5B_MEMO_ RIO SALADO UPDATE_JOINT SRPMIC_020326.PDF

MEMORANDUM 
 
TO: 
Tempe City Council  
 
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council 
THROUGH:   Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager, Ext. 5819   
 
FROM:  
Craig Hayton, Community Services Director, Ext. 5234 
DATE: 
February 3, 2026 
SUBJECT: Tempe Town Lake and Rio Reimagined Update 
 
 
 
 
 
PURPOSE:  
The purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on the implementation of the Rio Salado Master Plan and the regional 
Rio Reimagined initiative.   
 
RECOMMENDATION OR DIRECTION REQUESTED: 
None required at this time. 
 
CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PRIORITY: 
• 
3.16: Community Services Facilities and Open Spaces – Achieve ratings of "Very Satisfied" or "Satisfied" with the 
“Quality of city recreation, arts, and cultural centers" greater than or equal to the top 10% of the national benchmark 
cities as measured by the Community Survey. 
• 
3.17: Community Services Programs – Achieve ratings of “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied” with the “Quality of Community 
Services programs” greater than or equal to the top 10% of the national benchmark cities as measured by the 
Community Survey. 
• 
3.19: Value of Special Events – Achieve ratings of “Very Satisfied” or “Satisfied” with the “Value of Special Events to 
the City” greater than or equal to 80% as measured by the Community Survey. 
• 
4.11: Tree and Shade Canopy – Achieve a citywide (City and private property) 25% tree and shade canopy. 
 
BACKGROUND: 
The Rio Salado and Beach Park Master Plan, adopted by Mayor and Council in 2018, serves as the long-range framework 
guiding investment and decision-making along Tempe Town Lake (TTL) and the broader Rio Salado Parks (RSP). The plan 
organizes the RSP into ten distinct activity zones, each with a defined character, while maintaining continuity through shared 
design principles. 
The guiding principles of public ownership, connectivity, shade, opportunity, and sustainability are central to the master plan 
and implementation strategies.  They reinforce the City’s commitment to balancing everyday park use with special events, 
ensuring access for a wide range of users, and stewardship for multiple decades. 
In 2019, staff created an implementation plan outlining a pathway forward for expanding recreational capacity and prioritizing 
physical improvements of the ten activity zones.  The implementation plan also identified public private partnerships as an 
opportunity to supplement city funding for building and operating recreational amenities.  A Request for Information to the 
business community yielded several concepts that were then used to solicit input from the community. 
 
UPDATE: 
Three initiatives are currently underway as a result of the earlier work identified in the implementation plan.   
1) North Side Design: The City is working with a consultant to do conceptual planning and preliminary design for three of 
the ten activity zones, located on the north side of Tempe Town Lake, between the Elmore Bridge and the Marina. 
These activity zones (Recreation/Adventure, Entertainment North Shore, and Athletics) scored highest in prioritization

Tempe Town Lake and Rio Reimagined Update  
 
 
 
2 
 
for improvement impact and improvement potential.  This planning effort will conclude in Fall 2026 and the resulting 
plan will be used to guide development of north side park spaces to support a mix of active and passive uses. 
 
2) Tempe Boat Cruisin’: As a result of a 2023 Request for Proposal (RFP) for public private partnerships, Arizona Cycle 
Boats recently began operating on the lake, offering regionally distinct, captained group tour boat experiences under 
the brand Tempe Boat Cruisin’.   This new endeavor expands recreational opportunities, generates revenue to the City, 
and does not rely on City funding for any operation, maintenance or capital needs. 
 
3) Conquer: A second RFP for public private partnerships was issued in 2025, resulting in an award to negotiate with 
Conquer Franchise in early January, 2026.  Their vision and proposal would build floating padel courts as well as food 
and beverage and other important support amenities on the north side of the lake, tethered to the shore.  The 
negotiations process should take approximately twelve months. 
 
   
SPECIAL EVENTS 
Tempe Town Lake and Rio Salado Parks continue to serve as one of the region’s most active and visible event environments, 
hosting more than 200 events annually, including nationally recognized athletic events and large-scale cultural festivals. Staff 
continues to refine event management strategies to better balance event types, locations, and frequency, reduce over-
concentration in high-impact areas, and prioritize everyday park access alongside special events. 
 
REGIONAL COLLABORATION 
The City is an active member of Rio Reimagined , a multi-jurisdiction initiative led by Arizona State University, to advance a 
shared regional vision along the entire 55-mile river corridor.  Rio Reimagined is currently developing the scope for a region-
wide vision plan that builds on local investments, partnerships and shared priorities of the entities along the river.  
 
 
CONCLUSION 
The Rio Salado and Beach Park Master Plan represents the long-term future development and improvement for Tempe’s Rio 
Salado Parks.  Thoughtful planning and implementation are critical to fulfilling Tempe’s vision for the Rio Salado as a grand 
public amenity, desirable destination, and point of pride for the community.