~ 10/27/2010

For Vicky Williams, New River Kiwanis Community Park and Larkyn Memorial Arena are testaments to the people of the community.
“It’s really amazing what we as a small community were able to do,” said the New River resident. “It really has been a labor of love. The ability to get the job done has always been strong with this group.”
The New River Kiwanis Club will sponsor the 14th annual Poker Ride, an event set for 9 a.m. on Nov. 6, which will leave from Larkyn Arena, located at 15th Ave., north of
New River Road.
The event, which will be followed by a barbeque lunch in the park, is a way of raising funds to run the arena, from paying the approximately $4,000 worth of annual utility bills along with maintenance costs for upkeep of the grounds.
Back in the mid ’90s the area’s equestrian enthusiasts decided the area needed a local arena to call their own.
“At that time we always had to borrow the Cave Creek arena,” Williams said. “I was a part of the Kiwanis and I had a child that rode horses. Some of us parents talked about wanting a safe place for the kids to ride and thought it would be nice if we had our own arena. I presented the idea to the Kiwanis and the response was basically if you want it you’ve got to
make it happen.”
She said that after approximately a year of planning she was able to round up support to revive an old fundraising event, called Country Saturday, a bizarre complete with a band. Additionally they put together the inaugural poker ride.
“That first one probably had 100 riders,” she said. “Back then we only had 3,000 homes in the area. While we had 100 riders, pretty much the whole town turned out that evening for the steak dinner. Overall we made $2,700, which seemed like a lot of money back then.”
The Kiwanis took over the project, building the arena, a warm-up arena, an announcer stand, and then raising more funds through subsequent poker rides and individual donations.
The arena was officially opened in the fall of 1998 and named Larkyn Memorial Arena after a local youth, Larkyn Dwyer, was killed when TWA Flight 800 crashed.
Along with the arena the Kiwanis Club is the manager of the park which also includes ball fields, a play ground and the Senior Center.
Despite the efforts of the approximately 25 Kiwanis Club members the arena’s condition started to suffer over the years.
Recently though upgrades and a recommitment to the arena have brought riders back.
“We worked on making the ground a lot safer,” Kiwanis Vice President Joe Noll said. “We put a lot of effort in preparing the ground, to keep it softer and safer for the riders. It really takes a lot of water and a lot of work to keep it in the quality shape it is in now.”
Noll said word of mouth about the improved conditions have brought riders back to the arena. He said there are typically anywhere from 15-30 riders at the arena from 6 – 9:30 p.m. each Tuesday for barrel racing. Pole bending also takes place at the arena once a month.
Noll said the ride is an important fundraising event in order to maintain the progress that has been made at the arena, explaining that the announcer’s booth is in need of repairs to its roof and that there are other minor maintenance issues that need to be addressed.
Following the 3 ½ hour ride lunch will be served, an auction will take place and prizes will be awarded for the top poker hands with the winner receiving a buckle. Along with awarding prizes for high hand and low hand the ride also honors its oldest and youngest riders.
“We’ve had them out there on the horses as young as 2 and 3 and then we’ve had ones out there riding that were into their 90s,” Noll said.
While Noll said the Kiwanis certainly could use more members he said they all take pride in Kiwanis Park what he affectionately calls, “the Jewel of the Desert.”
Williams whole-heartedly agrees with that assessment.
“This weekend I was out there with my grandchild riding,” she said. “I couldn’t help it. I just started crying. I was just awestruck at how beautiful it is. I couldn’t help thinking about my daughter growing up riding out there and how there were a group of us that really wanted a place for the area’s youth. To see it become a reality and see it
thriving all these years later feels great.”
Cost for the event is $20 in advance or $25 the day of the event for adults. Kids 12 and under are $15. Noll said there are still opportunities to donate items for the auction. For information on participating in the event call 623-465-4765. For information on the New River Kiwanis go to newriverkiwanis.org.