Since Margaret T. Hance Park's inception, the urban park that sweeps over the Interstate 10's Deck Park Tunnel in downtown Phoenix has been envisioned as a Central Park-like centerpiece of Phoenix.

It's never quite amounted to that.

The park was planned in the late 1980s as a bridge between the downtown community that had been separated by construction of Interstate 10 through central Phoenix. Initial master plans called for amenities as extravagant as a Ferris wheel.

The funding wasn't there to carry out the grand vision, and the park sat underutilized for decades. But as more people have returned to the central city and major developments have sprouted around the park, advocates believe the space is ready for a transformation.

A group of community activists, developers and residents banded together nearly a decade ago in hopes of revitalizing the park. In the past few years, Phoenix has taken steps toward turning the vision into reality.

But without financial assistance, the new park plan could go the way of the Ferris wheel.

What's happening with Hance Park?

About a year ago, Phoenix released updated design concepts that illustrate what the park could look like after a face-lift.

The renderings feature interactive water features, more trees and shade structures, new playgrounds, a cafe and other amenities.

This week the Phoenix City Council approved a $150,000 contract with a local construction company. The company will help organize the construction schedule and determine the project's costs.

MORE: What could downtown Phoenix's Hance Park look like if it's revitalized?

Supporters say the contract is a significant indicator that the city is committed to seeing the plan through.

But still, no improvements have been made at the park, no timeline released for when users of the park will see changes and little shared about fundraising efforts.

Where will the money come from?

The project's estimated price tag is between $80 million to $100 million, most of which will come from private donations.

About three years ago, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, Phoenix Community Alliance and Hance Park Conservancy formed the Hance Park Partner Coalition, which will serve as the fundraising arm of the project.

Tim Sprague, president of the Hance Park Conservancy and the developer responsible for several projects surrounding the park, said the group is working to attract larger financial partners right now and plans to begin a public fundraising campaign toward the end of summer.

He equated the fundraising strategy to the philosophy of Stephen Covey in his book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People": If you're trying to fill a jar with rocks, you want to get the large rocks in first and then fill in the remainder with pebbles.

"We're working on the big rocks right now," Sprague said.

However, Sprague said the project will need all levels of involvement, "from very larger donors to small donors that want to buy a brick."

"I really see a full spectrum of participation by everyone involved. It's going to be a fun project to be involved with," he said.

Supporters still confident

Sprague said that although some people may see the project as slow-going, it's moving along at a rate that is to be expected for such a large-scale project that involves multiple government agencies, community groups and the public.

He said he remains confident in the ultimate success of the revitalization.

"Everybody's pulling on the same side of the rope," Sprague said.

What do residents want?

On Wednesday morning, Rachel Gardner and Kristina Urena sat at a bench shaded by a tree, watching their 3- and 5-year-olds play at the Hance Park play structure, as they do every Wednesday morning.

Gardner said she heard about the park revitalization plan from a friend about a year ago. No changes have occurred at the park since then.

Both women said there are simple things that could be done to rehab the park and draw more visitors. Namely, more shade and bathroom facilities.

Gardner and Urena said the bench they were seated at was one of the only ones in the park with adequate shade.

The bathrooms next to the playground are locked after 1 p.m., making it difficult to stay at the park for very long in the afternoons.

Both women agreed that a splash pad would be a well-used amenity and would draw more people to the area.

"I don't think it has to be some grand, big thing," Urena said.

Gardner agreed. She said she hopes that much of the open space will remain so that she can keep an eye on the kids while they play and so that the community events that use the open areas can continue.

"I like the idea of still a simple park," Gardner said.

After the renderings were released last year, about 250 people attended a Phoenix open house about the park plan, according to city spokesman Gregg Bach.

Many of those individuals had similar suggestions about the park's future, according to the feedback gathered by the city.

Several people suggested the city prioritize shade in the redesign, and many said they were concerned that the revitalization would decrease open space, which would make it harder to host large events.

"What we need is more parks and open space, not more amusement shoved into our limited green space," one resident wrote.

Several individuals also suggested the park include more parking to accommodate events.

Hance Park could be 'overnight success'

It's been more than eight years since the Hance Park Conservancy was established to bring all of the park's stakeholders together to plan for its future.

Sprague said the group has been pushing and fighting for the park all of that time, and soon the community will see the product of their hard work.

He compared it to a rock band that's been on tour for several years that "becomes an overnight success when one song gets popular."

That's what happened to Roosevelt Row, and Sprague said that's what he believes will happen at Hance Park, too.

"It was a dream and now it's really coming to fruition and we're seeing it happen. A lot of hard work, but people believe and love their community enough to never give up," Sprague said.

Super Bowl, NCAA events to be held at park

Sprague would not speculate on the timeline of the project, but said there is a drive to move quickly with the Super Bowl coming back to Phoenix in 2023 and the NCAA Final Four returning in 2024.

Both events bring large-scale concerts and other events to the Valley. When the Super Bowl was in Phoenix in 2015, concerts were held in an empty lot near Talking Stick Resort Arena. Now, that land is being developed.

"Guess what is the last large venue around downtown to have big activities?" Sprague said.

What would you like to see at a revitalized Margaret T. Hance Park? Reach the reporter at 480-694-1823 or jessica.boehm@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @jboehm_NEWS.