CURRENT STATUS – VISION PLAN
CURRENT STATUS – VISION PLAN
PHASE ONE LAUNCHED
PHASE ONE LAUNCHED The process has begun to develop a regional vision for the Rio Reimagined (RIO) study area, building on local projects, plans, and prior community engagement efforts. This webpage will include regular updates on the current status of the planning process.
With the breadth and complexity of the RIO study area, this initial phase to scope a plan is critical, and yet is only the beginning of community engagement. The scope and cost to develop a plan will be evaluated by partners, with a decision by the leaders of the RIO communities in fall 2025 on whether to proceed with “Phase Two”. Phase Two would include the expansive community engagement process necessary to develop the plan.
PHASE ONE LAUNCHED
PHASE ONE LAUNCHED
The process has begun to develop a regional vision for the Rio Reimagined (RIO) study area, building on local projects, plans, and prior community engagement efforts. This webpage will include regular updates on the current status of the planning process.
With the breadth and complexity of the RIO study area, this initial phase to scope a plan is critical, and yet is only the beginning of community engagement. The scope and cost to develop a plan will be evaluated by partners, with a decision by the leaders of the RIO communities in fall 2025 on whether to proceed with “Phase Two”. Phase Two would include the expansive community engagement process necessary to develop the plan.
Current Activity
Team Selected to Guide Scoping
Spring 2025 – Fall 2025
A consultant team was selected through competitive procurement by a diverse evaluation committee in spring 2025 to guide RIO partners in designing a planning process and scope of work for a regional vision plan. The selected consultant team, composed of ABLE Studio, PAM, and Sixth World Solutions, brings a range of expertise, including visioning, strategy, planning, landscape architecture, and indigenous-led consultancy to the work of building a participatory process that engages the diverse communities along the river corridor and honors their unique assets, needs, and priorities.
Current Activity
Team Selected to Guide Scoping
Spring 2025 – Fall 2025
A consultant team was selected through competitive procurement by a diverse evaluation committee in spring 2025 to guide RIO partners in designing a planning process and scope of work for a regional vision plan. The selected consultant team, composed of ABLE Studio, PAM, and Sixth World Solutions, brings a range of expertise, including visioning, strategy, planning, landscape architecture, and indigenous-led consultancy to the work of building a participatory process that engages the diverse communities along the river corridor and honors their unique assets, needs, and priorities.
Planning Committees
Two committees of RIO partners will be formed to work with consultants on scoping a regional-scale vision plan for RIO. A Scoping Committee and Community Engagement Subcommittee will convene over the summer/early fall to develop a scope of work for consideration by the elected leaders of the RIO communities.
Scoping Committee
Facilitated by the consultant team described above, the Scoping Committee will be responsible for outlining:
- How this regional scale plan will support pre-existing plans
- Who the plan is for (intended audiences)
- How the plan will be formally adopted/accepted/etc.
- How the plan will be implemented
- The elements the plan will include (e.g., implementation strategy, priority projects, community engagement, etc.)
- A framework for identifying stakeholders
- Guiding principles for a community engagement model
The Scoping Committee will be composed of representatives from Rio Reimagined communities including one representative from each jurisdiction, three community leaders (who will be compensated for their time), and one representative each from the Salt River Project, Maricopa Association of Governments, the new social impact organization for Rio Reimagined, and the RIO Ambassador to Urban Waters.
Community Engagement Subcommittee
A Community Engagement Subcommittee will be formed to develop a recommendation for guiding principles for a community engagement model and framework for identifying stakeholders during Phase Two (plan development).
The Community Engagement Subcommittee will be composed of three community leaders, one MAG representative, and two representatives from the ASU University City Exchange.
The community leaders will be responsible for working collaboratively within the committees to develop recommendations for outreach and engagement that will be carried out in the second phase process (plan development). A survey was recently circulated to secure input from the public on the important qualities, skillsets, and experience (i.e ‘criteria’) for the three community leaders. An application for the three community leader positions will be available in July. If you would like to receive this application via email, please notify info@rioreimagined.com.
Scoping Committee
Facilitated by the consultant team described above, the Scoping Committee will be responsible for outlining:
- How this regional scale plan will support pre-existing plans
- Who the plan is for (intended audiences)
- How the plan will be formally adopted/accepted/etc.
- How the plan will be implemented
- The elements the plan will include (e.g., implementation strategy, priority projects, community engagement, etc.)
- A framework for identifying stakeholders
- Guiding principles for a community engagement model
The Scoping Committee will be composed of representatives from Rio Reimagined communities including one representative from each jurisdiction, three community leaders (who will be compensated for their time), and one representative each from the Salt River Project, Maricopa Association of Governments, the new social impact organization for Rio Reimagined, and the RIO Ambassador to Urban Waters.
Community Engagement Subcommittee
A Community Engagement Subcommittee will be formed to develop a recommendation for guiding principles for a community engagement model and framework for identifying stakeholders during Phase Two (plan development).
The Community Engagement Subcommittee will be composed of three community leaders, one MAG representative, and two representatives from the ASU University City Exchange.
The community leaders will be responsible for working collaboratively within the committees to develop recommendations for outreach and engagement that will be carried out in the second phase process (plan development). A survey was recently circulated to secure input from the public on the important qualities, skillsets, and experience (i.e ‘criteria’) for the three community leaders. An application for the three community leader positions will be available in July. If you would like to receive this application via email, please notify info@rioreimagined.com.
Current Activity
Team Selected to Guide Scoping
Spring 2025 – Fall 2025
A consultant team was selected through competitive procurement by a diverse evaluation committee in spring 2025 to guide RIO partners in designing a planning process and scope of work for a regional vision plan. The selected consultant team, composed of ABLE Studio, PAM, and Sixth World Solutions, brings a range of expertise, including visioning, strategy, planning, landscape architecture, and indigenous-led consultancy to the work of building a participatory process that engages the diverse communities along the river corridor and honors their unique assets, needs, and priorities.
Current Activity
Team Selected to Guide Scoping
Spring 2025 – Fall 2025
A consultant team was selected through competitive procurement by a diverse evaluation committee in spring 2025 to guide RIO partners in designing a planning process and scope of work for a regional vision plan. The selected consultant team, composed of ABLE Studio, PAM, and Sixth World Solutions, brings a range of expertise, including visioning, strategy, planning, landscape architecture, and indigenous-led consultancy to the work of building a participatory process that engages the diverse communities along the river corridor and honors their unique assets, needs, and priorities.
Planning Committees
Two committees of RIO partners will be formed to work with consultants on scoping a regional-scale vision plan for RIO. A Scoping Committee and Community Engagement Subcommittee will convene over the summer/early fall to develop a scope of work for consideration by the elected leaders of the RIO communities.
Scoping Committee
Facilitated by the consultant team described above, the Scoping Committee will be responsible for outlining:
- How this regional scale plan will support pre-existing plans
- Who the plan is for (intended audiences)
- How the plan will be formally adopted/accepted/etc.
- How the plan will be implemented
- The elements the plan will include (e.g., implementation strategy, priority projects, community engagement, etc.)
- A framework for identifying stakeholders
- Guiding principles for a community engagement model
The Scoping Committee will be composed of representatives from Rio Reimagined communities including one representative from each jurisdiction, three community leaders (who will be compensated for their time), and one representative each from the Salt River Project, Maricopa Association of Governments, the new social impact organization for Rio Reimagined, and the RIO Ambassador to Urban Waters.
Community Engagement Subcommittee
A Community Engagement Subcommittee will be formed to develop a recommendation for guiding principles for a community engagement model and framework for identifying stakeholders during Phase Two (plan development).
The Community Engagement Subcommittee will be composed of three community leaders, one MAG representative, and two representatives from the ASU University City Exchange.
The community leaders will be responsible for working collaboratively within the committees to develop recommendations for outreach and engagement that will be carried out in the second phase process (plan development). A survey was recently circulated to secure input from the public on the important qualities, skillsets, and experience (i.e ‘criteria’) for the three community leaders. An application for the three community leader positions will be available in July. If you would like to receive this application via email, please notify info@rioreimagined.com.
Scoping Committee
Facilitated by the consultant team described above, the Scoping Committee will be responsible for outlining:
- How this regional scale plan will support pre-existing plans
- Who the plan is for (intended audiences)
- How the plan will be formally adopted/accepted/etc.
- How the plan will be implemented
- The elements the plan will include (e.g., implementation strategy, priority projects, community engagement, etc.)
- A framework for identifying stakeholders
- Guiding principles for a community engagement model
The Scoping Committee will be composed of representatives from Rio Reimagined communities including one representative from each jurisdiction, three community leaders (who will be compensated for their time), and one representative each from the Salt River Project, Maricopa Association of Governments, the new social impact organization for Rio Reimagined, and the RIO Ambassador to Urban Waters.
Community Engagement Subcommittee
A Community Engagement Subcommittee will be formed to develop a recommendation for guiding principles for a community engagement model and framework for identifying stakeholders during Phase Two (plan development).
The Community Engagement Subcommittee will be composed of three community leaders, one MAG representative, and two representatives from the ASU University City Exchange.
The community leaders will be responsible for working collaboratively within the committees to develop recommendations for outreach and engagement that will be carried out in the second phase process (plan development). A survey was recently circulated to secure input from the public on the important qualities, skillsets, and experience (i.e ‘criteria’) for the three community leaders. An application for the three community leader positions will be available in July. If you would like to receive this application via email, please notify info@rioreimagined.com.
STAY INFORMED
Stay up to date on all things Rio Reimagined by attending the bimonthly Rio Reimagined partnership meetings, where speakers discuss a wide variety of programs, projects and progress of partners and the initiative at large. If you are not receiving the meeting notices for this public meeting, please email info@rioreimagined.org to sign up!
If you are not already receiving quarterly newsletters and updates from Rio Reimagined and would like to join the listserv, complete the Stay Informed form below.
STAY INFORMED
Stay up to date on all things Rio Reimagined by attending the bimonthly Rio Reimagined partnership meetings, where speakers discuss a wide variety of programs, projects and progress of partners and the initiative at large. If you are not receiving the meeting notices for this public meeting, please email info@rioreimagined.org to sign up!
If you are not already receiving quarterly newsletters and updates from Rio Reimagined and would like to join the listserv, complete the Stay Informed form below.
Stay Informed
Sign up to receive news, updates, and Rio Reimagined Partnership meeting invites to keep informed about the initiative.
Stay Connected
Sign up to receive news, updates, and Rio Partnership meeting invites to keep informed about the initiative.