Rio Reimagined Via Dig Studio
By Michael McDaniel | Independent Newsmedia
Goodyear City Council held a planning session to discuss the city’s role in funding a staff position that would facilitate construction of a sprawling 58-mile revitalization of the Salt River.
The proposed Rio Reimagined project would stretch across the western Valley and bring a revitalized lake or recreational waterfront to six West Valley cities and two native American Reservations. The plan is still in its infancy, and no lands or money have been earmarked for the project by Goodyear yet.
Cecilia Riviere, an assistant director from Arizona State University, said acquiring funds and managing lands at the federal and local levels would require a facilitator with specific expertise. ASU is currently the project’s principal facilitator.
“Today is really focused on a new leader that would be dedicated to this urban waters federal partnership,” she said. “This is a program that has 15 different federal agencies that partner was 28 national nonprofits, that are dedicated to communities with urban waterways. This would be a position that is full-time, that is looking to match our local needs to those resources.”