PHOENIX — Sky Harbor International Airport has been awarded $10 million to construct a "cultural corridor" that's intended to connect the airport's neighboring communities with the downtown area.
The City of Phoenix Aviation Department will use the grant money to make improvements along 7th and 16th streets, which includes the historic neighborhoods of El Campito, Cuatro Milpas, Ann Ott, Green Valley, and San Juan Batista.
The improvements include sidewalk upgrades, installing lights, adding bike lanes, creating public art projects, and constructing bus shelters.
The corridor is intended to provide a route where "children, members of the community, and visitors can travel safely while learning about the area’s past," records show.
"For years, the community has advocated for their neighborhoods’ needs, and this grant is a great investment in that vision,” Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari said in a statement.
Officials said this corridor is intended to benefit disadvantaged communities around the airport by creating a "sense of identity" for residents living in these areas.
“This grant will enable us to honor the legacies, histories, and identities of existing communities while also improving safety and mobility in the region," Mayor Kate Gallego said in a statement.
The grant was allocated through the federal government's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program.
Up to Speed
More ways to get 12News
On your phone: Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
On your streaming device: Download 12News+ to your streaming device
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
We are committed to serving all of the Valley's communities, because we live here, too.
12News is the Official Home of the Arizona Cardinals and the proud recipient of the 2018 Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for Overall Excellence.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.