Desert Breeze Park, a focal point of west Chandler’s growth over the past 20 years and a “crown jewel’ of the city’s parks and recreation planning efforts, is sporting a bright new look.
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and members of the Chandler City Council are scheduled to mark the completion of a major renovation project at the park during ceremonies at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 30.
The public is welcome to attend the celebration, which will take place near the southwest corner of the park’s lake.
“This has been one of the most popular parks in our system,” said Development and Operations Manager Mickey Ohland. And, he says, its users have played a major role in helping to guide the latest set of improvements.
Envisioned during the late 1980s, the park at one time was the only major public facility west of the Price/101 freeway. “It was a crown jewel of our park system, and it remains that way,” said Ohland.
Although it has always been heavily utilized, with its lake, train and other amenities, Ohland said a sampling of users helped lead the way toward the latest round of improvements. “People told us they’d like to see better lake access, more shade—things like that.”
Desert Breeze Park is in the square mile bordered by Chandler Boulevard, McClintock, Ray and Rural roads. It was constructed in 1989, and quickly became one of the city’s most used recreation facilities because of its wide range of amenities.
The park features an urban fishing lake, large picnic ramadas, tennis and volleyball courts, and baseball and soccer fields.
Other phases were constructed over the years, which added more open space, sports fields and a hummingbird habitat. The park encompasses 47.3 acres, with 2.5 acres of undeveloped space.
Recently completed renovations included the addition park lighting, furniture, shade structures and disability-accommodating pathways around and to the lake.
Park landscaping was improved with additional trees and plants, the conversion of some turf areas to decomposed granite and irrigation-system improvements. Edge Construction was the contractor for the work at a low bid cost of $646,934.87.
Questions about the Desert Breeze Park renovation project can be directed to Ohland at 480-782-2743.
