Gilbert’s current vision for a renovated Water Tower Plaza features an event lawn, a shaded splash pad and an elevated picnic area.
That conceptualization was presented to Gilbert Town Council in a study session Jan. 24 by Aaron Allan, the principal landscape architect for J2 Design, a Phoenix civil engineering firm that specializes in landscape architecture, hydraulic and water resources engineering.
Allan and town staff are calling what was presented the “preferred alternative” for the site after feedback was collected from the town’s Parks and Recreation Board and the public about two earlier options presented. The new version is an amalgamation of those options, though it more closely resembles the “Option A” presented to the public, with alterations made from feedback.
Though the plaza opened in 2008, an October 2020 assessment showed it already is need of renovations because of failing infrastructure, including in the system operating the popular splash pad directly underneath the tower, lighting and electrical systems and even some of the concrete, town officials said.
“This plaza has been kind of loved to death,” Allan said. “And water itself is a very corrosive thing, so (there has been a) breaking down of surfaces and pumps.”
That need to tear up the plaza to fix those amenities makes it an ideal time to look at upgrading the amenities offered in the popular park, officials said, plus opportunities at technology to help conserve water.
The proposed timeline calls for construction to start in November and be completed in August 2024.
Allan presented renderings that showed the redesign from different vantage points.
The most notable change likely is moving the splash from directly underneath the tower to underneath a shade structure to be built on the plaza’s west side by Ash Street. The structure would be solid directly overhead of the pad but slatted near the edges to allow some sun to come through. The water jets could spray in different patterns and have colored lighting.
The granite water ball feature at Ash and Page Avenue would move to underneath the water tower.
The event lawn would be south of the water tower, with a picnic plaza just east of the lawn.
A water wall would run along the south side of the plaza with restrooms and pump house on the southwest side.
Food trucks could be put into the center of the plaza or along the alley east of the plaza.
The water tower and adobe building on the plaza would remain unchanged. Landscaping, including mature trees, would be included.
Council members offered feedback on the site, particularly on the loss of some parking on Page Avenue, where the plan calls for parallel parking alongside the plaza. Staff and council noted that merchants are concerned about the loss of parking in an area that already often runs short of it. Staff members said they would continue to consider the issue.
Council Member Yung Koprowski said she saw a need for the restrooms to have changing tables as families with small children often are plaza users. Council Member Scott Anderson advocated for public art in it as well.
Parks Director Robert Carmona thanked council for the input and said it would be put to use as the staff continues making plan revisions. He said public outreach also would continue.
Mayor Brigette Peterson said she liked the newest plan.
“This park, when it was first envisioned, I'm sure nobody thought that it would be used the way that it's being used today, and now we're trying to create a space for the way that we're actually using the park currently and creating around that,” she said. “So I appreciate that.”
Tom Blodgett can be reached by email at tblodgett@iniusa.org or follow him @sp_blodgett on Twitter. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Tom Blodgett Senior News Editor | Gilbert @sp_blodgett
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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