Arizona Falls is a waterfall in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

, U.S. It was formed when the man-made

Arizona Canal 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 st ...

crossed a natural, drop in the area of present-day 56th Street in the

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

neighborhood of Phoenix. The site became a popular location for social activities before and after being used as a

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

power station A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electrical grid. Many p ...

that provided the first electricity to Phoenix. After generating power for 50 years, the site was left run down. Modern

air conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C or AC, is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment (sometimes referred to as 'comfort cooling') and in some cases also strictly controlling ...

lessened the attraction of the falls and the area was neglected for decades. In the early 2000s, the site was rebuilt both as a public-art project and a functional power station which generates enough electricity to power about 150 average Phoenix homes. Walkers, joggers, and cyclists using a recreation path along the canal pass through the park. It is also a destination attraction for other visitors. The modern park opened in 2003.

History

Contractor William J. Murphy was responsible for the waterfall. Murphy, a midwestern entrepreneur, had just completed work on a grading project for the

Atlantic and Pacific Railroad The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad was a U.S. railroad that owned or operated two disjointed segments, one connecting St. Louis, Missouri with Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the other connecting Albuquerque, New Mexico with Needles in Southern California ...

in northern Arizona when he won a contract to build the

, an irrigation canal that would take water from the Salt River for distribution, primarily for agriculture, throughout the northern part of the

Valley of the Sun A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

. Work on the canal began in 1883 and reached a hard rock formation in 1884. It was decided to leave the rock in place and incorporate it into the canal, letting the water flow over it, thus creating the man-made waterfall. The waterfall became a popular attraction. The desert oasis was a novelty and a cool place in the hot dry desert environment, where the

evaporative cooling An evaporative cooler (also known as evaporative air conditioner, swamp cooler, swamp box, desert cooler and wet air cooler) is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from other air conditioning sy ...

effect of the mist of the falling water lowered the air temperature and trees provided shade. People from Phoenix and Tempe, both away, traveled there for recreational activities such as picnics. Visitors to the Valley were often taken there as well to see the sight. The unincorporated area around the falls was sparsely populated and took on the name Arizona Falls; the name was given to the election precinct of

Maricopa County Maricopa County is in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,420,568, making it the state's most populous county, and the fourth-most populous in the United States. It contains about 6 ...

that encompassed the area. By 1892, a plan was made to build a railway from Phoenix to Arizona Falls, with electric locomotives powered by electricity generated at the falls. The railway, inspired by early electric lines in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, was to use Enright "noiseless and smokeless engines" and had major investors from Phoenix,

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

, and

Hamilton, Ohio Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Butler County, Ohio, United States. Located north of Cincinnati, Hamilton is the second largest city in the Greater Cincinnati area and the 10th largest city in Ohio. The population was 63,399 at th ...

. The Arizona Improvement Company was then developing the town of Ingleside by the falls and planting the first commercial citrus orchards. A mill was constructed at the falls around the same time.

Electric plant

The first plant was built in 1901–02 by the Phoenix Light and Fuel Company, the predecessor to

Arizona Public Service Arizona Public Service (APS) is the largest electric utility in Arizona, United States. Since 1985, it has been the principal subsidiary of publicly traded S&P 500 member Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, known as AZP Group until 1987. Pinnacl ...

, to provide electricity to Phoenix. In 1907, it was reported that electricity for Phoenix would be generated at

Roosevelt Dam Theodore Roosevelt Dam is a dam on the Salt River located northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. The dam is high and forms Theodore Roosevelt Lake as it impounds the Salt River. Originally built between 1905 and 1911, the dam was renovated and expanded ...

instead and power from the Arizona Falls plant would supply farmers in the immediate area. By 1909, engineers of the

Salt River Project The Salt River Project (SRP) is the umbrella name for two separate entities: the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District, an agency of the state of Arizona that serves as an electrical utility for the Phoenix metropolitan a ...

