Supported Projects

$1.5 million was raised and the Splash Playground was complete in May 2002.

The park is largest interactive water feature in the metro area, located just a few hundred feet from the lake’s edge. This water wonderland offers children of all ages a free, safe playground built just for them. The playground has become a local favorite with thousands of families flocking to its water every week and enjoying the myriad of activities at Tempe Beach Park. This oasis is a guaranteed year-round attraction and a special playground for children.

$450,000 was raised in 2007 to support the opening of Tempe Center for the Arts.

A collaborative regional study and master plan involving Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, City of Tempe, City of Phoenix, City of Scottsdale with Olsson Associates, Pros Consulting, EcoPlan Associates, Inc., KDA Creative and Thinking Caps. The Master Plan includes a full area history, past planning efforts, site inventory and analysis culminating in a community involvement piece and a final regional master plan notebook. The strategic plan includes recommendations, design guidelines with best practices, recommended signage program, organizational and operational management recommendations. For more information, view the Papago Park Master Plan.

In partnership with the City of Tempe and the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, the Foundation helped to secure funds in the amount of $800,000 toward the rehabilitation and preservation efforts of the Tempe Butte. The Hayden Butte Preserve was placed on the City of Tempe Historic Properties Register in 2008 which has allowed for minimizing the destruction of the ancient and sacred rock art that is scattered all across the Butte. In an effort to remove modern elements, more than 80% of the communication towers have been removed and relocated from the Butte.

This architecturally significant bridge transforms the lake on the west end providing the only means of travel for pedestrians shore to shore and connects Tempe Town Lake’s north and south banks. This elegant four-span arch pedestrian bridge was integrated with the existing piers and abutment of a dam at the reservoir. The bridge superstructure consists of two 34-ft-high steel pipe crossing arches. The concrete deck is supported on steel floor beams and stringers that are bolted to the arch. Delivery and assembly of the four 175,000-lb bridge arches occurred just downstream from the dam. The sections were lifted into place by two cranes at night to avoid thermal expansion due to the desert’s high ambient daytime temperatures. Design inspiration came from the undulating shapes of the Salt River and the geometric patterns of the adjacent Tempe Center for the Arts. The tensioned fabric and blue lighting compliment the lake and give the bridge added character. Rio Salado Foundation Board played a role in securing Federal funds to support the $2.3 million project.