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.”

Hoping to get into the swim of a newly renovated Clark Park Pool are (l to r back row) Kim Sosnowski, Karen Adams, Lisa Roach, Alice Bimrose, Julie Wilson, Pat Moffat; (front row) Anthony Sanchez, Jacob Bimrose Miles Bimrose, Aaron Moffat, and Benjamin Moffat (photo by Joan Westlake).

Clark Park serves residents beyond its immediate boundaries. Roach points out that it is the only pool in central Tempe west of Mill. Families from all around the area bring their children to take swimming lessons or take a cool dip.

    Pat Moffat says his family can bicycle to the park from his home in Mitchell Park. He has lived in the area with his wife, Julie Wilson, and sons for 15 years but adds that he grew up in the neighborhood and went to Tempe High School. His sister also lives in the neighborhood.

    Karen Adams, a 20-year Clark Park activist, says, “We’ve all been going to the planning sessions. There’s been great turnouts. We are in a multi-generational area and the park should reflect that.”

    The neighborhood group praised Tempe staff and police for working with them on designs to reclaim the park so that people will feel safe to walk their dogs and bring children to play.  

    Wilson expressed a frustration that many association members echo: “Other pools have slides and nice baby pools and have undergone several renovations while this pool deteriorates.”

    When word circulated that it might be five years before renovations would begin, Aaron Moffat, 8, says, “I’d really like it to be sooner so I could be around to swim in a little better pool.”

    Some of the kids enjoying the pool mentioned the beach entrance at Escalante Pool as a cool feature they’d like. Neighbors are quick to point out that they aren’t looking for a big water park, just some amenities and repairs to sinks that don’t work and pool ladders that are roped off with yellow caution tape.

    Roach says they were just hoping for the best from a June Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) vote. It seems that all their hard work is about to pay off. Charlie Meyer, Tempe city manager, says Clark Park is now on track for pool and park renovations.

    “We are working on design issues for Clark Park and Clark Park Pool,” he says. “They [pool and park] had to go hand-in-hand. We’ve contracted with a firm for the design and are working with the neighborhood.”

    Both Roach and Meyer point out that this and other CIP endeavors all hinge on the November election bond votes.

    “It is so important that we pass these bonds,” says Roach. “Keeping our neighborhoods vital depends on it.”