By Ron Dungan | The Republic
They are coming. Machines that grind mesquite trees down to piles of wood chips, that break concrete into slabs, that take out buildings and flatten ground.
The machines have cleared a wide swath where homes once stood, leaving nothing but a few piles of debris as workers clear the way for the Loop 202 freeway, also known as the South Mountain Freeway, a 22-mile section of freeway that will connect the East Valley with the west.
In the middle of the swath stands Mountain Park Community Church. Members of the church look back on the past as they get ready to leave the only building they’ve ever owned, as they get ready to move to a new building with more space.
