The history of the Rio Salado starts with a history of the river.

Between 500 A.D. to 1450 A.D. Prehistoric Hohokam Indians created an extensive desert valley canal system. Signs of their culture remained through the ruins of their dwellings, unearthed pottery shards and artifacts and carved petroglyphs in nearby rocks. Their canal system became the foundation of the canals seen throughout the valley today. One of the oldest, later named Indian Bend Pump Ditch, is located in Rio Salado Park near the archeological site "Loma del Rio."
 

In 1700, Father Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit Missionary, named the river "Rio Salado" (Spanish for Salt River) because of the salty taste of the fresh water.

As late as the 1800s, the Salt River flowed uncontrolled, breaking the valley's trail access to Tucson. A large number of farmers and immigrants settled the area near the river. In 1871, Charles Trumbull Hayden started the Hayden Ferry crossing at the Salt River "Narrows," now the entrance to downtown Tempe.

Charles Trumbull Hayden was one of the entrepreneurial pioneers who founded Tempe. His flour mill made use of the water from the river through a canal. The water ran through the mill, over a large screw that turned the mill. Leaving the mill, water fell over a 25-foot waterfall to the base of Hayden Butte. Charles Hayden built his home as a port for his ferry service, across from the mill. His son, Carl Hayden, later became a United States senator.

Tempe was officially named after the Greek Vale of Tempe in mythology in 1879.

The 1880s saw construction of the first railroad bridge. This crossing at the river allowed for the exploration of supplies such as dates, citrus and flour. The photographer took this photo during a dry season, when the river was filled with mesquite, creosote and brush.

In 1902, floodwaters slowly weakened the railroad bridge. During a dry season the pylons collapsed under the weight of a train.

Theodore Roosevelt dedicated Roosevelt Dam in 1911. The dam, constructed on the upper Salt River, slowed the flow of water through the Valley and provided water retention and agricultural irrigation control.

A third railroad bridge, built in 1912 featured steel beams with the date cut out of the top lintels. This bridge has been reinforced over the years, but has remained original in color and construction.

The State Bridge did not survive its first flood in 1914. Severe damage to its structure led to the construction of a new bridge 16 years later. The waters rose and covered half of the structural arches.

The Hayden Flour Mill burned down and was rebuilt in 1917.


In the 1920s, the Salt River provided cool escape from the desert heat. Individuals gathered near Tempe Beach Park and swam at the base of the State Bridge. Red Harkins built a theater in Tempe Beach Park where he showed summer movies for five cents. Harkins built wooden bleachers from which patrons viewed the films.
 

After 1911, there was less danger from flooding than ever before. Through the next three decades additional water was diverted for agricultural, industrial and domestic uses. The Salt River transformed from a flowing river to a barren wasteland with tremendous flooding potential.

In 1931, crews constructed the Mill Avenue bridge across the Salt River where Hayden's Ferry had crossed 60 years earlier. It served as the main connection over the river for the horseless carriages.

The Mill Avenue bridge showed that it could withstand the minor flows of the river; over time it has maintained its stamina through the roughest floods.

In the 1930s, the Tuberculosis Sanitarium was built on Curry Road, overlooking the Salt River. This luxurious facility served wealthy TB patients who moved to Arizona because of the dry climate and low allergens. These visitors became the first of what would become a booming tourist industry.

Red Harkins built another Harkins Theater in 1945. Harkins sold the State Theater in the 1960's and the new ownership renamed it the Valley Art Theater.

In 1951, white silos increased the capacity of the the Hayden Flour Mill. Bay State Milling Company later bought the mill and expanded operations to Tolleson, west of Phoenix.

In 1954, the Hayden family sold its home across from the mill to the Leonard Monti family. The family opened the house as a steak house known as Monti's La Casa Vieja. This landmark restaurant is located on the corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway, across from Tempe Beach Park.


 In 1958, Sun Devil Stadium was built at the base of Hayden Butte.

 

Between 1950 and the 1970s, the dry river bed became home to several household and industrial land fills, quarry mining and industrial businesses. Sky Harbor International Airport grew along the north side and the cities of Tempe and Phoenix developed on both sides.

In 1966, Dean James Elmore of the College of Architecture at Arizona State University challenged his students to create design concepts that utilized the dry river bed. Students designed the Rio Salado Project: a series of locks and channels creating an inland seaport in the desert. The concept, which received recognition from several local municipalities, involved a linear green belt with open parks, recreational areas and development along the river.

In 1968, the ASU College of Architecture continued the study and proposed two phases of development in a limited segment of the river bed north of ASU campus.

By 1969, ASU expanded the study, integrating business, community and governmental agencies and furthering project development. The Valley Forward Association and the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) lent their support to the project.


In 1970, local design, engineering and research firms began in-depth studies of a Rio Salado design. Issues involved flooding, landfill containment and removal, economic impacts, environmental impacts and the feasibility of recreating a waterway in the desert.

