Choices narrowing for name for library in Eastmark community

By Richard Dyer
Mail | Twitter: @RHDyer

City of Mesa officials are close to finding a name for the $16.8 million library to be constructed in The Great Park at 5036 S. Eastmark Parkway.

Wood and weathered-steel construction materials are planned at the 28,250-square-foot building with three main entrances in the housing community of Eastmark. Design is underway and construction is anticipated to take place fall 2023-spring 2025. Funding is from the 2018 bond election for arts and culture.

Votes and comments were recently sought in a survey on three choices on what to call the library: Flatiron, Mesa Gateway or Signal Butte.

The survey was promoted via the library’s website, eNewsletters, social media channels and Nextdoor. It was also promoted on the city’s social media channels and included on the weekly media tip sheet, Mesa Library Director Polly Bonnet said.

“The survey results will be known on Monday (Aug. 7); then we will review the results and comments in the following weeks. It is unknown when the final name will be released to the public, but we are excited for this step in the process and will share it as soon as we can,” she said.

“Staff will share survey results with city management and management will share with the city council either informally or during an update on the library at a future city council meeting,” Bonnet said.

Many names were considered, she said.

“Mesa Public Library’s naming convention is location based, so the survey choices are inspired by nearby landmarks. Many other names were considered but did not move forward in the process for various reasons,” Bonnet said.

“Flatiron comes from the nearby iconic Superstition Mountains. Flatiron is both a geological feature and a popular hiking trail. The hike is challenging but the views from the top are spectacular, much like overcoming any challenge in life.

“Gateway refers to the nearby Mesa Gateway airport; the word ‘gateway’ is a metaphor for the doors that books and libraries open for people.

“Signal Butte refers to nearby Signal Butte Road, which is named for a prominent visible landmark in east Mesa. Buttes are tall geological features that start as mesas or plateaus and are created as water and wind flow around them. We hope that the new library acts as a signal, or beacon, standing tall and proud in the community,” she said.

The city of Mesa has three libraries that are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. They are: Main Library, 64 E. First St.; Dobson Ranch Branch, 2425 S. Dobson Road; and Red Mountain Branch, 635 N. Power Road. Expected to open this fall is a Mesa Express Library at Monterey Park, 7045 E. Monterey Ave. Go to mesalibrary.org or call 480-644-3100.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley
@RHDyer

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.