Tempe set to celebrate 25 years of Arizona's second-most-visited tourist attraction

In 1966, Dean James Elmore of the College of Architecture at ASU challenged his students.

PUBLISHED OCT 17, 2024

More than 35,000 people gathered for the Tempe Town Lake Festival on November 6, 1999.

Tempe, Arizona: Tempe Town Lake, Arizona's second-most visited public attraction, will commemorate 25 years with a free family friendly event on Sunday, November 3, 11am to 2pm at Tempe Beach Park.

There will be live music by local favorites Walt Richardson and Rock Lobster, activities for all ages, boating opportunities, arts and crafts, games and more. Tempe Boat Rentals will offer free 30-minute kayak and pedal boat rentals on a first-come basis. The first 500 people will receive a commemorative State Forty Eight T-shirt, so arrive early to secure a shirt and a spot on the grass for the concert.

In the event of a 100-year flood, the steel gate dam that creates Town Lake would be lowered and water would remain within the river channel.

A brief history of Tempe Town lake

Tempe Town Lake was designed with three purposes in mind: flood control, recreation and economic development. The history of Tempe Town Lake begins with the story of the Salt River. Between CE500 to 1450, the prehistoric Hohokam created an extensive canal system. Their system became the foundation of the canals seen throughout the Valley today.

As late as the 1800s, the Salt River flowed uncontrolled. Following the construction of the Roosevelt Dam in 1911, the Salt River transformed from a flowing river to a barren wasteland with tremendous flooding potential.

In 1966, Dean James Elmore of the College of Architecture at Arizona State University challenged his students to create design concepts that utilized the dry river bed. Students designed the Rio Salado Project: a series of locks and channels creating an inland seaport in the desert. The concept involved a linear greenbelt with open parks, recreational areas and development along the river.

During the 1970s and 1980s, extensive flooding caused bridge failures, property damage, traffic congestion and loss of life, further validating the need for a flood control plan.

On June 2, 1999, water from the Central Arizona Project started flowing into the Tempe Town Lake. More than 35,000 people gathered for the Tempe Town Lake Festival on November 6, 1999.

“Tempe Town Lake started as an idea in 1966. Mayors like Harry Mitchell, Neil Giuliano, Hugh Hallman and Mark Mitchell all played roles in bringing the lake to fruition and helping it become the success it is,” said Mayor Corey Woods.

“Building on that legacy for the benefit of Tempe residents is just as important today. The Rio Salado Beach Park Master Plan and Rio Reimagined offer opportunities for us to continuously improve this vital part of our community.”