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Maryvale, Phoenix

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Maryvale is an urban village[4] of Phoenix, Arizona.

Maryvale
Urban Village of Phoenix
Maryvale Urban Village within Phoenix.
Maryvale Urban Village within Phoenix.
Maryvale Baseball Park and surrounding suburban development.
Maryvale Baseball Park and surrounding suburban development.
Coordinates: 33°30′07″N 112°10′40″W / 33.50194°N 112.17778°W / 33.50194; -112.17778
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CityPhoenix
Area
[1]
 • Total
37.6 sq mi (~97.4 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,119 ft (341 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total
208,189
 • Density6,500/sq mi (2,500/km2)
Area code602 623
WebsiteMaryvale Village Planning Committee

History

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Plans for Maryvale began to take shape in the 1950s, when developer John F. Long (1920–2008) came up with the idea of a master-planned community on the western part of the city of Phoenix,[5] with an aim of turning the area into a suburb with affordable homes and one of the first master planned communities in the country.[6] Long and his Maryvale homes were regarded as marvels at the time due to the speed in which they were built and assembly line like process used to construct them. In 1954, Long has sold 350 homes before they were even built, and was capable of completing about eight a day.[7][8] Maryvale was designed to include space for parks, schools, and the fulfillment of other community services.[9] Marketing involved famous actors of that era including Buster Keaton, Pat Boone, and future President Ronald Reagan.[10]

The community was named after Long's wife, Mary,[5] and its initial master plan was drawn up by architect Victor Gruen.[5] By 1956, Long was selling 125 homes a week in Maryvale.

Demographic changes came to the area by 1975, as residents began moving to the north Valley.[11] Meanwhile, Hispanic families began moving into the area in the 1980s.[11] Additionally, the discovery of a cancer cluster in the 1980s (see below) reportedly contributed to white flight in the community.[12] The Savings and Loan crisis in the 1980s also hit the area hard, leading to an increase in foreclosures and resident relocation to other areas.[13]

Due to the demographic change, the community experienced major disinvestment leading to slowed development, and increased poverty and crime. This led to the modern day negative reputation of the community.[13]

Maryvale is noted for having a crime problem.[14] Gangs moved into condominium and apartment complexes in the area, and were not afraid of challenging law enforcement.[14] Gang members at one particular condominium complex, Woodmar, were noted to have threatened law enforcement officials to the extent that Phoenix police did not allow its officers to enter the complex without the backup of at least two other police officers.[14] The area also has a problem with graffiti.[15]

In 1999, Phoenix Police Department officer Marc Atkinson was shot and killed in Maryvale, in the first fatal shooting of a police officer in the city of Phoenix since 1991.[14] In that same year, Phoenix police began an effort aimed at reducing crime at Woodmar, with search warrants served, drug and criminal syndicate charges filed against individuals, and restraining orders served on people who did not live at the complex.[16] As a result, there was a decrease in crime at the complex,[16] but the Maryvale community, as a whole, is still experiencing crime problems.[17] The community was rocked by a number of shootings that were allegedly committed by the Serial Street Shooter in 2016.[18] At the time, community leaders expressed concerns that Maryvale had been ignored by city leaders and the Phoenix Police Department.[18]

Maryvale made local, national, and international headlines in 2014, after reports surfaced of feral chihuahuas terrorizing area residents.[19][20][21] The veracity of the reports, however, has been challenged by the Phoenix New Times.[22]

Geography

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The community is located on the western edge of the City of Phoenix, and encompasses an area southwest of Grand Avenue, West of Interstate 17, north of McDowell Road and Interstate 10, and east and southeast of Phoenix city limits.[1]

Demographics

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Maryvale is the most populous of Phoenix's urban villages.[23]

As of 2010, Maryvale had a population of 208,189.[3] While census figures show no single ethnic group being in the majority, Caucasians made up the largest single racial group, comprising 49.5% of the community's population.[3] Blacks or African Americans make up 6% of Maryvale's population, followed by American Indian or Alaska Native (1.9%), Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders (1.9%), and Asian (1.5%).[3] (37% of the community's population are identified as members of "Some Other Race".) [3]

Hispanics comprise 76% of Maryvale's residents.[24][3] This makes the village a minority-majority community.[11]

The median household income in Maryvale is $40,504 per year, and 20.63% of the community's population live under the poverty line.[3]

Arts and culture

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Maryvale is home to Ak-Chin Pavilion, located at 2121 N 83rd Avenue, an entertainment venue for the Phoenix metropolitan area. The amphitheater first opened in 1990, with a total capacity of approximately 20,000.[25]

