Vice Mayor Michael Johnson's and Councilman Doug Lingner's
Arizona Republic Our Turn Column

August 2005

Phoenix Oases – Shade as a Key Element of the Downtown Plan

The best word to describe Phoenix’s goal for shade in the new downtown is one that brings to mind a cool spot to escape the heat and sun: oasis.

Our downtown planners are hard at work, plotting oases throughout the heart of our city. We are teaming with Arizona State University’s College of Design and other experts in the field to turn the plans into reality.

The city’s Downtown Strategic Plan makes the goal very clear: “Use shade everywhere, especially in connections and civic spaces, so that shade structures become downtown Phoenix’s signature.”

“Shade is critical to the design of all public and private development in our rapidly-evolving downtown,” said Downtown Development Office Director Pat Grady. “We will create a unique, pedestrian-friendly environment.”

So how do you do that in a climate where protection from the sun is critical for both health and comfort?

Right now, we and our downtown partners are moving forward with some key ideas and brainstorming for the future on others.

▪Streetscaping – New trees, buildings and other structures will provide shade all around downtown. We will create shaded intersections at strategic corners and shaded pathways, connecting indoor and outdoor oases.

▪Phoenix Civic Plaza – Design elements for the expanded convention center that is rising downtown embrace concepts of shade. Both new buildings will feature huge canopies overhanging Third Street, along with extensive desert landscaping designed to shade pedestrians and keep them comfortable.

▪Connectivity is another key concept. With shaded, outdoor corridors and indoor hallways connecting entrances on all four sides, the buildings will provide a large-scale, downtown oasis for people walking in and around the area.

▪Valley Metro Rail stations – Future Light Rail stations are designed to maximize shade for passengers all day long. Overhead canopies and panels will block out the sun and keep the pavement cool. Strategic trees and vine trellises will provide additional sun protection.

▪Arizona State University – ASU’s downtown campus is on the path to becoming an international model for cutting-edge, urban shade. The city and university envision a large civic space as a central downtown oasis and the heart of the new campus. The shade plans for this area are still a work in progress, pending voter approval of the city’s bond program in March 2006, but the future campus park is a wonderful canvas for the community and the city to come up with progressive, creative solutions.

“A shaded park in Phoenix must be different than parks in other cities,” said Wellington “Duke” Reiter, dean of ASU’s College of Design. “We are working with the city to make it happen with a large, shaded, cool space that will be a hub of activity – a place people want to be.”

That is exactly how we envision downtown – a place for gathering, walking and taking in the scene. And all of that can only happen in comfortable oases that provide shade all year long.

The concept of shade is not an option in Phoenix.

It’s a key component for making our new downtown friendly and cool for all.

Vice Mayor Michael Johnson and Councilman Doug Lingner represent downtown Phoenix. Visit phoenix.gov/downtown for more on the downtown Phoenix plans.