RIO PHX Initiative Aims to Expand Housing, Recreation, Economic Development and Environmental Restoration Along 20 Miles of the Rio Salado
PHOENIX, AZ — November 5, 2026 — The Phoenix Mayor and City Council have approved the Rio Salado District Policy Plan, marking a major milestone in the city’s long-term effort to transform the Rio Salado corridor into a connected destination for housing, recreation, economic development and environmental restoration.
The approval advances RIO PHX, a city-led planning initiative designed to reconnect Phoenix residents with the historic river corridor while encouraging investment in surrounding neighborhoods.
The Rio Salado District is the first planning area within the broader initiative, which envisions improvements along approximately 20 miles of the river corridor through Phoenix.
Located just south of Downtown Phoenix, the district includes established residential neighborhoods, commercial businesses, industrial properties and natural spaces.
City officials say the newly adopted policy plan will guide future development while emphasizing community participation, neighborhood preservation and environmental sustainability.
Mayor Kate Gallego Calls Plan a Major Step Toward Reconnecting Phoenix With Its River
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego described the approval as an important step toward realizing a regional vision for the Rio Salado.
“Rio Reimagined is a regional commitment to honor the river that gave life to our community, and RIO PHX sets the course to uplift this special riparian corridor as it winds through the heart of Phoenix,” Gallego said.
“This plan reflects the enthusiasm and ideas of our community members and translates vision into policy to ensure new development delivers opportunities for residents to enjoy the Rio Salado for generations.”
The initiative builds on the regional Rio Reimagined effort, which seeks to restore and reconnect the Salt and Gila river corridors as environmental and community assets.
Phoenix officials envision a river corridor that supports both ecological restoration and new opportunities for residents and businesses.
What the Rio Salado District Policy Plan Means for Phoenix
The newly approved plan establishes a long-term framework for development, redevelopment, and public investment.
Its primary priorities include:
- Housing opportunities: Supporting residential development and improving connections between existing neighborhoods and the river.
- Economic development: Encouraging business investment, employment opportunities and redevelopment of underutilized properties.
- Parks and recreation: Expanding public access to open spaces, trails, and recreational destinations.
- Environmental restoration: Protecting natural resources and supporting the ecological health of the river corridor.
- Transportation and connectivity: Strengthening connections between neighborhoods, businesses and public spaces.
- Neighborhood preservation: Protecting the character and history of established communities while ensuring residents benefit from future investment.
The policy plan provides guidance for future decisions rather than immediately authorizing construction.
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington Highlights Housing and Community Investment
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington emphasized the importance of ensuring that the project reflects the priorities of residents who live and work near the river.
“The Rio Salado District Policy Plan gives us an opportunity to think intentionally about how the area develops, how we connect residents to the Rio, and how we create more vibrant neighborhoods,” Washington said.
She also praised the public engagement process and the community’s emphasis on expanding residential opportunities.
“This is an exciting step forward for community-driven investment in the Rio Salado area,” she added.
Housing remains a central consideration as Phoenix continues to experience growth and development pressures.
City leaders say the Rio Salado plan offers an opportunity to coordinate future residential development with transportation, employment and recreational improvements.
Councilwoman Laura Pastor Calls for Protecting Historic Neighborhoods
District 4 Councilwoman Laura Pastor emphasized the historical significance of the river corridor and the importance of preserving the communities that have shaped it.
“As we move this historic plan forward, we are not only honoring a combination of legacy from my late father’s lifelong passion and vision, and many others, but also recognizing the generations of working-class families whose stories are deeply rooted in this corridor,” Pastor said.
She stressed that redevelopment must respect the history and character of surrounding neighborhoods.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that future growth respects that rich history, protects the character of our neighborhoods, and places community voices at the heart of every decision,” Pastor said.
“This is more than a development plan. It is an opportunity to reconnect communities and build a future that honors our past.”
Her remarks underscore a central challenge for the initiative: balancing new investment with protections for existing residents.
Councilwoman Anna Hernandez Raises Concerns About Historic Inequities
District 7 Councilwoman Anna Hernandez delivered one of the strongest statements about the city’s responsibility to communities historically affected by discriminatory planning and infrastructure decisions.
“For generations, the City of Phoenix made choices that harmed the communities along the Rio Salado. It drew lines that kept Black and Latino families out of the north side, withheld basic infrastructure, and routed Interstate 17 through the neighborhoods that were left,” Hernandez said.
She warned that future investment must avoid repeating patterns in which development benefits newcomers without adequately serving established communities.
“Residents here know what it looks like when growth happens to a community instead of with it,” Hernandez said.
“With this plan, the City has a chance to do it differently. I’ll be holding us to that, from the first development deal to the last.”
Her comments highlight the importance of accountability, equitable development and meaningful public participation as Phoenix moves toward implementation.
City Council Also Approves General Plan Land Use Map Amendment
Alongside the Rio Salado District Policy Plan, the City Council approved an amendment to Phoenix’s General Plan Land Use Map.
The amendment aligns future land-use guidance with the district’s long-term planning objectives.
However, city officials emphasized an important distinction:
The approval does not authorize individual development projects or change existing zoning regulations.
Specific projects would still need to proceed through applicable planning, zoning, permitting, and approval processes.
The policy plan and land-use amendment instead establish a foundation for evaluating future proposals and public investments.
Rio Reimagined: A Regional Vision for the Salt and Gila Rivers
The RIO PHX initiative is part of a larger regional effort known as Rio Reimagined.
The initiative seeks to restore, connect, and activate the Salt and Gila River corridors, transforming them into valuable environmental, recreational, and economic assets.
For Phoenix, the vision includes improving connections between neighborhoods and the river while creating opportunities for recreation, conservation and responsible development.
The approximately 20-mile corridor presents opportunities to connect communities that have historically been separated by industrial land uses, transportation infrastructure and limited public access.
City officials envision a future in which the Rio Salado becomes a more accessible and integrated part of everyday life in Phoenix.
What’s Next for the Rio Salado District?
With the policy plan approved, Phoenix can begin moving from long-term planning toward implementation.
Future work will involve coordination among residents, property owners, public agencies, community organizations, and potential development partners.
The city will work to identify investment opportunities, prioritize improvements and advance recommendations outlined in the plan.
Individual projects, funding decisions and implementation timelines will require additional planning and review.
Community involvement is expected to remain an important part of that process.
A New Chapter for Phoenix’s River Corridor
The Rio Salado District Policy Plan represents an opportunity to rethink how Phoenix grows around one of its most historically significant natural corridors.
While the plan creates a framework for future housing, employment, recreation and environmental improvements, its long-term success will depend on how those priorities are implemented.
Questions about affordability, displacement, public access and equitable investment will remain important as development proposals move forward.
For residents of south and central Phoenix, the initiative could reshape the relationship between their neighborhoods and the Rio Salado for generations.
Residents interested in learning more about the initiative can visit the City of Phoenix RIO PHX planning website.
Habari News will continue covering the Rio Salado transformation, including future development proposals, public investment decisions, and community impacts.
Source: City of Phoenix, Rio Salado District Policy Plan announcement.
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