Pop Up Park Comes to Downtown Phoenix Campus

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership and Arizona State University have collaborated to bring a weekly Pop Up Park event to the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.

The event, which takes place Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. in Civic Space Park, is designed to give students and other community members a chance to unwind and kick off the weekend with informal games and music.

The Downtown Phoenix Partnership coordinates the gathering, which is modeled after its popular daily Pop Up Park at CityScape that draws local workers, visitors and passersby to engage in spontaneous midday play.

“We enjoy seeing people get out of their homes and offices to enjoy downtown’s unique urban spaces, and that’s why we are excited about being a part of Civic Space Park,” said Samantha Jackson, community services director at the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. “We want to see the public get out and use the park, whether it’s playing flag football or reading a book while listening to some good music.”

Dale Larsen, director of administrative operations at ASU’s College of Public Programs, called Civic Space Park “a remarkable public assembly anchor” for the Downtown Phoenix campus.

“The Downtown Phoenix Partnership actively recognizes the rich benefits of supporting our public park, ASU and the surrounding community through this creative program,” Larsen said. “As the downtown campus continues to grow and develop, so does the community stakeholder partnership and relationship to Civic Space Park.”

Like the event at CityScape, the Pop Up Park in Civic Space Park features music and a variety of games and activities, including beanbag toss, Frisbee, badminton, football and soccer, hosted by Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Downtown Phoenix Partnership to provide this fun recreational activity for students,” said Keith Chandler, events and administration program coordinator at the downtown campus vice provost’s office. “Civic Space Park is the perfect location for students to unwind and interact with the community, especially as the campus grows with the addition of a student union at the post office and the expansion of the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA.”

People can drop by Civic Space Park anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. on Fridays to participate. For more information, visit http://urbandevil.asu.edu.