MW11 The View from “A” Mountain: How Downtown Tempe Embraced Nature

Tempe is the most densely populated city in metro Phoenix, its downtown humming with activity from restaurants, bars, Arizona State University and a myriad of office workers and residents. Downtown Tempe is also home to an urban hiking trail and a lake! Take an urban hike (short but steep) up Hayden Butte (aka “A” Mountain) for panoramic views of the entire metro area. See petroglyphs and other aspects of Native culture on your hike. You’ll also learn how Tempe embraced nature in its downtown with the creation of Tempe Town Lake and the miles of walking and biking paths around it as well as how the city used Tempe Town Lake to spur a resurgence of development in downtown Tempe. Experience one of the region’s premier urban parks, served by over a dozen bus routes and two modes of rail transit – LRT and streetcar.