Big Ideas for Downtown Phoenix Park, but Little Progress

Jessica Boehm reports on efforts to revitalize Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. Construction of the park over an Interstate 10 tunnel in the 1980s was part of a big plan that never came to fruition, and community advocates have been pushing over the last decade for major improvements.

A year ago, the city released design concepts for Hance Park that include more shade and trees, new playgrounds, and water features, and the city council recently approved $150,000 for a contract with a construction company to plan the upgrade. "But still, no improvements have been made at the park, no timeline released for when users of the park will see changes and little shared about fundraising efforts," says Boehm.

Funding for the project, which will cost $80 million to $100 million, is still up in the air. Supporters say they are confident they can raise the money, most of which will come from private donations. "[Tim] Sprague would not speculate on the timeline of the project, but said there is a drive to move quickly with the Super Bowl coming back to Phoenix in 2023 and the NCAA Final Four returning in 2024," notes Boehm.