The City of Maricopa is adding something new to Heritage Park: a historic walkway that honors the community’s history and explosive growth.
The project was made possible in part by a $100,000 grant from Mike Ingram, founder of El Dorado Holdings. Heritage Park will be renamed after the developer. Scottsdale-based EDH developed Rancho El Dorado as the city’s first neighborhood.
The walkway is part of the park that will be landscaped at some point in the future.
A city worker was busy putting the finishing touches on the shade structures Tuesday. Next, the historic plaques will be attached to the columns.
The park will be dedicated with a grand opening ceremony sometime next month, city spokesman Quinnn Konold said. The time and date of the ceremony will be announced later.
“This event is a milestone for our city as we honor our past while looking toward a bright future,” Konold said.
Parking for the park is available in the school district parking lot adjacent to the park.
The new historic walkway offers residents and visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and trace Maricopa’s journey from its beginnings to its current status as one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, Konold said. Each of the nine pillars will represent a different chapter in Maricopa’s history.
The city is contributing $93,000 to the shadow structures.
Maricopa Mayor Nancy Smith said the Mike Ingram Heritage Park will be “a lasting tribute to the spirit of Maricopa” and will honor the individuals and milestones that have shaped the community.
“We are deeply grateful to Mike Ingram for his generosity and commitment to preserving our city’s heritage,” Smith said.
Mike Ingram Heritage Park is located at 44240 W Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway, near the Maricopa Historical Society headquarters.
Heritage Park was the brainchild of retired city manager Rick Horst, who now serves as the city’s chief economic development strategist. The park land was donated to the city by Maricopa pioneers John and Mary Lou Smith.
The plaques were designed using the books “Reflections on a Desert Town” and “Images of America: Maricopa” by the late Maricopa historian Patricia Brock. Brock was a former president of the Maricopa Historical Society and a third-grade teacher at Maricopa Elementary School who compiled the book with her students.
Brenda Campbell, a member of the historical society and the city’s events and arts coordinator, said the walkway will represent the city’s bombastic growth.
“In 2000, the town had a population of 1,200, and the Heritage District was primarily the town center,” Campbell said. “And that’s where essentially the entire community lived, except for the farmers who had their homes on the outskirts.”
Today, the estimated population of Maricopa is about 72,000.
