Tempe Town Lake is a shining example of how a city can turn a dry riverbed into a lively, beautiful place that brings people together and boosts the local economy. Located in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, this man-made lake has changed the city in many positive ways since it was filled with water in 1999.
The Beginning of a Big Idea
The story of Tempe Town Lake starts long before the lake itself existed. In the 1960s, local leaders and Arizona State University alumni began thinking about how to bring life back to the dry Salt River that ran through Tempe. For years, the riverbed was mostly empty, except during rare floods that sometimes caused problems by cutting the city in half. People wanted a way to control flooding and also create a space for the community to enjoy.
In 1989, the city adopted the Rio Salado Master Plan, which was the result of over 20 years of planning. This plan laid the groundwork for turning the dry riverbed into a continuous body of water with parks and paths along its edges. The city worked with engineers, environmental experts, and other agencies to design a lake that could handle floodwate...
