By Parker Leavitt | Arizona Business Gazette | azcentral.com
Perhaps known best for its frenetic residential growth and farming heritage, Gilbert was once considered an ideal location for major entertainment venues like the Arizona State Fair and a full-scale water park.
Those projects were stalled and ultimately tabled after vehement opposition from neighbors who emphatically protested at public meetings with strong emotions and raised voices. They were prime examples of the impact residents can have when motivated and united by a common cause.
Such development battles have helped define Gilbert over the years, sometimes blocking projects that would likely have had a tremendous impact on the town’s image and statewide visibility.
