The Rio Salado is the newest epicenter of development in Maricopa County, with plans to create a mixed-use hub while still focused on sustainability.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the “Rio Reimagined” project.
Following a stretch of the Salt River, Phoenix leaders plan to redevelop the areas around the river, with one objective being to connect the communities in the area. A farmers market, public trails and increased walkability are among the community’s priorities included in the plan.
Mayor Gallego first spoke to the ongoing preparations ahead of federal water cuts from the Colorado River. She says that the City of Phoenix is “focused” on how to continue to find new solutions to continue to sustainably provide water to their residents.
Advanced water purification and partnerships with the community are among some of the things that the city is working on to best prepare the area for these federal water cuts. However, Mayor Gallego recognizes that these water cuts will come at a heightened cost for this everyday utility.
“So we, for example have salty water supplies we could take the salt out of and will be more expensive than the river water,” Mayor Gallego said.
Mayor Gallego also touched on her past comments criticizing the federal government on this move and expanded more on what may have been missing in the considerations for these water cuts.
“It really feels like if the Department of Interior had talked with people from the national security world, from the Department of Energy and more, they might have reached a conclusion that was more responsible,” Mayor Gallego said.
Moving over from the Colorado River to the Salt River, the home of the “Rio Reminagined” project, Mayor Gallego said that this project is looking to “reinvest” in the Rio Salado to revitalize the historic grounds while also looking forward to how it can serve future generations.
The plans for “Rio Reimagined” stretches across 20 miles of the Valley, however Mayor Gallego noted that they will be first focusing on the “central core” of the area. Construction will be beginning this fall for the first steps of this new project.