Sports and recreation

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Baseball

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The American Family Fields of Phoenix, a 56-acre facility located at 51st Avenue and Indian School Road is the spring training home for the Milwaukee Brewers.[26][27] The stadium first opened in 1998 as Maryvale Baseball Park. In November 2017, the Phoenix City Council approved a deal that will keep the Brewers at the facility for another 25 years. In exchange, the city will contribute US$2 million per year, for five years, towards park renovation efforts.[28]

Camelback Ranch, a 141-acre facility [29] located at 107th Avenue and Camelback Road,[27] is the spring training home for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.[29]

Golf

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The City of Phoenix once operated the Maryvale Golf Course, a championship-length course that was designed by William F. Bell, who also designed Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.[30] The 130-acre facility[31] opened in 1961,[5] but the City of Phoenix eventually ran the golf course at a loss of $250,000 per year.[32] The golf course reopened as the Grand Canyon University Golf Course on January 6, 2016, as a partnership between the City of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University (GCU).[32] The new golf course was redesigned by John Fought,[32] with a rebuilt clubhouse.[31] GCU, which invested $10 million into the project, will split the golf course's profits with the City of Phoenix after it recoups its initial investment.[32]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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The Desert Sky Transit Center, which opened for service in December 2015, serves public transit users in the area.[33] A number of Valley Metro bus routes call at the station,[33] including the bus rapid transit route I-10 West RAPID, which carries passengers from the center to Downtown Phoenix,[34] and the Phoenix/Gila Bend Regional Connector, which carries passengers between the Transit Center and Gila Bend.[35]

The Maryvale community is also served by a local circulator bus route called Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator MARY.[36]

Health

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In 2011, non-profit community health center group Mountain Health Center converted an abandoned theater in Maryvale into a clinic.[37]

In December 2017, Abrazo Community Health Network closed its campus, citing declining demands for its services.[38] The decision to close the hospital was announced in October of that year and, although officials with Abrazo said the closure would not impact the community's access to healthcare,[38] residents were concerned that the extra time spent traveling to other healthcare facilities nearby could be detrimental during an emergency situation.[39]

The public hospital system, Valleywise Health (formerly Maricopa Integrated Health System), operates the Valleywise Community Health Center – West Maryvale, Valleywise Emergency – Maryvale, and the Valleywise Behavioral Health Center – Maryvale. Its sole hospital is Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix.[40] In 2018, Maricopa Integrated Health System announced it will reopen the former Abrazo hospital facility, along with its emergency department, in 2019. The former hospital facility reopened as Valleywise Behavioral Health Center – Maryvale and Valleywise Emergency – Maryvale.[41] On October 28, 2021, the Maryvale clinic moved to West Maryvale.[42]

Environment

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Maryvale was noted as being built on farmland at a time when the pesticide DDT was in regular use.[43] Maryvale is also the location of a state Superfund site known as the West Central Phoenix Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund (WQARF), which involves the dumping of chemicals, including TCE, by a number of industries in the area.

The West Central Phoenix WQARF, according to Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality, is an area that contains five plumes of groundwater contamination, including Volatile organic compound, PCE, and TCE.[44] The water under the area is not used in the public drinking water system.[44]

Cancer cluster

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In 1987, community residents became aware of the fact that Maryvale was part of a cancer cluster.[45] From 1970 to 1986, newborns to 19-year-olds died of Leukemia at a rate twice the era's national average.[45] In addition, a study that began in 1983 and was released in 1987 revealed that, in the same general area of the cancer cluster, elevated rates of birth defects were identified.[46]

The state's Department of Health Services (ADHS) was reportedly aware of the cancer cluster problem at least five years prior to the report, and repeatedly refused to launch a substantive investigation.[45] In addition, the agency also told the principal of a parochial school in the area – who first discovered that children were dying – to not talk about the issue.[47]

A study was later launched by the state, with an original completion deadline of 1991.[48] The study, under the oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,[47] faced a number of delays,[47] but eventually found no link between environmental factors and the leukemia cases.[47] Critics accused ADHS of not looking seriously at the community's water supply, instead focusing on collecting data on a wide array of variables.[47] Some critics also leveled accusations that the study was drawn out, with the intention of deflecting litigation against the city of Phoenix and pollution generating industries.[47] As recently as 2009, Arizona's Department of Environmental Quality maintains there is no link between Maryvale's groundwater contamination and increased cancer rates.[49]

Notable residents

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Frank Garcia, Maryvale High School, NFL Football player, Arizona Cardinal

