The Arizona Canal is a major canal in central Maricopa County that led to the founding of several communities, now among the wealthier neighborhoods of suburban Phoenix, constructed in the late 1880s. Flood irrigation of residential yards is still common in these neighborhoods, using a system of lateral waterways connected via gates to the canal itself.[1] Like most Valley canals, its banks are popular with joggers and bicyclists.
William John Murphy was hired in 1883 to spearhead its construction, which was completed in May 1885. He then founded Glendale; its downtown Murphy Park is named for him.[3] Nearby Peoria was also founded within the decade.
Several miles upstream (east), 640 acres (2.6 km2) on the canal's south side were purchased in 1888 by a former Civil War chaplain, Major Winfield Scott, establishing what is now Scottsdale. Murphy later built the Ingleside Club hotel near Scottsdale (in what is now Arcadia), laying the foundation for the area's vital tourism economy. Several resorts – The Phoenician, Biltmore, Royal Palms, a Pointe Hilton and a Ritz-Carlton – were all built close to the canal between 1929 and 1988. Also, five shopping malls of varying size and affluence – Borgata, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Biltmore Fashion Park, Metrocenter Mall and Arrowhead Towne Center – now reside along the canal's route. Five miles were added to the canal's western end in 1894, completing its 47-mile (76 km) length.[4]
A 750-kilowatt restored hydroelectric plant and art display opened in June 2003 in Arcadia, at a natural 20-foot (6.1 m) drop called Arizona Falls.[5]
Scottsdale's Waterfront Project is aimed at revitalizing an area along the Arizona Canal just west of Scottsdale Road. The City of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Public Art board engaged the architect Paolo Soleri who designed a bridge over the Arizona Canal in Downtown Scottsdale. The suspension bridge has two steel-clad, 64-foot pylons create a light beam on the walking surface to mark solar events. The bridge will direct pedestrians, bicyclists, and horse riders moving north and south along the Arizona Canal system.
Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AZ-19, "Arizona Canal, North of Salt River, Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ", 62 photos, 70 data pages, 6 photo caption pages
History of the Arizona Canal and other canals in the system, on the site of the Salt River Project
, along the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale, on the site of Scottsdale Public Art
arizona, canal, major, canal, central, maricopa, county, that, founding, several, communities, among, wealthier, neighborhoods, suburban, phoenix, constructed, late, 1880s, flood, irrigation, residential, yards, still, common, these, neighborhoods, using, syst. The Arizona Canal is a major canal in central Maricopa County that led to the founding of several communities now among the wealthier neighborhoods of suburban Phoenix constructed in the late 1880s Flood irrigation of residential yards is still common in these neighborhoods using a system of lateral waterways connected via gates to the canal itself 1 Like most Valley canals its banks are popular with joggers and bicyclists Arizona Canal in Scottsdale Arizona Marshall Way bridge over the Arizona Canal in Downtown Scottsdale Scottsdale Road pedestrian bridge over the canal designed by Paolo Soleri Arizona Falls part of G R Herberger Park in Phoenix Arizona The canal nearly 50 miles 80 km long is the northernmost canal in the Salt River Project s 131 mile 211 km water distribution system 2 Beginning at Granite Reef Diversion Dam northeast of Mesa it flows west across the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community downtown Scottsdale Phoenix s Arcadia and Sunnyslope neighborhoods Glendale and Peoria before ending at New River near Arrowhead Towne Center Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditWilliam John Murphy was hired in 1883 to spearhead its construction which was completed in May 1885 He then founded Glendale its downtown Murphy Park is named for him 3 Nearby Peoria was also founded within the decade Several miles upstream east 640 acres 2 6 km2 on the canal s south side were purchased in 1888 by a former Civil War chaplain Major Winfield Scott establishing what is now Scottsdale Murphy later built the Ingleside Club hotel near Scottsdale in what is now Arcadia laying the foundation for the area s vital tourism economy Several resorts The Phoenician Biltmore Royal Palms a Pointe Hilton and a Ritz Carlton were all built close to the canal between 1929 and 1988 Also five shopping malls of varying size and affluence Borgata Scottsdale Fashion Square Biltmore Fashion Park Metrocenter Mall and Arrowhead Towne Center now reside along the canal s route Five miles were added to the canal s western end in 1894 completing its 47 mile 76 km length 4 A 750 kilowatt restored hydroelectric plant and art display opened in June 2003 in Arcadia at a natural 20 foot 6 1 m drop called Arizona Falls 5 Scottsdale s Waterfront Project is aimed at revitalizing an area along the Arizona Canal just west of Scottsdale Road The City of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Public Art board engaged the architect Paolo Soleri who designed a bridge over the Arizona Canal in Downtown Scottsdale The suspension bridge has two steel clad 64 foot pylons create a light beam on the walking surface to mark solar events The bridge will direct pedestrians bicyclists and horse riders moving north and south along the Arizona Canal system See also EditList of rivers of ArizonaReferences Edit Brief description of flood irrigation in Phoenix by Salt River Project map Glendale AZ the Early Days 1883 1894 Archived from the original on 2004 06 11 Retrieved 2004 01 01 SRP History Arizona FallsExternal links EditHistoric American Engineering Record HAER No AZ 19 Arizona Canal North of Salt River Phoenix Maricopa County AZ 62 photos 70 data pages 6 photo caption pages History of the Arizona Canal and other canals in the system on the site of the Salt River Project The Waterfront Project along the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale on the site of Scottsdale Public Art Coordinates 33 30 23 N 111 59 23 W 33 50639 N 111 98972 W 33 50639 111 98972 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arizona Canal amp oldid 1110010345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
