Update September 6, 2013: I’ve decided to give this old post some new life in Patti Schulz Maghamfar’s “Fall” blog carnival on her website One Road at a Time. Hope you’ll enjoy my interpretation of the theme and then head over to Patti’s site to see what other bloggers are saying about “fall”.

Arizona Falls — a surprise!

While visiting family in Arizona, my sister took me to a very unusual “cool” place in hot Phoenix that I hadn’t seen on previous trips.

She and her husband came across it unexpectedly while out for a bike ride one day. I’m guessing that most travelers and a large percentage of residents don’t know about this interesting site either.

Arizona Falls is a historic waterfall formed by a natural 20-foot drop along the Arizona Canal between 56th and 58th Streets. It was the site of a hydroelectric plant built in 1902 and shut down in 1950. It reopened in 2003 as a restored plant and neighborhood gathering place.

What’s surprising is that it is a work of art designed by two renowned Boston artists, Lajos Heder and Mags Harries. The structures, while functional, are designed for visual and social enjoyment. There are viewing platforms and large stone blocks for seating so that the sight and sound of the falls can be enjoyed.

Phoenix may sizzle in the summer, but Arizona Falls is a very cool place.