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Tempe rulers squander our tax dollars on silly studies like this. This study only benefits the Downtown area which is the Royal Courtyard for the Tempe rulers.
City's public space plans move on Tempe's push toward creating a public space plan is gaining momentum. Two public gatherings held Monday outlined how and where people hope to see downtown Tempe grow. "It's about coming up with ways to make Tempe mean more things to more people," said Eric Hansen, a city planner who is helping to lead the effort. Tempe hired a New York City non-profit group, Project for Public Spaces, last fall to develop a plan. Since September, the experts have been conducting meetings, doing surveys and interviewing residents to find out which public spaces in Tempe are the most meaningful. With that information, they will develop plans to link those areas with activities for people of all ages. The goal is to create parks, streets and other places in between buildings that attract people. Tempe Town Lake, downtown Mill Avenue and Papago Park are key focal points in Tempe, according to Project for Public Spaces and the two local consulting groups it hired to help them, Drake & Associates and PROS Consulting. But all around them are other smaller focal points that can be easier for residents to use. Analysts will compile demographics, market studies, trend studies, a funding mechanism plan and maintenance standards. Phil Myrick, a Project for Public Spaces vice president, led two meetings Monday to outline the group's progress. The first was for people affiliated with the Downtown Tempe Community, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and the Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau. The second was for community members. About 75 people attended both meetings. Myrick said he is fond of contrasting images of dull, barren spots in cities with lively, urban squares, parks and nooks filled with diverse people. "When it comes down to it, we're trying to make a place with a human scale and a welcoming personality," Myrick told the crowd. The message resonated with Tempe resident Valerie Montoya. "He really showed us the possibility of a more diverse downtown than just a lot of bars," Montoya said. View the plan and give feed back by going to www.tempe.gov/comdev/urbanopenspace.htm. |