(SRP), the operator of the canal system (originally the Salt River Valley Water Users' Association), decided to take over operation of the Arizona Falls power station and replace the generating equipment, increasing capacity by a third, to 700 hp. The plant was completely rebuilt beginning in 1911. SRP hoped that it could realize savings by ordering additional 48-inch turbines that were being built by S. Morgan Smith of

York, Pennsylvania York ( Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Yarrick''), known as the White Rose City (after the symbol of the House of York), is the county seat of York County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the south-central region of the state. The populati ...

for the Granite Reef Dam power station. Engineers determined they would not work satisfactorily at Arizona Falls which has a much smaller drop. A separate specification was issued and a contract for two 745-hp turbines was issued to S. Morgan Smith later in the year at a cost of $11,500. Two 535- kVA 25-Hz generators were purchased from

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...

for $15,462, and

Westinghouse Electric The Westinghouse Electric Corporation was an American manufacturing company founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse. It was originally named "Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company" and was renamed "Westinghouse Electric Corporation" in ...

furnished other equipment for $2,925. Also purchased were two 30- kW transformers and two cranes. The generators were the largest pieces of machinery ever "imported" into the Phoenix area at the time. The powerhouse building was about . A concrete wasteway diverted water back into the canal when the turbines were not operating. A spillway returned water to the canal that had passed through the turbines. Both structures were built with of concrete. The spillway was of a unique compact design that used a

siphon A siphon (from grc, σίφων, síphōn, "pipe, tube", also spelled nonetymologically syphon) is any of a wide variety of devices that involve the flow of liquids through tubes. In a narrower sense, the word refers particularly to a tube in a ...

that could be constructed less expensively than a longer gravity channel. A four-room cottage was built as a residence for the plant's operator at a cost of $2,151. Construction was completed in the spring of 1913 with final testing of the generating equipment occurring at the end of May. The first customer was a nearby cement plant. After the plant, which covered up the falls, was constructed, its roof doubled as a dance floor, often for guests who traveled from the nearby Ingleside Inn — the valley's first resort. The resort was built by Murphy, the canal's contractor, who thought the falls would draw other Midwesterners to the area. In July 1911, heavy rains caused the canal bank just above the falls to fail. The rushing water encircled the falls and broke into the canal just below the falls. This was one of several canals damaged in the storm. In 1914–1915, a collective non-profit power cooperative was organized to buy power from the Arizona Falls plant for its members, farmers in the northeastern Valley, under the name "Falls Power & Electric Co." In 1918, the Scottsdale Light and Power Co. was formed to purchase power from the falls and distribute it to Scottsdale, about east. The company, led by E.O. Brown and Charles Miller, ran a 24 kv line from the falls to Scottsdale to serve its initial 150 customers. This company would later merge into the modern APS in 1940. The plant was taken out of service Oct 2, 1950 as it had become too expensive to maintain and needed costly repairs. After the plant was shut, the canal still flowed through the structure and remained concealed from public view; the site was not returned to a more natural state.

Redevelopment

About 25 years later, SRP considered a new

small hydro Small hydro is the development of hydroelectric power on a scale suitable for local community and industry, or to contribute to distributed generation in a regional electricity grid. Exact definitions vary, but a "small hydro" project is less t ...

plant at the falls. It went ahead in 1978 with a new plant on the South Consolidated Canal in

Mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by ...

but rejected a new plant at Arizona Falls. In 1980, due to even higher

crude oil Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude ...

prices, it was determined that a 850 kW plant was economically justified. Interest in the falls was furthered in the early 1990s when an effort began to utilize the Valley canal system for recreation and community benefit, rather than just as utilitarian infrastructure. Transformation of the site into a park was first proposed by the Phoenix Arts Commission in January 1998. SRP decided to rebuilt the power station in conjunction with the park project. The rebuild of the power station by SRP was budgeted at $4 million and was the largest SRP

renewable energy Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy ...

plant in the Valley at the time. Depending on waterflow, the falls can generate up to 750 kilowatts of electricity, supplemented by solar panels on the roof of the plant and adjacent park structures, which is fed into the SRP electric grid. The power station went online in April 2003.

