Clark Park renovations needed to keep ’50s neighborhood vital
By Joan Westlake
Tucked away just north of Broadway and west of Mill Avenue, Clark Park was a jewel in a vibrant community when it debuted in the 1970s. Now neighbors are working to restore the aging park and pool, which they say has become run down and a campground for transients.
Lisa Roach, co-chair of the Clark Park Neighborhood Association, says, “My husband [Shawn] grew up here. He has wonderful memories and stories. We just honored 22 families who have been here since the mid-50s to early ’60s. We are trying to maintain this wonderful neighborhood and one way to attract young families is to have a safe, clean and beautiful park.”
Communities in Schools of Tempe and Kyrene is holding its annual Supplies-4-Students back to school drive for the elementary students of the Tempe and Kyrene school districts.
The city of Tempe has mobilized to tackle graffiti throughout the city and residents and businesses are asked to join in the effort. Prevention, education and rapid response are the keys to this citywide effort. City employees are providing educational information to residents, businesses and young people. And city operations are being refined in order to respond more quickly and completely in covering graffiti that does occur.
Kelsey Lawson, a 15-year-old Corona del Sol student and south Tempe resident, won the Girls 18 & Under Tanoan Sweet 16 tennis title last month in Albuquerque, N.M. En route to her victory, in the semi-final, Lawson defeated Mele Iongi, the 2008 State 5A1 Champion and East Valley Tribune High School Girls Player of the Year, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Lawson then beat Michaela Oldani of Scottsdale in the final, 6-1, 6-3.
Lawson will be a junior at Corona and has led her varsity tennis team as the No. 1 player for two years. She is two-time Tempe-All City, two-time Central Region Player of the Year, and two-time East Valley First Team All-State.
She also led her Corona del Sol girls tennis team to a semifinal finish in the team State tournament this year. Lawson finished third in the State singles Championships in 2007 and fourth in 2008.
Every year, the number of children in Arizona public schools who need speech and language services increases, while the number of qualified speech-language pathologists does not. To address this shortage, Arizona State University’s Department of Speech and Hearing Science, together with the Arizona Department of Education, is helping technicians who work in Arizona public schools earn a master’s degree while completing their clinical training on the job.
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