In the middle of a desert, surrounded by a plethora of rocks, never-ending dirt and more cacti than you can shake a divining rod at, the city of Tempe is a veritable land of wholesome fun and adventure-packed activities. Whether it's taking a stroll down the ever so family-oriented Mill Avenue or going out for a night of fine dining at one of the many local dives, there's something here for everyone. And while this absolute, picture-perfect city of a college town gone posh with bums banished from our streets (and coffeehouses) seems like a finished puzzle, there's still one thing missing: a boathouse. Yes, that's right -- a boathouse.
No, we're not Texas where cacti and boathouses in the same state are expected and the gulf provides plenty of beaches for a boathouse. And no, the old dream of beachfront property in Arizona when California breaks off the continent and drifts away hasn't happened yet. Darn false hopes. California's still there, and we're still stuck inland, boasting that at least our heat's a dry heat. But here in Tempe, that's not enough. We created a pool of stagnant water known affectionately as Tempe Town Lake, and so now, we need a boathouse too.
With the Rio Salado Project, under the Rio Salado Town Lake Foundation, the city of Tempe is aiming at just that. While trying to make the entire area a nicer, "live, work and play" type environment, the foundation asked ASU's College of Architecture and Environmental Design for designs. The boathouse would be a sort of center of activity, and as professor of architecture Max Underwood called it, a sort of "community living room."
As Underwood explained, with ASU's help, project officials can better "see the realities," and get an idea before putting out a public request for company proposals.
While giving the city a chance to see these design prototypes and gain insight into what options they want from the building, the 60 graduate and undergraduate students participating will get the opportunity to display their work at a public exhibition later this month.
Designs varying from huge canopies encompassing the area to great stages appeared. One even had the structure consisting of floating components allowing the freedom to fit each event.
And that's wonderful. Really. The city of Tempe/ASU partnership makes for a very unique student project.
But perhaps that's where it makes most sense. While not yet funded and currently standing without a timetable for completion or even initiation at that, the idea itself seems silly. After all, we are talking about making a boathouse in Arizona, a city of rocks and dirt (sometimes considered the geological capitol of the world).
Is that enough though? Apparently not. Living in the desert, it's only natural to manufacture fake water formations because it looks pretty, and because we secretly harbor envy for Minnesota, the land of 10,000 lakes. So let's add a boathouse too. A boathouse in the middle of the desert and on a lake more fit for charity cardboard boat races (kudos to them, by the way) than the more expected pastime of swimming. Then again, perhaps it'll attract more people to spend a day at our fake lake. Sure, why not? It sounds like a plan, albeit an unexpected one.
Rosie Cisneros is a journalism sophomore. Reach her at rosie.cisneros@asu.edu.