Art

The Phoenix City Council approved an expenditure of $60,000 in April 2000 to design the restoration of the falls. The total city budget for the project was $300,000. By 2002, the city's contribution had increased to $1.5 million under the Arts Commission. The park was designed by

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

architect Lajos Heder and sculptor Mags Harries, under commission of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. The landscape architect was Steve Martino. Heder and Harries, who are married and had worked on a prior Phoenix public art project, were selected in January 2000 after winning an open competition for the design that received five entries. The park incorporates the original rust-encrusted gears used in the original power station. Signage tells of the history and design of the plant. Visitors can walk across the canal on a footbridge. As the canal and waterfall are fed with water from the Salt River watershed and its five major dams that store water in the SRP system, the park features a boulder from each of the dam sites. The park, made primarily of concrete, stone, and steel, had a budget of over $2 million in 2003. Funding was provided by the City of Phoenix and the

US Bureau of Reclamation The Bureau of Reclamation, and formerly the United States Reclamation Service, is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees water resource management, specifically as it applies to the oversight and opera ...

. The Bureau of Reclamation owns the federal land on which the canal is located and leases it to the canal operator, SRP. Concrete channels run underneath a deck, named the

Stoa A stoa (; plural, stoas,"stoa", ''Oxford English Dictionary'', 2nd Ed., 1989 stoai, or stoae ), in ancient Greek architecture, is a covered walkway or portico, commonly for public use. Early stoas were open at the entrance with columns, usually ...

Deck after the Greek word for "gathering place", and guide the canal into the power station turbines at an average rate of . of water is diverted to the waterfall features of the park, two waterfalls and a water wall that surround the viewing platform or "outdoor room", fed by two small aqueducts. Poetry about water, written by Arizona's first state poet laureate,

Alberto Rios Alberto is the Romance version of the Latinized form (''Albertus'') of Germanic '' Albert''. It is used in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The diminutive forms are ''Albertito'' in Spain or ''Albertico'' in some parts of Latin America, Alb ...

, is sandblasted into concrete. Although located on Bureau of Reclamation land leased to SRP, the park is maintained by the City of Phoenix as is the city's adjacent G.R. Herberger Park, where visitor parking for the combined facility is located. The site reopened to the public on June 21, 2003. The park project was combined with a street landscape improvement project on two miles of

Indian School Road Many arterial roads in the Phoenix metropolitan area have the same name in multiple cities or towns. Some roads change names or route numbers across town borders, resulting in occasional confusion. For example, the road known as Apache Boulevard ...

from 48th to 64th Streets where the canal was above grade and its banks were unattractive gunite concrete. The canal was hidden with decorative walls and landscaping, also designed by Martino. The project received the top award (Presidents Award) from Valley Forward at its annual Environmental Excellence Awards in 2003, an award to recognize efforts that "improve the environment and quality of life in the Phoenix area". The

Arizona Republic ''The Arizona Republic'' is an American daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. Copies are sold at $2 daily or at $3 ...

named it "Best Public Art" for 2003. In January 2004, it was one of ten finalists out of 70 nominations to become the next Phoenix Point of Pride.

Education

SRP encourages area schoolteachers to use the facility to teach about renewable energy and other environment aspects of the site and canal system. SRP provides them with lesson plans.

Notes

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite news , last1=Johnson , first1=Weldon B. , title=Hidden gem: Arizona Falls on Arizona Canal has been Phoenix's gathering spot for 100 years , url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/arizona/2019/07/03/arizona-hidden-gem-arizona-falls-phoenix-arizona-canal/3334523002/ , accessdate=November 15, 2020 , work=Arizona Republic , date=July 3, 2019 {{cite web , title=Arizona Falls showcases art, history and technology , url=https://www.srpnet.com/water/canals/azfalls.aspx , website=srpnet.com , publisher=

, accessdate=November 15, 2020 {{cite web , title=Waterworks at Arizona Falls , url=https://www.phoenix.gov/arts/public-art-program/explore-the-collection/arizona-falls , website=phoenix.gov , publisher=City of Phoenix , accessdate=November 15, 2020 {{cite web , title=Experiencing Arizona Falls , url=https://vailpreservationsociety.org/project/experiencing-arizona-falls/ , website=Vailpreservationsociety.org , publisher=Vail Preservation Society , accessdate=November 15, 2020 {{cite web , title=WaterWorks, Arizona Falls , url=https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/networks-and-councils/public-art-network/public-art-year-in-review-database/waterworks-arizona-falls , website=americansforthearts.org , publisher=Americans for the Arts , accessdate=November 15, 2020 {{cite news , last1=Fisch , first1=Karen , title=Historic Arizona falls hold lessons about renewable energy , url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/living_green/historic-arizona-falls-hold-lessons-about-renewable-energy/article_a78c527e-cdb5-11df-afb8-001cc4c002e0.html , accessdate=November 15, 2020 , work=East Valley Tribune , date=October 1, 2010 {{cite web , title=Celebrate AZ Water – Arizona Falls Showcases Art, History, and Technology , url=https://wateruseitwisely.com/celebrate-az-water-arizona-falls-showcases-art-history-and-technology/ , website=wateruseitwisely.com , accessdate=November 15, 2020 {{cite news , title=Phoenix is Booming , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63826747/arizona-daily-star/ , work=Arizona Daily Star , date=March 25, 1892 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Tucson, Arizona , via=

