About The Study

Arizona State University architecture students, under Dean James Elmore, proposed transforming the dry Salt River corridor into an interconnected system of waterways, parks, trails, and mixed-use development from Granite Reef Dam to the Gila River confluence. Widely regarded as the foundation of today's Rio Reimagined initiative.

The original ASU concept expanded into a broader regional planning vision incorporating employment centers, civic facilities, recreation destinations, and transportation connections. Regional interest grew among Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and other river communities.

Valley Forward (now Arizona Forward) adopted Rio Salado revitalization as a signature regional initiative, becoming a long-term advocate for river corridor enhancement and environmental restoration.

A series of planning and feasibility studies evaluated flood management, recreation, environmental restoration, water-oriented development, and economic redevelopment opportunities throughout the corridor.

Valley Forward and MAG supported a comprehensive corridor planning effort that evolved the original concept into a regional greenbelt and recreation corridor vision.

After nearly a decade of planning and design work, the Rio Salado concept was formally presented to elected officials, establishing many of the guiding principles that still influence the corridor today.

Federal studies further evaluated water-oriented development alternatives and helped establish technical foundations for future implementation efforts.

The City of Tempe established a citizen advisory commission to evaluate project alternatives and build public support for river corridor initiatives.

Arizona legislation established the Rio Salado Development District to help coordinate future planning, financing, and implementation efforts throughout the corridor.

Several regional funding and bond initiatives sought to advance Rio Salado implementation. Although some efforts were unsuccessful, the planning vision continued to gain support.

Publication of The Rio Salado Story documented the history of flood control, planning, and redevelopment concepts along the Salt River corridor, preserving the vision for future generations.

Tempe advanced one of the most successful implementations of the original Rio Salado vision through flood control improvements and creation of Tempe Town Lake.

MAG's regional open space strategy identified river corridors, desert preserves, and regional trail networks as critical components of the Valley's future open space framework. The Salt and Gila Rivers were recognized as major regional landscape systems.

Tempe Town Lake officially opened and became one of the nation's most successful examples of urban riverfront revitalization, demonstrating the economic and recreational benefits of investing in river corridors.

The City of Phoenix adopted a comprehensive river corridor planning effort focused on redevelopment, neighborhood revitalization, open space development, recreation, and environmental restoration beyond the river channel itself.

This environmental assessment documented habitat conditions, drainage systems, floodplains, and natural resources within the El Rio corridor, establishing a baseline for future planning efforts.

Maricopa County established the vision for a countywide regional trail system. The Maricopa Trail later became an important regional connection within the Rio Reimagined active transportation framework.

Buckeye and regional partners completed a comprehensive plan for the El Rio, Agua Fria, and Upper Gila River systems focused on flood management, habitat restoration, recreation, open space preservation, and regional trail development.

Landscape standards and maintenance guidance were prepared to support long-term restoration and stewardship of river corridor resources.

Technical studies established ecological restoration strategies and invasive species management recommendations that later informed Rio Reimagined environmental objectives.

Phoenix and partner agencies advanced habitat restoration, environmental enhancement, trail development, and public access improvements along the Salt River corridor.

The City of Phoenix, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and regional partners established restoration and recreation goals at the confluence of the Salt, Gila, and Agua Fria Rivers.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, municipalities continued implementing recreational, environmental, economic development, and flood management projects along the river corridor.

The guidelines established expectations for trail design, recreation facilities, habitat restoration, landscape treatments, and visitor experiences within the El Rio corridor.

Senator John McCain encouraged Arizona State University and regional leaders to develop a new vision for the Salt and Gila River corridors. A regional working group was established, leading directly to the creation of Rio Reimagined.

Ten partner agencies formally signed the Rio Reimagined Statement of Intent, establishing the collaborative framework that remains in place today.

• City of Phoenix
• City of Mesa
• City of Tempe
• City of Avondale
• City of Goodyear
• City of Buckeye
• Maricopa County
• Salt River Project
• Gila River Indian Community
• Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

The partnership established four primary goals guiding all future work:

• Reconnect communities to their rivers
• Establish a metropolitan-scale vision
• Promote economic growth and inclusion
• Advance environmental stewardship and sustainable planning

Arizona's Congressional delegation unanimously supported Rio Reimagined's nomination to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

Phoenix, Tempe, Avondale, and ASU secured EPA funding to support environmental assessment and redevelopment planning along the corridor.

Rio Reimagined became the 20th Urban Waters Federal Partnership site in the United States, significantly increasing federal engagement and support.

A corridor-wide assessment documented existing infrastructure, connectivity gaps, and future trail opportunities throughout the western corridor.

Stakeholders began defining regional priorities related to recreation, ecological restoration, transportation connectivity, cultural resources, and economic development.

Rio Reimagined evolved into a broad regional collaborative focused on:

• Brownfields redevelopment
• Habitat restoration
• Environmental education
• Public access improvements
• Recreation amenities
• Trail connectivity
• Community programming

The plan advanced major regional active transportation connections that support and intersect the Rio Reimagined network.

Phoenix launched the RIO PHX initiative to prepare a suite of planning documents for approximately 20 miles of the Salt River corridor:

• Existing Conditions Assessment
• Community Vision
• District Policy Plan
• Design Guidelines
• Catalyst Site Strategies
• Ecological Frameworks
• Economic Development Strategies

Regional ecological planning emphasized habitat connectivity, resiliency, restoration, and environmental stewardship objectives that support Rio Reimagined goals.

Regional and local park planning efforts reinforced priorities for open space conservation, recreation investment, and trail connectivity.

MAG launched a corridor-wide planning effort to evaluate approximately 90 miles of active transportation opportunities spanning the Salt, Gila, Agua Fria, and Hassayampa watershed systems.

ASU, MAG, Greater Phoenix Leadership, and partners began developing a comprehensive corridor-wide vision planning process.

The Urban Waters program established a coordinated framework for environmental restoration, recreation access, climate resilience, community benefits, and economic revitalization.

The partnership completed formal scoping for a comprehensive regional vision integrating transportation, recreation, land use, economic development, environmental restoration, and implementation strategies.

The study evaluates a continuous active transportation corridor extending approximately 90 miles through Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, and the Gila River corridor. Focus areas include:

• Trail alignment development
• Multimodal connectivity
• Access points and amenities
• Corridor branding
• Implementation priorities
• Environmental stewardship
• Cultural resource protection
• Funding strategies

The Dobson redevelopment effort emerged as a significant opportunity for river-oriented economic development, recreation, and placemaking within the corridor.

Phoenix completed an updated policy framework to guide land use, economic development, urban design, and river-oriented development along portions of the Salt River.

ASU, MAG, Greater Phoenix Leadership, tribal governments, municipalities, and corridor partners are advancing a comprehensive regional vision to unify decades of planning into a coordinated implementation framework emphasizing:

• Active transportation
• River restoration
• Public access
• Recreation
• Economic development
• Cultural preservation
• Environmental stewardship
• Climate resilience
• Regional connectivity