The Heritage District encompasses 0.3 square miles (192 acres) of downtown Gilbert. The vision for the downtown Heritage District is a family-friendly, pedestrian-oriented mixed-use development.  This is supported by the Redevelopment Plan and the Heritage District Design Guidelines. Here’s a look at what has happened in downtown Gilbert.

The Heritage District in Pictures

Water Tower Plaza is ideally located across from the Hale Centre Theatre and provides a perfect gathering place before or after a play.  The water feature that looks even more inviting in the summer is right below the iconic Gilbert water tower.  You’ll also find a 19,000 lb. granite ball that floats on a thin layer of water.

 
Downtown Restaurants

Downtown Gilbert is home to many popular restaurants.  Joe’s Real Barbeque, Oregano’s, Romeo’s Euro Cafe,  Farmhouse Restaurant, and Liberty Market are some of the more well known.

Steel Dreamz on Gilbert road  is a step back in time allowing patrons to appreciate cars from past decades for anyone looking for collector car sales.

On the northern boundary of The Heritage District is the intersection of Gilbert Road and the Western Trail that connects with the McQueen District Park to the west and The Riparian Preserve to the east.   Gilbert is fortunate to offer various trails along canals for runners, bikers, joggers and walkers.

Historic Downtown Gilbert is definitely worth getting acquainted with and offers patrons the opportunity to appreciate Gilbert’s heritage when it was known as the “Hay Capital of the World”, until the late 1920′s.

Make sure and leave your comments on your experience in historic downtown Gilbert.

If you ever find yourself looking for something to do on the 4^th weekend of February, reserve that Saturday for the Chandler Classic Car Show held in historic downtown Chandler. The 8^th annual Chandler Classic Car Show was held Saturday, February 26^th that hosted more than 200 pre-1980 cars.  Last year more than 20,000 visitors came to the event, and raised more than $10,000.

Historic Downtonw Chandler

The Chandler Classic Car Show was originally organized in 2003 by the late Jerry Biondi and Maury Williamson,  former owners of the Country Clipper Barbershop.  The purpose is to raise money for local non-profit organizations, draw attention to downtown Chandler, and provide a gathering place for car enthusiasts.  The proceeds of this year’s event will benefit ICAN (Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods).   It was also an opportunity for visitors to see the new Chandler City Hall that was completed in November of 2010, less than a block to the south.

Aerial View of historic downtown Chandler

In 1912, Dr. “A.J.” Chandler, a veterinarian from Canada, found the city of Chandler.   A year later, the San Marcos Hotel was opened and has seen both royalty and Hollywood celebrities.  Dr. Chandler sought the assistance of planners and architects in designing downtown Chandler.  The result was a central park bordered by a business plaza with walkways accented by fountains and landscaped boulevards. Today, it is home to restaurants, boutique retail shops, the Crowne Plaze San Marcos Golf Resort, and community events such as the Chandler Classic Car Show, featured below.

Gilbert is known for many things.  A safe community with a family friendly atmosphere.  A  great place to raise children with a high quality of life.  A growing community with  highly rated schools.  Good freeway access to Phoenix and surrounding areas.  Affordable homes including waterfront and lake communities and award winning hospitals.   All in all, Gilbert is one of the most desireable towns in the Phoenix valley.   For a sample of some of the things that make Gilbert such a popluar community, read on.

Riparian Preserve  A truely unique destination in Gilbert.  This 110 acre park is an integral part of Gilbert’s water conservation commitment.  It provides residents a fishing lake stocked with catfish, trout, bass, and sunfish by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In addition, there are 70 acres of recharge lakes that are home to over 200 species of birds, and 4.5 miles of trails.  The recharges basins or lakes provide a Riparian habitat and also a means for Gilbert effluent water to transfer back into underground aquifers and replenish important ground water.  There is an Observatory that is open to the public every Friday and Saturday night from nightfall to 9 p.m.  A $3 donation is requested.   To find out everything that is going on at the Riparian Preserve, to go the events calendar to classes and times.

Southeast Regional Library  The Maricopa County Southeast Regional library is located adjacent to the Riparian Preserve and offers the best views of any library in the state. Built in 1999, this 66,000 sq.ft. award winning  library offers patrons access to internet accessible public computers and state of the art library facilities.  It is located at the southeast corner of Greenfield and Guadalupe Rd.  Hours are from Mon-Thurs. 10 am – 9 p.m, Friday & Saturday 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm.

Hale  Centre Theatre -Arizona  Located in historic downtown Gilbert, the unique center stage configuration ensures that there are no bad seats.  The company originally started in Glendale, California in 1947 to a meager opening night audience of 6, but it has not  missed a week of presenting high quality, affordable entertainment since its humble beginning.  The Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert opened in July 2003 and has been entertaining patrons ever since. 

