City of Tempe officials held a groundbreaking on June 10 at Clark Park to commemorate the start of renovations and improvements for the 73-year old park. 

The event welcomed Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, City Councilmembers, project contractors and members of the community for remarks, refreshments and a viewing of park renderings.

The 10-acre park, built in 1949, is set to undergo a makeover with new features and upgrades, including a new community center and pool, as well as upgraded restrooms, community garden, playground, shaded ramada, baseball field and basketball court. When completed, the Clark Park pool will be Tempe’s fourth public pool.

Over the last several years, the Tempe City Council has been increasing reinvestments in parks, streets, golf courses and more. Known as Refresh Tempe, this initiative aims to add and maintain Tempe amenities and infrastructure in order to maintain and improve quality of life.

Construction on the park began on June 3, 2022, with most of the park fenced and secured for the duration of the project. The park’s ballfield and dog park will remain open but may be inaccessible for short periods of time. The relocated community garden will open in October, while the pool and recreation center are scheduled to open in the summer of 2023.

Community members have been meeting with city staff on Clark Park improvements since 2018 to help develop a preferred concept for Clark Park and its renovation and upgrades. Community input included a survey of Holdeman Elementary School’s students on their ideas for playground equipment. Clark Park had a pool for many years until it was closed in 2008.

The design and construction team for Clark Park consists of Haydon Building Corp, project construction; Wood Patel, civil engineering; Holly Street Studio, architects; Dig Studios, landscape architects; and Aquatic Design, pool design.