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Flagstaff officials preview civic space at Downtown Connection Center, tie it to Rio de Flag timeline
Summary
City staff and Mountain Line presented a concept for a civic park adjacent to the Downtown Connection Center that would include a splash pad, public restrooms, art, a bus plaza and connections to the Rio de Flag floodway; construction timing depends on Rio de Flag floodplain work and FTA-funded transit schedules.
City of Flagstaff staff and Mountain Line presented concept designs April 1 for a civic space next to the Downtown Connection Center that would include a bus plaza, public restroom, art installations, a splash pad and multiuse park features.
The proposal positions the civic space directly south of the rail line near Beaver Street and Phoenix Avenue and ties construction timing to the Rio de Flag flood-control project and associated floodplain mapping. Mountain Line staff said the transit agency has Federal Transit Administration funding for parts of the overall project and wants the design advanced to be construction-ready when Rio de Flag work allows site improvements.
Commissioners were shown a bubble diagram that highlights an open lawn, a tree grove, a photography viewpoint framed on Flagstaff's peaks, space for food trucks, pop-up performance areas and a proposed public restroom. Presenters said the design team has prioritized multimodal connections, including a FUTS (shared-use) connection and future pedestrian underpasses to improve north-south connectivity across Route 66 and the railroad.
Mountain Line noted constraints imposed by the Rio de Flag floodway and FEMA floodplain mapping: substantial built elements in the floodway are not allowed until maps are revised, which the city will need to pursue after Rio de Flag construction. That timing—presenters and commissioners estimated the civic space will likely wait until Rio de Flag-related work is complete—was a key limiting factor raised repeatedly in the discussion.
Councilmember Garcia and multiple commissioners asked about parking, the location of FUTS connections and sightlines to the sacred peaks; presenters said some surface parking north of the civic bay is being discussed and that the team will present to the Downtown Business Alliance, BPAC and City Council during the coming months. Presenters requested Parks and Recreation Commission feedback so Mountain Line and the city can advance the design to a higher construction level (Mountain Line said it aims to reach roughly 30% design, with staff noting interest in getting toward 60%).
Mountain Line also said one public art piece, the Southside Grove by Hajjal Trugan, has been installed temporarily near the new building and will be relocated into the civic space long-term. Presenters emphasized that the civic space concept differs from Heritage Square by favoring more naturalized planting, flexible paved areas and destination elements such as a splash pad intended to be free to the public during warm months.
Commissioners and presenters outlined next steps: continued outreach to partner groups, further presentations to BPAC and the Downtown Business Alliance, and a City Council briefing scheduled for June 17 where staff and Mountain Line will seek guidance to advance design work. No binding commitment of city recreation capital funds was requested at the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.