 

The Phase I design study was completed in April 1972 and included the metropolitan Phoenix area.

Firms completed the Phase II planning study in 1974, scaling the project down from the original sea port concept to a 38-mile long green belt with a series of lakes and braided streams. ASU provided master planning support and the Tempe Planning Division produced a design study.

In 1976, the  Tempe Community Development Department completed the Rio Salado design study for the Mayor and Council. Existing conditions were examined in the study area and recommendations were made for land use and transportation.

An in-depth study in 1978 proposed three alternative water-oriented plans. Phase III was completed for the Corps of Engineers. The ASU Research and Service Foundation completed the Phoenix Urban Study which identified three large urban lakes in the metropolitan area.

1979 was a turning point in the project. Tempe Mayor Harry Mitchell formed the Tempe Rio Salado Citizen Advisory Commission, providing citizen input and representation to the project and publicity for the concept. Tempe received a grant for further study and the State House and Senate created the State Rio Salado Development District. A comparative view of development authorities addressed the pros and cons of development authorities and gave insight into their structure. Meanwhile, the Tempe Community Development Department identified six pilot locations and primary concepts for Rio Salado. By the end of the year, officials completed cost/revenue projections and a final conceptual plan for "moderate water development."

During the 1970s and 1980s, extensive flooding caused bridge failures, property damage, traffic congestion and loss of life, further validating the need for a Rio Salado's flood control plan. The 1978-1980 floods recorded flows of up to 180,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).

In the early 1980s, floods divided the Valley by damaging bridges across the river. The old Mill Avenue Bridge was the only bridge that remained open. Employees and residents used boats and trains to cross the river. The Rio Salado Development District formed and began developing a Valley-wide master plan from Granite Reef to Agua Fria within the 100 year flood plain. Redevelopment started in the downtown Tempe area around Mill Avenue.

In 1982, the City of Tempe adopted an overlay district map and text to serve as the official guide for future development in the Rio Salado Project area.

In 1983, a consultant completed Rio Salado development alternatives for the development district.

The consultant completed the final draft of the Rio Salado Master Plan in 1985. The plan outlined comprehensive plan elements, cost benefits and implementation for 38 miles.

In 1987, Maricopa County voters approved the expansion of Valley freeways, defeated a Valley-wide transit project called Valtrans and defeated a property tax increase to finance a Valley-wide green-belt version of the Rio Salado Project. The Project was voted down by most of the cities, but Tempe residents supported the concept and Mayor Harry Mitchell announced the City's commitment to bring the vision into reality. Council and staff began a feasibility study for developing Tempe's stretch of the Salt River.

In 1988, Tempe staff began meeting weekly, coordinating planning in the project area. The city negotiated the acquisition of the North Bank Linear Park with the Salt River Project.

By March of 1989, Tempe had a full-time staff for the project and had adopted the Rio Salado Master Plan. The Master Plan represented the culmination of more than 20 years of environmental land planning. Studies of water quality and usage, the Mill Avenue Bridge and ASU recreation ensued and programming began. Coordination with numerous state and federal agencies commenced. The City Council adopted General Plan 2000, incorporating the Rio Salado Park Plan and earmarking funds from the Capital Improvement Program. The Tempe Parks and Recreation Division updated the Papago Park Master Plan. A groundbreaking ceremony near Tempe Beach Park marked the beginning of construction of the river channelization. This construction recovered more than 840 acres of flood plain land that would be available for later development.

The Mill Avenue bridge studies neared completion by 1990. Plans for wildlife management, water treatment, recreation, flood control channelization and commercial development ensued. Tempe began negotiating leases with the Bureau of Land Management, and began the selection process for development of reclaimed land from the floodplain. The Rio Salado Master Plan showed a Town Lake concept with a continuous body of water between the north and south shores. Previously, the lake concept included islands; this concept was modified to meet the flow capacity of the river channel.

In 1991, the State Street Bridge (Ash Avenue Bridge), a picturesque and historic river crossing that had been eroded and pummeled from floods, was torn down due to extensive structural damage. The abutment of the historic Ash Avenue Bridge remains as a monument on the south side of the river. The city developed water conservation and financial budgeting plans. Papago Park Center developed on the north side of the river.

In 1992, the Hayden Ferry development site was awarded to Benton-Robb and Bay State Milling Company for the site near Hayden Butte. Plans included a new use for the flour mill. Papago Salado Tourism Association formed Engineering studies, feasibility studies, landscape studies and market surveys. Construction of the Red Mountain Freeway started on the north bank. Construction of a new Mill Avenue bridge (now supporting southbound traffic) started just east of the old Mill Bridge (now northbound).

