By Megan Taros | Arizona Republic
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, which sits alongside light-rail construction at Central and Watkins avenues, was a tranquil foil to the rustling of cars and construction trucks rushing by.
The lazily lapping Salt River played host to ducks, their quacks interrupting human conversation, while the air teemed with a grassy, post-rain smell. For years, a restored connectivity to the Salt River was something community members in south Phoenix fought for but never received.
District 7 Councilmember Yassamin Ansari and representatives from the city of Phoenix met with community organizers throughout the district to discuss ideas for improving infrastructure and how to direct $550 billion in federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
