Joyce Park
was named in honor of Fred Joyce (1881-1967) who came to
Tempe in 1911 after having graduated from the Missouri
School of Mines. Prior to his arrival in Tempe, Fred
spent time in the mining industry as an assayer and
chemist in Leadville, CO, Chihuahua, Mexico and Ray,
AZ. In his early years working in mining, Fred began
additional work as an insurance agent for the Mutual
Life Insurance Company of New York where he was employed
until 1953.
In 1924,
Fred partnered with Hugh Laird and platted the Park
Tract subdivision to address a critical housing shortage
in Tempe. The Park Tract is largely made up of the
Maple Ash neighborhood comprising the area from 10th
to 13th Street from Mill to the railroad
tracks.
Fred
continued his insurance practice in Tempe and also was
active in many civic clubs and programs. He served as a
Tempe City Councilman from 1922-26, served on the Board
of Directors for the Arizona Public Service Company (APS)
from 1935-1965, was a member of the Arizona State
Teachers College (ASTC) Board of Education from
1929-1933, charter member of first president of the
Tempe Rotary Club, and was a member of the Elks Club,
Arizona Club, and Phoenix Country Club.
Fred lived
most of his time in Tempe at 830 S. Forest until his
property was purchased by ASU for campus expansion.
Through his numerous, social civic and community
associations, Fred always advanced the interests and
needs of Tempe. He will be remembered for his work in
helping to guide the growth and development of both
Tempe and the region. Tempe is a better community from
the work of Fred Joyce and Tempe has bestowed one the
highest honors possible by naming a neighborhood park in
his honor.