 

In 1993, extensive flooding washed away the framing of the Mill Avenue Bridge, which was under construction. The city completed several projects, including a transportation study and a 13-acre Mesquite Bosque on the north bank. Students from 26 local schools planted more than 2,000 trees and shrubs native to Arizona. (For more information click here: Habitats). With the help of the Arizona Department of Transportation and the Flood Control District of Maricopa County, the city completed Salt River grade modifications. Limited damage to construction in the new channel exemplified the success of the channelization when flooding in 1992 and 1993 had water flows of 132,000 cfs. Crews completed the new Mill Avenue bridge by the end of the year.

In 1994, the Red Mountain Freeway opened in Tempe along the north bank of the Salt River. Environmental studies were conducted on numerous sites. A Public Arts Master Plan was completed. A financing strategy was outlined and linear park plans were started. Project Habitat, an 800-volunteer event with corporate sponsors, created a 20-acre riparian habitat on Bureau of Land Management land near the Hohokam Expressway.

In 1995, the City added more staff to the small team dedicated to Rio Salado and began construction of a one-mile long bike path along the south bank of the river between Mill Avenue and Rural Road. The path features public art at numerous spots along the way. Officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the east entry plaza at Rural Road. Construction in Papago Park south of Curry Road included the addition of a ramada structure, signs, trailheads, bridges and a wheelchair accessible trail leading to the Loma del Rio ruins. The first Rio Salado Expo was held on Oct. 14.

The city began the Town Lake design report and completed another financial capacity study and landscape designs for portions of the parks.

In 1996, Tempe played host to Super Bowl XXX and the "NFL Experience" entertainment center located itself in Rio Salado north of Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium. The City continued negotiations for several parcels. Ciudad del Lago continued work on its master planned development. The consultant completed construction drawings for the Tempe Town Lake and public interest and support increased as the project built momentum. The City designated 800 acres of area including the lake as Rio Salado Park, started construction on the North Bank Linear Park and initiated an Adopt-a-Tree program. A sign master plan began to integrate signage throughout the project.

Tempe completed a lake capacity needs study and started a lake management plan. The City sent Requests for Qualifications to manufacturers of inflatable dams. City staff and consulting engineers visited dam locations in Japan, inspecting the product in use. City Council and staff discussed waterfront projects during a visit to San Antonio, Texas, and Austin Town Lake (Texas) with members of the Scottsdale City Council.

Residents realized the vision of Rio Salado in 1997.
On March 19, requests for Bids were sent out for the lake construction.

On April 16 1997, the Rio Salado Commission dedicated a tree kicking off the Adopt-a-Tree program.

On April 24 1997, then Governor J. Fife Symington signed legislation for Senate Bill 1265 to become law. This bill excepted lake and infrastructure projects associated with the lake from contracting State and City sales tax. The Hayden Ferry development and Ciudad del Lago development each submitted their preliminary Planned Area Developments (P.A.Ds.) to the City. The City awarded contracts for construction of the Tempe Town Lake on June 12 1997 and held groundbreaking ceremonies for the Tempe Town Lake on Aug. 8 1997.

On June 2, 1999, Water from the Central Arizona Project started flowing into the Tempe Town Lake.

On July 14, 1999, the Tempe Town Lake was officially declared full.

More than 35,000 gathered for the Tempe Town Lake Festival on Nov. 6, 1999. The event featured the dedication of Tempe Town Lake and the opening of the expanded and remodeled Tempe Beach Park. The event featured performers on three stages, a boat raffle, fireworks and more than 60 booths of information and goodies.

On Nov. 7, 1999, Tempe Town Lake was opened to the public.

On June 17, 2000, the Mayor and Council celebrated the official dedication ceremony for the renovated 25-acre Tempe Beach Park.

On July 4, 2000, more than 125,000 visitors celebrated Independence Day at the Kiwanis Club's 49th Annual fireworks display at Tempe Town Lake on the Rio Salado. Fireworks were shot from the east Mill Avenue bridge over the Tempe Town Lake.

On May 18, 2002, Splash Playground at Tempe Beach Park opened to the delight of children from all over the Valley (and their parents!). 

On November 22, 2002, Arizona Game and Fish stocked Tempe Town Lake with about 5,000 rainbow trout. This was the first release of sport fish into Town Lake. In 2001, stockings had to be postponed due to excessively warm weather that led to high pH levels.

On January 31, 2004, the City celebrated the opening of the new Town Lake Marina on the north side of the lake. Taking a year to build, this new amenity provides dry storage for boats on trailers as well as rack space for rowing shells and kayaks. A five lane boat ramp gives plenty of space for launching a boat. The lagoon provides a safe harbor for City boats and Rio Lago Cruise Company tour boats in case the rubber dams must be deflated to accommodate a flood in the river bed. There are 117 public parking spaces with another 31 spaces for tow vehicles with trailers. The Marina provides another point of easy access to Tempe Town Lake and its surrounding parks.

For more information on the history of Tempe and the Rio Salado, contact the Tempe Historical Museum.