Competition sparks re-imagination of the Salt River and John McCain's vision

Victor Ren

Arizona Republic

Tempe Town Lake is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the state, second only to the Grand Canyon, according to the city.

A new campaign is calling on architects and city planners to pitch redevelopment ideas for the Rio Salado and communities surrounding it.

The Phoenix-metro chapter of the American Institute of Architects has partnered with Arizona State University and the late Sen. John McCain's office to create a competition for redevelopment of the Salt River.

The competition is part of the "Rio Reimagined" project, a vision based on McCain's idea to redevelop the banks and riverbed of the Salt River as an untapped economic resource.

McCain had said the entire Salt River could create a lasting legacy throughout the Valley, comparing it to the San Antonio River Walk.

"All of Arizona benefits when we enhance our communities. When one city prospers, all cities prosper," McCain said in a statement in March. "The Rio Salado is our chance to provide connectivity to the river, parks, trails and one another. Together we can leave this place better than we found it."

ASU students start the movement

The work of revitalizing the river started with a group of ASU undergraduate students more than 50 years ago, after dams dried up the portion of the river that cut through the Phoenix metro area.

The ASU students were said to be the brains behind Tempe Town Lake, but most cities have not followed suit in recent years. McCain hoped to revive the effort, and city and university leaders have joined the push in recent years.

The Salt River spans 58-miles from Mesa to Buckeye.

Former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton pledged his city's support for Rio Reimagined. Phoenix has made some investment in the riverbed over the years.

Phoenix spent $120 million to turn the swath of riverbed between 24th Street and 19th Avenue into a riparian area with vegetation and some water. The Audubon Society opened a facility on the banks of the rehabilitated habitat at Central Avenue about eight years ago.

On Phoenix's west side, at 91st Avenue, the city also rehabilitated 700 acres in and around the Salt River, restoring a riparian habitat known as the Tres Rios Wetlands.

Restarting the conversation

Diana Smith, director of the AIA chapter in Arizona, said she hopes this new competition will further raise awareness for the river.

"We are increasing the conversation about what can happen around the Rio Salado," Smith said. "Our hope is that the ideas that come in with the competition spur further ideas and development."

She said they are excited to see what kind of ideas they receive from local architects and from those around the world.

"We had a local engineering firm reach out with a couple of questions, and their headquarters were in Spain," Smith said.

The Ideas Competition encourages all developers, urban planners and architects to register by Oct. 1. Final idea submissions are due by Nov. 20.

There will be five jurors to judge the submissions. A winner will be announced at the AIA Annual Wrap-Up Event on Nov. 28.

The grand prize is $4,000, and a finalist will receive $1,250. The prize for the student category is $1,000.

Smith said students are also eligible for the $4,000 prize if they win the entire competition.

Bringing communities together

Jason Boyer, the past president of AIA and a principal of Phoenix architecture firm Studio Ma, said the Salt River has the opportunity to bring communities together throughout the Valley.

"The 58-mile area that the Ideas Competition is addressing connects six different metro areas with tribal communities, a university and the government," Boyer said. "We create a piece of public infrastructure with a sense of unity."

Boyer said the development of the Ideas Competition has evolved over the past 12 months, with consideration for potential issues that can be addressed in each unique area by the Salt River.

The entire Ideas Competition is meant to inspire years of growth for the Rio Salado, Boyer said.

Boyer said although the winner of the competition this year may not have their idea built, the creativity of the design will leave a lasting impression on future politicians and planners.

"By doing an ideas competition we could set up generations of projects to come in the next decade," Boyer said.

READ MORE: