Creation

• Concept for lake created in 1966 at Arizona State University
• Opened Nov. 7, 1999
• 220 surface acres – 2 miles long 
•  800-1,200 feet wide
• Average depth 12.5 feet, ranging from 7 to 19 feet
• Initial Construction costs: $45,532,196
• Private developers are absorbing $26.9 million of these costs

Water

• Capacity is about 3,000 acre-feet or 977 million gallons
• Water to keep the lake full comes from reclaimed water, recharge and recovery and water exchanges
• Water quality is maintained by keeping the water well mixed, proper aeration and chemical controls
  The lake does not lose water to seepage, thanks to a recovery system that pumps water back into the lake
• Evaporation costs Town Lake about the same amount of water used by two golf courses each year or consumed by an 1,000-acre alfalfa field

Flood Control

• Town Lake can sustain more than the impact of a 100-year flood event
• In the event of a 100-year flood, the steel gate dam that creates Town Lake would be lowered and water would remain within the river channel
• Once storm water passes through, the gates are raised and the river becomes a lake again.

Pathways at Town Lake

• More than 5 miles of paths around the lake for skating, running, bicycling and walking
• Paths can take pedestrians and bicyclists to Tempe Marketplace, Mill Avenue, the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, Papago Park and toward downtown Phoenix
• Crossing the lake can be accomplished using the Mill Avenue, Pedestrian Bridge at Tempe Center for the Arts or Rural Road bridges
• Many non-profit groups use these paths each year for 5K and 10K races and triathlons

Boating

• More than 2,000 rowers use Town Lake each year. Take a class and be one of them
• Sail, row a dragon boat or outrigger canoe with one of the many other boating clubs
• Visitors may bring their own boats to Town Lake after purchasing a permit

Fishing

• More than a dozen varieties of fish swim in Town Lake, including bass, sunfish and catfish -- and Town Lake has among the best catch rates in the state
• Thousands of rainbow trout are stocked in cooler months
• Fishing is permitted with a standard Arizona Fishing license available at sporting goods stores

Tempe Beach Park

• Tempe’s oldest park, built in 1931
• Completely renovated in 1999 in conjunction with Town Lake construction
• Offers 25 acres of recreation space for everyone
• Tempe's largest special event venue, Splash Playground, historic baseball field

Tempe Center for the Arts

• Community visual and performing arts center at the southwestern edge of Town Lake
• 600-seat theater
• 200-seat studio
• Gallery for fine and contemporary art exhibitions
• Meeting rooms overlooking Town Lake
• Visit Tempe Center for the Arts for schedule of events, facility rentals and other information

Town Lake Marina

• Town Lake Marina includes five lanes of boat launches, boat storage, parking, a safe
  harbor and a park for concerts and events
• A Welcome Center and Boat House is planned adjacent to Town Lake Marina 
• Many of Tempe's boating programs operate from Town Lake Marina
• Boat storage is available at Town Lake Marina for a fee

Business and Development

• Companies located on Town Lake include Smith Barney, KPMG, Microsoft, Silicon Valley Bank, US Airways and many more 
• Hayden Ferry Lakeside – Two commercial towers and condominium living on the south side of Tempe Town Lake. A third office building, a hotel and additional living space is planned
• Northshore -- A WestStone Communities mid-rise condominium project on the north side of Town Lake
• Grigio – Five star apartment living with concierge services
• Playa del Norte – A mixed use project with an Aloft hotel, office and restaurant space
• Development sites are still available on Town Lake. Contact Tempe Economic Development at tempe.gov/business for project information, maps and demographics