This artist’s rendering shows where several new elements and equipment will be placed in a nearly $20 million remodel of Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler.
Chandler’s signature downtown public space is about to get a major expensive facelift.
The Chandler City Council approved three contracts, totaling almost $20 million, for the first phase of a long series of remodels and upgrades to Dr. A.J. Chandler Park.
Council awarded a $17.98 million contract to Willmeng Construction Inc for the remodeling and renovation at its Dec. 11 meeting. It also approved contracts of more than $600,000 each to Dig Studio Inc. for post-design services and with Dibble CM LLC for construction management.
The park serves as a hub for downtown residents daily and is the site of many city signature events and festivals, along with regular farmers markets and art events.
The first phase, which Willmeng has 15 months to complete, will focus heavily on the west third of the park, which is on the west side of Arizona Avenue.
A staff report states the park was last renovated in 1986. Since then, the downtown area has grown around the park, not only multifamily, office and retail development, but also in traffic, multistory buildings and parking structures as the center of a now nearly 300,000-resident city.
More than 100 events are hosted annually at one part of the park or another.
A new master plan was completed in 2017 to address infrastructure needs and enhance event space, the staff report states.
That plan included elements like a “safer Arizona Avenue crosswalk, infrastructure upgrades such as drinking fountains, restrooms, landscape/irrigation, electrical and power enhancements and ADA accessibility improvements.”
That master plan was updated in 2024 and was a subject at multiple Council work sessions, where the overall cost of the renovation was vocalized as one of the major concerns. Council told staff many of the major changes it wanted implemented.
Prior to these contract awards, the city completed a major repaving and other infrastructure improvement project along Boston Street in 2023 and 2024.
The 2024 master plan update, according to the staff report, was meant to “better align with current needs and priorities, addressing previous infrastructure concerns and introducing a phased approach to the improvements.”
The first phase includes removing outdated water features, increasing shaded areas, updating the landscape and irrigation, adding comfortable seating and gathering spaces, constructing new restrooms, expanding event and programming space, and improving the Arizona Avenue crossing.
Council approved a first-phase design contract with Dig Studio Inc. in August 2024.
A visual representation of the west third of the park shows a major change. Rather than the current arrangement with lawns on either side of a small plaza area, the plan calls for a single central lawn with shade structures at either end, and an events and markets area just south of the north shade structure, near the pedestrian crossing.
A larger “market” plaza area will be on the east side of Arizona Avenue, and is much larger and better-defined.
A larger, more modern restroom building will be at the north end, along the Buffalo Street side.
The project scope of work includes new decorative hardscape plazas, relocated and new public art, shade tree infrastructure including below-ground soil improvements, park lighting and a new HAWK signal at the existing Arizona Avenue pedestrian crossing.
A HAWK signal, or a high-intensity activated crosswalk, involves flashing-yellow and then solid-red signals activated by a pedestrian pushing a button at either end of the crosswalk.
The staff report states that throughout the planning process, staff worked collaboratively with the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership and with property and business owners to shape the design, determine the timing and manage the anticipated construction impacts of the project.
MakPro Services will assist with public outreach and project support, the report states.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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