Tempe Town Lake is celebrating 25 years of history this weekend

PHOENIX — Tempe Town Lake is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend with a free, family-friendly festival that includes music and activities for everyone.

On Sunday, the festival will be held at Tempe Beach Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., celebrating its silver jubilee.

Tempe Boat Rentals will offer free 30-minute kayak and pedalo rentals on a first-come, first-served basis to kick off the festival.

Attendees will enjoy live music from local musicians Walt Richardson and Rock the Lobster.

There will be games, face painting, a climbing wall, a trackless train, miniature golf, arts and crafts and more. Food trucks from vendors such as All Cooped Up in AZ, Kabobski, Kona Ice, The Snowy Churro and Pinwheel Rolls will be on site.

The first 500 participants will receive a commemorative State Forty-Eight T-shirt. Arrive early to get it and grab a seat on the grass to listen to live music.

What is the history of Temptown Lake?

According to a press release from the city of Tempe, when Tempe Town Lake was first envisioned, three ideas were in mind: flood control, recreation and economic development.

Tempe Town Lake used to be the Salt River, and between 500 AD and 1450 AD e. the Hohokam Native Americans built a large system of canals. Today, this same system is the basis of the canals that can be seen throughout the Valley.

In 1700, priest Eusebio Kino named the river Rio Salado, Spanish for salt river because of the salty taste of fresh water, after the city of Tempe.

During the 1800s, water from the Salt River flowed without restriction. The construction of Roosevelt Dam in 1911 transformed the Salt River from “a flowing river into a barren wasteland with enormous flood potential,” according to Tempe officials.

In 1966, Dean James Elmore of Arizona State University’s College of Architecture commissioned his students to help develop a design concept that would utilize the dried-up riverbed.

The end result was called the Rio Salado Project. The students came up with a system for “a series of locks and canals creating an inland seaport in the desert. The concept envisioned a linear green zone with open parks, recreation areas and development along the river.”

In the 1970s and 1980s, excessive flooding caused bridge collapses, property damage, road congestion and loss of life, prompting the need for a flood control plan.

Temp Town Lake began with running water from the Central Arizona Project back in June of 1999. On November 6, 1999, more than 35,000 people attended his opening day festival.

How did Tempe Town Lake become an economic powerhouse and entertainment hub?

About 40,000 people work within a mile radius of Tempe Town Lake, according to Tempe officials. From small businesses to large Fortune 500 companies like State Farm, located in the heart of Temptown Lake.

Developers have built thousands of apartment buildings along Tempe Town’s lakeshore, from the Edgewater at Hayden Ferry Lakeside to the Aubrey Apartments at The Grand.

Tempe Town Lake is where millions of people gather for special events such as Oktoberfest, 4th of July celebrations, Aloha Fest, Innings Festival and Boots in the Park.

The lake and surrounding parklands are a place for daily jogging, walking, cycling and boating. According to Tempe officials, the cost of developing Tempe Town Lake is estimated at about $5 billion.

What does the future hold for Tempe Town Lake?

According to Tempe officials, there are plans for further development and recreation both on lwhat. Rio Salado and Beach Park Master Plan provides a blueprint for future planning, infrastructure and other water activities.

Rio Reimagined is a 2018 project by the late Senator John McCain that plans to connect the Salt and Gila rivers with the goal of connecting communities while providing access to open spaces for recreational purposes.

“Building on that legacy for the benefit of the people of Tempe today is just as important. The Rio Salado Beach Park Master Plan and Rio Reimagined offer us an opportunity to continually improve this vital part of our community,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods.