Glendale is moving forward with plans to turn the Grand Canal corridor into a linear park with a multi-use path for walking, running, and cycling. The City Council on May 26 authorized Amendment No. 2 to the master planning agreement with Lloyd Consulting Group.
John Kennedy, the city's Parks and Recreation Director, presented the item during the Glendale City Council regular meeting. The council approved it as part of the consent agenda.
What the amendment covers
Amendment No. 2 extends the consulting agreement for the Grand Canal Linear Park Master Plan. The amendment covers additional design work and expanded community engagement beyond the original contract scope. The specific terms, including cost and duration, were detailed in the agenda materials available to the council.
The project has been in the planning phase for several years. Earlier studies examined feasibility, community interest, and potential trail alignments. This amendment moves toward more detailed design work, which will determine specific trail routes, access points, parking, lighting, and amenities such as benches, shade structures, and water fountains.
The Grand Canal corridor
The Grand Canal runs across Glendale, carrying Central Arizona Project water from the Colorado River to Valley cities. The canal banks are currently maintained as a service road and utility corridor. Turning them into a linear park would follow a model already established elsewhere in the Phoenix metro area.
The Arizona Canal Path, which runs through Phoenix and Scottsdale along a parallel canal alignment, is one of the most heavily used multi-use trails in Maricopa County. It connects neighborhoods, parks, schools, and commercial areas and serves both recreational users and commuters. Salt River Project, which operates the canal system, maintains an official map of canal trails across the Valley. Glendale's Grand Canal path would serve a similar function for the west Valley, connecting neighborhoods and parks along the canal's route.
Transportation and recreation benefits
Canal-side paths serve two purposes. They provide a recreation amenity — a place to walk, run, or ride away from car traffic — and they function as transportation infrastructure. A continuous path along the Grand Canal would give residents a car-free route across parts of Glendale, linking to existing bike lanes and neighborhood streets.
The project aligns with the city's general plan goals for active transportation and park access. Glendale's park system has historically been oriented toward neighborhood parks and community centers. A linear park would add a different type of open space: a corridor that connects rather than a destination that requires a dedicated trip.
Next steps
The master plan work will produce specific design recommendations, cost estimates, and a construction timeline. No construction timeline has been announced. The plan will require funding approval from the council in a future budget cycle before any construction can begin.