Downtown Phoenix Inc. Selected for Community Beautification Project as APS Celebrates 140 Years in Arizona

Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) announced that it has been named a recipient of Arizona Public Service (APS) community beautification funding, awarded as part of APS’s 140th anniversary celebration.

Through this investment, Downtown Phoenix Inc. will install four manufactured shade canopies at high- traffic pedestrian locations along Jefferson and Washington streets. These strategic placements will provide relief for the thousands of visitors, residents, and community members who travel in these corridors daily to attend events at Phoenix Convention Center and major sporting events at Mortgage Matchup Center and Chase Field, as well as access local businesses, workplaces, and residences.

The shade canopies will be positioned at the northeast corner of Fifth and Jefferson streets, the north sidewalk at Fourth and Jefferson streets, the southwest corner of First and Jefferson streets, and the northwest corner of Washington Street and Central Avenue.

Each structure features commercial-grade shade fabric engineered for long-term performance in Arizona's desert climate, selected for its durability, UV protection, and ability to create cooler, more comfortable public spaces while allowing for airflow. The sculptural canopy forms, including tensioned shade structures and windmill-style designs, were customized to each location to maximize shade coverage within constrained urban spaces while maintaining visibility, pedestrian circulation, and compatibility with surrounding infrastructure. Integrated lighting within each structure extends its functionality into the evening hours, creating welcoming, well-lit gathering spaces along two of Downtown's most heavily traveled corridors. The color palette draws inspiration from the vibrancy and creativity of Downtown Phoenix, incorporating bright, welcoming hues to support placemaking efforts and transform everyday streetscapes into more engaging public destinations.

Installation will be managed by Downtown Phoenix Inc.'s Clean + Green team, who oversee street-level cleanliness, landscaping, and the overall sidewalk experience within the Downtown Business Core.

"We fully understand the intangible value of shade and comfort for the Downtown neighborhood, and we're grateful that APS is helping us make an impact that will literally be felt for years to come," said Devney Majerle, President + CEO of Downtown Phoenix Inc. "This is an opportunity to be creative, sustainable, and create lasting improvements that will benefit the community."

The funding is part of APS’s $1.4 million commitment, funded by APS shareholders, to support beautification projects across its service territory in 2026. The initiative honors APS’s 140-year history in Arizona and reflects the company’s ongoing focus on strengthening the communities it serves.

“APS’s story began 140 years ago with the lighting of Arizona’s first streetlamp at Central Avenue and Washington Street, right in the heart of downtown Phoenix,” said Ted Geisler, APS President and CEO. “Today, this same area continues to grow as one of Arizona’s most vibrant centers for innovation, creativity and community. We’re proud to support improvements that help make downtown Phoenix even more welcoming and comfortable for the people who live, work, gather and visit here.”

Together, APS and Downtown Phoenix Inc. are demonstrating the power of collaboration to make meaningful, local impact, honoring Arizona’s past while building stronger communities for future generations.

Upon project completion by the end of the year, Downtown Phoenix Inc. will partner with the City of Phoenix and APS to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony, inviting the community to celebrate these streetscape enhancements and their contribution to the City's broader heat mitigation efforts led by the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.