Mesa eyes eminent domain for Fiesta ‘micro parks’
“The Mesa City Council will be asked on Monday, March 17, to approve the use of eminent domain, if necessary, to acquire land for several “micro parks” in the Fiesta District.
City Engineer Beth Huning, in a report to the council, described the tiny parks as “pedestrian refuge areas” along Southern Avenue between Alma School Road and Longmore.
“The nodes will include amenities such as seating, signs, lighting, landscaping, hardscape, shade structures and water features,” Huning said.
Hardscape refers to the creative use of concrete, bricks, pavers and similar elements.
The parks are part of an $11.8 million Southern Avenue reconstruction and streetscape project designed to accommodate what Mesa hopes will be a renaissance for the Fiesta area, hard-hit in recent years by a struggling retail economy.”
Nelson, Gary. AZ Central 13 March 2014.