Korva Coleman, Maryvale High School, NPR Newscaster

References

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  1. ^ a b "Maryvale Village Brochure" (PDF). City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Feature Detail Report for: Maryvale". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Maryvale Village" (PDF). City of Phoenix. 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "Villages". City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Godfrey, William (2010). Maryvale Golf Course: The First 50 Years. ISBN 9781453578001. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  6. ^ City of Phoenix. "Maryvale Village Character Plan" (PDF). Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "John F. Long Holds Record for Local House Building". Newspapers.com. June 20, 1954. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Construction Shown by Unusual Models". Newspapers.com. January 24, 1954. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "John F. Long". Historical League, Inc. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "Maryvale, the state's first master planned community (from History page)". John F Long Properties LLLP. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Lang, Erica (December 17, 2015). "In one West Valley community, ever-shifting demographics are changing the face of Phoenix". The Arizona Republic. Cronkite News Service. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "A planet of suburbs". The Economist. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Pitts, William (September 30, 2022). "Maryvale used to be the place to be. Then everything changed". www.12news.com. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d Farnsworth, Chris (June 24, 1999). "Crackdown". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  15. ^ Holmstrom, David (February 14, 1996). "No More Handwriting On This Community's Wall". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Woodmar Revitalization Project" (PDF). Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  17. ^ Dana, Joe (February 22, 2016). "Increase in crime an issue in Maryvale". KPNX. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Escárcega, Patricia (October 5, 2016). "Maryvale 'Serial Shooter' Murders Have Residents on Edge — And Feeling Abandoned". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  19. ^ Krafft, Steve (February 13, 2014). "Dogs gone wild; packs of Chihuahuas roam Maryvale streets". KSAZ-TV. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  20. ^ Grossman, Samantha (February 18, 2014). "Ragtag Team of Rogue Chihuahuas Terrorizing Arizona Town". Time Magazine. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  21. ^ Saul, Heather (February 21, 2014). "Packs of stray Chihuahuas chase children and terrorise residents in Arizona suburb". The Independent. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  22. ^ Hendley, Matthew (February 18, 2014). "Gangs of Chihuahuas Are Not Running Maryvale". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  23. ^ "2010 Census Characteristics for all Villages + Phoenix" (PDF). City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  24. ^ (See Hispanic–Latino naming dispute for details of an ongoing dispute on the naming of US inhabitants who are of Latin American or Spanish origin.)
  25. ^ "Maryvale Village Character Plan" (PDF). City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  26. ^ "Maryvale Baseball Park". City of Phoenix. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Maryvale". City of Phoenix. Retrieved January 26, 2018. ...the Village is home to two major league baseball spring training facilities. One is located at 51st Avenue and Indian School Road and the other is located at 107th Avenue and Camelback Road.
  28. ^ "Phoenix lawmakers vote to keep Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale". KTAR-FM. November 15, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  29. ^ a b "About Camelback Ranch". Camelback Ranch. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  30. ^ "Maryvale Golf Course". City of Phoenix. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  31. ^ a b Goth, Brenna (December 11, 2015). "5 facts about the Grand Canyon University golf course in west Phoenix". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  32. ^ a b c d Obert, Richard (January 6, 2016). "GCU Golf Course at old Maryvale site now open". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  33. ^ a b "New Desert Sky Transit Center Nears Completion". City of Phoenix. November 25, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  34. ^ "I-10 West RAPID". Valley Metro. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  35. ^ "Phoenix/Gila Bend Regional Connector". Valley Metro. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  36. ^ "Phoenix Neighborhood Circulator MARY". Valley Metro. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  37. ^ "Maryvale". Mountain Park Health Center. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  38. ^ a b Ciletti, Nick (December 18, 2017). "Abrazo closes the doors to Maryvale hospital". KNXV-TV. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  39. ^ Carlson, Kara (October 20, 2017). "Maryvale residents express concerns about hospital closure". Cronkite News. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  40. ^ "Locations". Valleywise Health. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  41. ^ "Closed Maryvale hospital to reopen in 2019". KSAZ-TV. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  42. ^ "Valleywise Community Health Center – Maryvale is Moving". Valleywise Health. August 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  43. ^ Ross, Andrew (2011). Bird on Fire: Lessons from the World's Least Sustainable City. Oxford University Press. pp. 128–131. ISBN 9780199828265. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  44. ^ a b "West Central Phoenix Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund Site" (PDF). Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  45. ^ a b c Greene, Terry (February 22, 1989). "Piercing Together The West-side Cancer Cluster". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  46. ^ "Performance audit, Department of Health Services, Division of Disease Prevention". Arizona Memory Project. State of Arizona Research Library. May 1989. p. 18. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  47. ^ a b c d e f Downing, Renée (February 12, 2004). "Cancer Wars". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  48. ^ Sterling, Terry Greene (October 24, 1996). "The Pain of Maryvale". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  49. ^ "Community Involvement Plan" (PDF). Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. p. 17. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  50. ^ "Henry Cejudo | UFC". www.ufc.com.
  51. ^ "Doug Mathis". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
  52. ^ "Profile: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor". PBS NewsHour. July 1, 2005. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  53. ^ Obert, Richard (September 9, 2015). "Maryvale High's all-time greatest football players". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
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