Your Turn: What is Rio Reimagined? Think Tempe Town Lake - but a lot bigger

For centuries, the Salt River has been the lifeblood of the Valley.

The original inhabitants harnessed the river to develop a system of canals to feed their people and cultivate a community. Our ancestors then revitalized these ancient routes and erected new ones in the early 1900s, attracting residents to the area and building an economy.

The Arizona canals in service today are part of a deep history of innovation.

In the late ‘60s, a group of ASU students and instructors developed a plan to reimagine what our waterways could be. In what was dubbed “the Rio Salado Project,” the students imagined what the presence of water and access to it could mean for this region. While they envisioned a lengthy waterway spanning the Valley, only Tempe Town Lake was seen through to completion.

Imagine 40 miles of Town Lake-like splendor

Today, Tempe Town Lake is a tremendous public amenity, but its development didn’t happen overnight. It took 50 years of vision, planning and persistence, as well as the work of hundreds of civic leaders and organizations and local elected officials, to complete the lake.

This urban amenity has proven to be an extraordinary magnet for people to live, businesses to locate and visitors to play. The entire state of Arizona — not just the city of Tempe — continues to benefit from this exceptional example of creativity, foresight and purpose.

With Tempe Town Lake as our example, just think what we could create by reimagining the more than 40 miles remaining along the Rio Salado. If we apply the same level of imagination, innovation and civic engagement, can we reinvent ourselves, our communities and our economy with a compelling demonstration of sustainable living in the desert?

Can we dream and act at such a scale, as other cities and regions are doing, to prepare for the competitive realities of the 21st century? Can we imagine the benefits for generations still to come, just as others have done for us? 

What Rio Reimagined is all about

Now is the time to envision the future along the Rio Salado. That’s why we are spearheading “Rio Reimagined,” a grand project we believe is worthy of support and investment. 

The Rio Salado is a geographic feature that uniquely threads through the Phoenix metropolitan area. In the process, it connects many municipalities, tribal communities, private interests, commercial activities and recreational opportunities.

The river and its tributaries have given us water, agriculture and the raw materials required for the buildings and infrastructure we enjoy on a daily basis. They connect us with our ancient past and will surely be the key to a durable and resilient tomorrow. 

We want to encourage far-reaching and inclusive aspirations for our children’s children.

In addition to Tempe Town Lake, we can look to many new projects for inspiration. These include the El Rio Watercourse Master Plan, which unites the interests of multiple West Valley cities, the Tres Rios Environmental Restoration project, the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center, the Rob and Melani Walton campus of Liberty Wildlife and Mesa Riverview Park. 

Ambitious project launches March 30

We believe the Rio Reimagined will be an ambitious, regional initiative that will engage communities across the Valley and serve as a point of pride for all of our citizens. Just like Tempe Town Lake, we envision a premier destination experience for any visitor making a trip to the West.

Imagine an amenity that could offer commercial and recreational attractions, but also serve as a critical water resource and conservation area for all Valley communities. We are certain this inspirational effort will sponsor a new and compelling narrative for one of the fastest growing metros in the U.S.— an example of the pioneering spirit that has always characterized Arizona.

On Friday, we will formally launch this initiative with many Valley stakeholders, including leaders from the state and cities of Phoenix, Buckeye, Mesa, Tempe, Avondale and Goodyear; Maricopa County supervisors; as well as the Gila River and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Communities. These forward-thinking leaders have taken the first step in working with each other and federal partners to set this ambitious project in motion.

Rio Reimagined with transform this place

Our forebears understood the importance of water to the Valley, and had the foresight to design a system of waterways that has made metro Phoenix the thriving region it is today. With the support of local elected officials and tribal leaders from our river communities, we are encouraging a concerted effort to develop a vision and plan for the Rio Salado.

It will take considerable time, resources, coordination and resolve, but the work will be transformational.

All of Arizona benefits when we enhance our communities. When one city prospers, all cities prosper. Rio Reimagined is our chance to provide connectivity. Connectivity to the river, connectivity to parks and trails, and connectivity to each other.

We hope you’ll join us in making this vision a reality.

U.S. Sen. John McCain is a Republican representing Arizona. Michael Crow is president of Arizona State University. 

READ MORE: 

Sen. John McCain's legacy project: Develop 45 miles of the Rio Salado

Editorial: John McCain gives Phoenix river revival the weight it deserves