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      ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Van Buren Outdoor Event Space​​​​​​​ (Median Removal)

      Downtown street festival spaces have gradually given way to exciting new developments in the central city region.

      Downtown Phoenix, Inc. and the city are seeking a new location for outdoor festivals that draw residents and visitors as well as food trucks, entertainers and independent vendors. 

      A location on Van Buren Street between 2nd Street and 7th Street was identified as a potential site because it has access to nearby parking strucures, light rail and adjacent transit stops. 

      To make this area viable for permitted street festivals, the Street Transportation Department would need to remove the medians, palms and irrigation. 

      Project Details

      The proposed project area starts at the east side of 2nd Street and Van Buren Street and continues to the western edge of the 7th Street intersection. This map shows the existing median areas highlighted in yellow.

      The proposed project area starts at the east side of 2nd Street and Van Buren Street and continues to the western edge of the 7th Street intersection. This map shows the existing median areas highlighted in yellow.
      Aerial image of proposed project area

      Project Benefits

      • Phoenix hosts major events like the Super Bowl, Final Four, NCAA Women's Final Four and NBA All-Star game and other playoff games. Having a downtown outdoor event space allows for a diverse array of sponsored and related activities.
      • Major national events draw thousands of people to the metro region and have a huge positive economic effect on Phoenix and the state as a whole.
      • Outdoor event spaces allow local businesses, residents and visitors to participate in these major national events, even if they don't attend the event itself.

      Please note that proper planning, permitting, emergency service arrangements and related community notifications would be required as with any street festival or block party.

      Colorful mural on the site of a building showing a desert landscape and super bowl trophy.

      Block 23 and Downtown Phoenix

      ​As the Phoenix downtown skyline has evolved in recent decades, outdoor public festival spaces have given way to development. Patriot's Square Park became CityScape, a vibrant downtown shopping and dining venue. Just east of CityScape is the site historically known as Block 23, shown below during a large outdoor festival for the 2015 Super Bowl XLIX. Today, Block 23 is the site of Downtown Phoenix' only supermarket, plus more than 300 apartments and additonal retail space and restaurants. 

      Colorful mural on the site of a building showing a desert landscape and super bowl trophy.

      ​Community Engagement

      Street Transportation held a virtual public meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. to share plans and allow residents, businesses and community members to participate in the discussion.

      Contact the Project Team

      Tariq Momika
      602-262-6553
      tariq.momika@phoenix.gov​