Forever linked: The I-10 tunnel and Hance Park have different birthdays

The Interstate 10 Deck Park Tunnel celebrates another birthday this week, but the iconic structure near downtown Phoenix isn’t looking for a big party. Afterall, it received its share of attention a year ago when, on Aug. 10, 2025, it turned 35. And the tunnel made news in 2024 when it was dedicated in the name of Dean Lindsey, the late ADOT civil engineer who played a pivotal role in its development.

So the I-10 tunnel is fine with some attention being given to its “younger sibling.” It’s the city of Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park, sitting “on the shoulders” of ADOT’s tunnel below. The two, however, are not twins. To confirm: the tunnel opened in 1990 and the city officially dedicated and opened Hance Park in April 1992.

We checked in with the Hance Park Conservancy, the non-profit organization that promotes and advocates for the redevelopment of the park. Rick Naimark, president of the Hance Park Conservancy’s Board of Trustees, notes that the park was created to help bridge a divide through neighborhoods impacted by the I-10 construction.

“Thirty-plus years later, few could have imagined that it would not only become Phoenix’s great central park, but also a hub for arts, culture and events that reflect the remarkable transformation of Downtown Phoenix and our region,” said Naimark.

Certainly any public asset like Hance Park will show its age. What about a vision for the park in the coming years?

“We’re working in partnership with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and Phoenix Community Alliance through the Hance Park Partner Coalition,” said Naimark. “The Conservancy is doing its part in supporting fundraising efforts to help realize the Hance Park Master Plan adopted by the City of Phoenix in 2014. Our vision is for the park to become a signature civic space for Phoenix, especially with added improvements. More than ever, it can be an inclusive and vibrant destination where people can come together to experience culture, community, nature, and the city.”

So while ADOT maintains the Dean Lindsey Tunnel below, Phoenix and the Hance Park Conservancy are working toward a makeover for the park above. Heck, maybe we can look forward to a “35th Birthday Party in the Park” this coming April? In the meantime, information about the 11th Annual Noche en Blanco community celebration at the park in October is available at hanceparkphx.org. 

Photo credit: City of Phoenix