Tucked away off of Mill Avenue and All-American Way is what once was the Tempe Sister Cities Garden at Kiwanis Park. The city will be turning it into a space for older adults and those with dementia to be able to have safe sensory experiences.
The space is estimated to cost around $700,000 budgeted through the Capital Improvement Plan and does not yet have an opening date. City staff said they are also pursuing grants to help fund the project.
City official say the park is the first of its kind in the nation, with the city of Calgary in Canada announcing a similar concept in July.
“Tempe is setting an example, not only for Arizona but for communities across the country where they’re looking for innovative ways to support people as they age and ensure everyone feels included and valued,” said Dana Kennedy, AARP Arizona’s state director, at a press conference.
Tempe’s council and some community members are excited to begin this project as it has a personal element for many of them.
Lisa Zyriek, a longtime Tempe resident, said her father cared for her stepmother for years as she navigated dementia and she wished there would have had a space outside of the house that was safe.
“My dad was on a mobility device and my stepmother had dementia, which made it hard for them to get out in nature. I really wanted them to find a spot where they could enjoy being in nature that would be safe for both of them,” she said.
Councilmembers Doreen Garlid and Nikki Amberg said they both had a parent with cognitive decline and were excited to see this project come to life to honor them.
“When I first heard of this project I immediately thought of my mom and our family. This place would have been a safe haven for them and soon it’s going to be that for so many other families,” Amberg said.
Mayor Corey Woods says while this project is in Tempe, he hopes people from across the Valley will enjoy it in its completion.
“I’m really glad that we have it here in this beautiful park in the center of the community, so the fact that we can make this accessible for people who live in north Tempe, south Tempe and all over the Valley makes me really excited,” he said.
The space will also serve as a relaxing place for caregivers, with design elements that help aid safety and ensure that additional stress is not placed on the patient or caregiver.
Donations to fund the park will be operated through Tempe Diablos Charities.
Architect John Kane with Architekton said the firm will donate its time and design to the project.
To learn more and see the preliminary plans, visit Tempe developing first-of-its-kind Dementia and Age-Friendly Park
To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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