Michelle Brooks-Totress Park was originally part of the Hallcraft Home subdivision. Built in 1974 in partnership with Hallcraft, the park is named after Tempe native Michelle Brooks-Totress. 

In addition to three decades as a librarian in Scottsdale, Tempe native Michelle Brooks-Totress devoted much of her life to volunteering for numerous organizations and helping to establish events celebrating Black history and community in Tempe.  She served on the Board of the African American Advisory Committee of the Tempe History Museum for well over a decade, including a period as the Chair of the Committee.  Michelle was the President of the All God’s Children Collector’s Club, Co-Chair for the Sustainability Pillar for the Commission of African American Affairs for the State of Arizona and was a Board Member of the Arizona Career Development Center.  Michelle was involved with establishing a variety of events with the African American Advisory Committee, including the Black History Month Faith Action Prayer Breakfast – an inter-faith event with representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths – and the annual Juneteenth Celebration Event at Tempe History Museum.  Parents Vera and Robert Brooks instilled a sense of confidence and pride in her heritage as a Black American with deep roots in Arizona, and a love of family, community and her hometown Tempe.

Park size is 4 acres.

About the playground artist-designed rubber surface

Centered on themes of land and nature, the design features a growing forest, winding river, an active volcano, and a sky filled with birds. Other characters appear throughout the pathways such as a school of fish trailing in front of a crocodile, and an elephant playing in both the water and sky. The play area is divided into zones to create areas of interest and each zone has its unique features that allow for physical play, imaginary games and conversations. 

Read more on Tempe Public Art's map. Photo by Michael Williams.