Transforming Yuma's Riverfront |
Celebrating Yuma's Rich History |
Helping Revitalize Historic Downtown
Riverfront Commercial Development, Gateway Park and Wetlands Restoration has transformed Yuma's "Front Door".
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Historic Downtown Riverfront
For decades, Yuma has sought to reconnect the community to its most precious natural asset -- the Colorado River. Although recognized for its historic importance as the Yuma Crossing National Historic Landmark, the downtown riverfront had become blighted from divided and complicated ownership, industrial uses, and disuse. The City of Yuma and State of Arizona had worked to create the Yuma Crossing State Historic Park in 1997, but it wasn't until the establishment of the Heritage Area and the formation of a public/private partnership in 1999, that real progress was achieved. The Heritage Area has committed $1,080,000 -- nearly half of its total NPS funding and much of its staff efforts to advance the Riverfront District. The City of Yuma asked Heritage Area staff to work with the City's development partner, Clark-Lankford, LLC of La Jolla, California, to undertake a six-year effort of joint planning, land assembly, and public improvements. It has taken the cooperation of all parties and considerable creativity, flexibility, and innovation to overcome very difficult constraints: physical, legal, and historical. The results, however, will truly transform Yuma's riverfront: $30 million of private investment has already taken place in 2008, with the total projected at $100 million over the next five years.
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A miraculous transformation of the downtown riverfront -- The Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center.
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Parks and Public Improvements
As a part of its commitment to riverfront redevelopment, the Heritage Area has undertaken a series of projects adjacent to and near the Pivot Point redevelopment. Overall, the Heritage Area has committed more than $1 million in NPS funds to this district. The Heritage Area secured funds to design and build a multi-use pathway along the Colorado River between the East and West Wetlands. At the river's edge just below the new hotel, the Heritage Area assembled more than $4 million in local, state and federal funds to construct "Gateway Park", which opened on May 31, 2007. The park greatly expands public access and use of the Colorado River, and is designed in tandem with the private development.
"The Colorado River is the Lifeblood of the Southwest"
Harnessing this resource through dams and canals has promoted growth, reduced flooding, generated electric power, and fostered tremendous agricultural production, all to the entire nation's benefit. The result, however, has also diminished the river's ecosystems. To address environmental issues, including the Endangered Species Act, regional planning efforts have been undertaken. To date, the complication of water rights, property rights, agricultural interests, the legitimate concerns of Native American tribes, and the competing demands on the Bureau of Reclamation -- not only in Yuma, but throughout the region -- have stymied efforts to make progress.
Wetlands Restoration
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| BEFORE Currently, the Colorado River in the East Wetlands is clogged with Salt Cedars, exotic plant growth and silt build-up. |
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DURING Natural channel stabilization and dredging of backwaters will allow better water flow and clear the way for favorable wildlife habitat. |
AFTER A similar project near Parker, AZ. Here the revitalized Colorado river features native plant life, restored habitat and natural water tributaries. In the East Wetlands, one hundred acres of lakes will replace current overgrowth.
The East Wetlands as a Model for the Nation
For decades, the Yuma community has sought to improve a five-mile stretch of the Colorado River. Bounded by levees for flood control, choked by non-native vegetation, a haven for illegal activity and the homeless, and starved of an adequate water supply, this 1400 acre area became a "forgotten land": a parched patch of river bottom where once cottonwoods and willows grew, where the Quechan Indian tribal members once hunted and fished, and where hundreds of birds nested.
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| BEFORE Salt cedar, cane and other non-native vegetation degrade habitat, increase fire hazards and become a haven for undesirable activity. |
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DURING The overgrowth is cleared and native trees, such as cottonwoods and willows, are planted and irrigated. |
AFTER Within five years, the newly planted trees are providing shade and beautiful surroundings where nature can be enjoyed. Hiking and bird watching are favorite recreations.
