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Our View: Papago Salado merits support
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Very little escapes the gaze of the Valley of the Sun's tourism promoters, but one area that has been taken mostly for granted for decades is getting more deserved attention.
Part of the reason for what is known as the Papago Salado region often being overlooked is that it mostly is about natural landforms, not retail, golf or nightlife, more typical highlights to any travel brochure touting the Valley.
The region's name is taken from two well-known natural features, the Sonoran landscape still found in Papago Park and the Salt River. While home to a handful of cultural and entertainment amenities, it hasn't received the kind of promotional sendup of, say, Tempe's Mill Avenue district, Old Town Scottsdale or Copper Square in downtown Phoenix.
On Tuesday, the Scottsdale City Council was asked to approve spending $50,000 over the next two years to the Papago Salado Association, a nonprofit entity created by Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix to raise awareness of offerings in the region.
Regardless of the council's decision on the immediate request, what Papago Salado really needs is a long-term promise from all three cities to boost the area's visibility while maintaining its rare mixture of natural recreation and compatible, activity-oriented development. Visions can be transformed into concrete plans now, and those plans can be pursued once a rebounding economy gives municipal budgets some breathing room. Or even better, when private sponsors and philanthropists step forward to turn broad ideas into specific points of action.
A symbolic commitment won't be enough, but it's a good place to start.
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