Water in the Shadow of a Water Tower

November 13, 3:16 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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Dawn of a new Water Tower Plaza.

Arizona residents have been adding water to the Sonoran Desert for a long time. From the irrigation canals built by the Hoholam people to Tempe Town Lake, water has played a key role not just in sustaining life in the Valley but also in making life here more attractive and enjoyable. Gilbert's new Water Tower Plaza is the latest addition to the growing list of water features in the desert.

As water features go, Water Tower Plaza is a bit unusual. For starters, the new Plaza sits in the of a community landmark whose purpose was to store water for fire trucks. The historic significance doesn't end there, according to the East Valley Tribune. The tiny adobe structure in the north east corner of the property was Gilbert's first jail. The reinvention of the water tower as a park is out of character in a metro area that lately has seen more destruction of historic sites than preservation. 

Another aspect that makes the plaza stand out among area water features is the limited amount of standing water. This is a wise choice since the city of Tempe reports open bodies of water in Phoenix lose about 2 million gallons of water a year for every acre of surface water.

The Plaza seems like a nice place to sit and enjoy good weather. We'll see if anyone thinks to open a coffee or sandwich cart nearby or whether patron will have to trek down the street to Oregano's or across Gilbert Road to the take-out window at Joe's Real BBQ. Another nice addition might be a paved path between the Plaza and the playground area on the south side of the railroad tracks. Right now, the plaza is most likely to be used by residents using the nearby Park 'n' Ride facility or those attending performances at the Hale Centre Theater.

Gilbert has been working to reinvigorate the Heritage District, which is the historic and symbolic center of the community, for several years. There are some signs that effots may be starting to pay off. Several new restaurants have opened and the Hale Centre Theater is celebrating their fifth anniversary. The transforming of spaces that might easily have fallen victim to urban blight into attractive and enticing public spaces like the Water Tower Plaza can only help the Heritage District prosper.

The Gilbert Water Tower Plaza is  located in the heart of the Heritage Disctrict at 45 W. Page Road, just west of Gilbert Road and north of Elliot Road.