Newspapers.com Ancestry.com LLC is an American genealogy company based in Lehi, Utah. The largest for-profit genealogy company in the world, it operates a network of genealogical, historical records, and related genetic genealogy websites. In November 2018, ...

{{free access {{cite news , title=Territorial News , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63827056/arizona-weekly-citizen/, work=Arizona Weekly Citizen , date=May 21, 1892 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Tucson, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=A Dummy Line To Be Constructed to Arizona Falls , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63827583/arizona-republic/, work=Arizona Republic , date=July 30, 1892 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Sights Around Phoenix , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63829609/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=October 6, 1894 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Phoenix Light and Fuel Company, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63830386/arizona-republic/, work=Arizona Republic , date=September 18, 1901 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Mesa Power Line , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63831324/arizona-republic , work=Arizona Republic , date=January 30, 1907 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Conservative Calculation , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63832500/arizona-republic/, work=Arizona Republic , date=January 6, 1909 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=South Canal Power Plant , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63934772/arizona-republic , work=Arizona Republic , date=March 22, 1911 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Damage to the Canals , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63936536/arizona-republic , work=Arizona Republic , date=July 4, 1911 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Contract is a Year Old , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63937613/arizona-republic/, work=Arizona Republic , date=Sep 1, 1911 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Machinery for Power House , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63962039/arizona-republic , work=Arizona Republic , date=Jan 9, 1912 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Power Plant Bids Opened , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63962340/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Jan 16, 1912 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Bids for Cottage for Power House , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63963720/arizona-republic/, work=Arizona Republic , date=Feb 26, 1913 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Bids for Contract Let for Operator's Home , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63964144/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Mar 12, 1913 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Arizona Falls Test is Over , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63964499/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=May 28, 1913 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Electricity on the Farm , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63966635/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Jan 21, 1915 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Valley canals once used as source for electricity , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63969014/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=May 18, 1969 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=SRP considers construction of hydroelectrice plants on 2 more canals , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63969351/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Jan 8, 1980 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Valley Canals, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64011120/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=May 26, 1991 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=All falls down , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64015543/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Jul 28, 1993 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Arizona Falls project to restore gurgling delight , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64016210/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=June 18, 2000 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=The lure of falling water , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64017178/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Sep 23, 2002 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=2 turn Arizona Falls site into artistic link to past , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64018525/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=May 29, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=unwrapping a waterfall Historic Arizona Falls gets a Dramatic Makeover , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64020150/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=June 9, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=SRP powerhouse generates buzz , url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64021469/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=June 10, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Arizona Falls is flowing with past glory restored, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64021919/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=June 11, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=WaterWorks award winner, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64022592/arizona-republic/ , work=Arizona Republic , date=Sep 13, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Best Public Art, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64022919/arizona-republic/ , date=Sep 14, 2003 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=City seeks public votes on next Point of Pride, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64023293/arizona-republic/ , date=Jan 31, 2004 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=Revived Arizona Falls a refreshing legacy of canal's visionary, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64026083/arizona-republic/ , date=Apr 22, 2010 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access {{cite news , title=3 men helped turn lights on for early Scottsdale, url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64025451/arizona-republic/ , date=March 5, 2004 , accessdate=November 15, 2020, location=Phoenix, Arizona , via=

{{free access 1901 establishments in Arizona Territory 2003 establishments in Arizona Hydroelectric power plants in Arizona Parks in Phoenix, Arizona Public art in Arizona