By spending millions of dollars, the Phoenix Parks Department hopes to attract millions more. Parks Director Inger Erickson wants city leaders to approve a $5 million contract for a consultant to design the Hance Park Master Plan. 

“What we’re hoping to do is have the seed money to work with the Phoenix Community Alliance and the Hance Park Conservancy for them to go out and raise additional money to put into the park,” she said.

Erickson pitched the plan to a city subcommittee this way: by hiring a consultant to design the master plan, the city will show its commitment – and that should entice the private sector to get involved through naming rights, sponsorships and donations. But some residents would rather see the money from the voter-approved Phoenix Parks and Preserve Initiative Program spent on improving other parks.

Margaret T. Hance Park spans 32 acres over Interstate 10, but the big focus of the master plan is the area south of McDowell Road, between 3rd Street and 5th Avenue. 

“We have lots of apartments going up,” Erickson said. “This park is something that would address the needs of those folks.” 

Councilman Michael Nowakowski said downtown development continues to eat up space for big events and the goal is to turn Hance Park into a year-round destination. The full council must still vote on the deal with Hargreaves Associates, a landscape architecture firm with offices in New York and San Francisco.