 Town of Gilbert Parks  – The Town of Gilbert has some of the best parks in the Phoenix valley.  For a full inventory of the parks, public pools and facilities , go to Gilbert Parks.

Freestone Park    The largest of the Town of Gilbert Parks, Freestone provides a buffet of recreational activities.  Multiple soccer fields, batting cages, 4 softball fields, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts, play areas, an amphitheatre, and a 22,000 sq.ft. skate park with features to accomodate all skill levels.   

The recent addition of the $6.75 million Freestone Recreation Center provides 51,000 sq.ft. of family focused fun and recreation.  Within the award winning architecture building is a rock climbing wall, racquetball courts, a running track, dance & aerobics room, childcare center and weight room.

McQueen Regional Park  Located in the northwest park of Gilbert is McQueen Park and Recreation Center which sits on 40 acres, but only has about 500 ft. of  frontage on McQueen Rd., so it’s easy to miss.        McQueen Park Satellite View     There are sand volleyball courts, tennis courts, softball diamonds, soccer fields, and running trails.   The 27,000 sq.ft.  McQueen Park Activity Center is host to a gymnasium , game room with Wii, X-box and play station systems, pool table, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, a lobby with a 51″ TV and rooms for leisure pursuit classes.  There is pleny of area to hang out or go outside and walk around the 2 acre lake that is to the west of the center.

 Cosmo Dog Park  If you have a dog, then add the Cosmo Dog Park to your list of places to visit, especially if they love to swim.  Cosmo Dog Park was the winner of DOG FANCY’s Dog Park of the Year for 2007, a year after opening in July 2006.   It is the only Dog Park in the Phoenix area with a lake, which many dogs thoroughly love! A detailed map shows the many amenities offered in this dog paradise.  The 4 acre park provides two dog wash stations, a wet dog area,  an lighted open dog park, and a timid dog area.  This is in addition to the ramadas, walking trails, basketball court, restroom,  picnic tables and amphitheatre.  For the location check the Google Map of Cosmo Dog Park.

Polar Ice Rink  The 76,000 sq.ft. Polar Ice Gilbert facility was introduced to the public on Sept. 13, 2008. It is conveniently located near the 202 freeway at the north end of Crossroads Park at Greenfield and Knox.  Satellite view of Polar Ice Gilbert In the development of the facility, environmental features such as low energy fluorescent lighting, skylights and a state of the art ice cooling system that cost over $120,000 have been incorporated into the design.  The two rinks in the facility provide 17,000 sq.ft. of skating enjoyment.  

Polar Ice offers public skating, hockey leagues and classes offered through the Gilbert Parks and Recreations department.  It also hosts games for the ASU Hockey clubs.

Running and Biking Trails   The development of recreational paths along SRP canals has become an attractive amenity in many cities.   Bikers and joggers will be most familiar with the paths since they offer a welcome alternative to narrow sidewalks, inattentive passing cars and frequent crossings at stop lights. Websites that cater to runners and joggers even calculate the mileage between beginning and ending points along different canals. Consolidated Canal Running Route  or the Western Canal Mileage Calculator. 

In Gilbert,  the Western Canal Powerline /Sun Circle Trail runs east and west, connecting Big League Dreams, the Riparian Preserve, Freestone Park and the McQueen District Park in a 8.5 mile stretch. It continues west into Chandler and also Tempe.  Anyone looking for a peaceful bike ride or jog will find this trail enjoyable and with much less congestion than a street sidewalk with cars racing past at 45 miles/hour.

Big League Dreams  is located near Power and Elliot Rd in east Gilbert, and represents a public/private venture on 60 acres that offers a unique facility unlike anything in the state.   There are eight scaled down versions of real ballparks, past and present;  including Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, Angel Stadium, Sportman’s Park, and to appease the local crowd, Chase Field. Each ballpark has seating for 190 spectators.  There are two clubhouses that provide food and beverages.  Once you see the prices for the soda pop,   you’ll make a quick note to fill up the cooler the next visit.   Besides softball leagues, there is also an indoor soccer  complex that is well utilized.

Joe’s Real Barbeque  One of my favorite restaurants in the center of downtown Gilbert.   Joe’s opened for business in January 1998 and has been satisfying cravings for barbeque brisket, pulled pork, pit ham, pork ribs, chicken and turkey breast ever since.  The food is award winning and you’ll also appreciate the old-style atmosphere that is one of a kind.  Where else will you find a  1948 John Deere tractor in the middle of the dining area?  The New Times awarded Joe’s the Best of Phoenix for Old-Fashioned Charm. If you are into sauces, you  have your choice of spicy, or “we dare you” hot which uses habanero peppers to turn up the heat.   My favorite lunch time meal is the BBQ sampler with over 3/4 lb. of ribs, chicken, pork and beef.  Most plates are in the $8 – $12 range.  What more can I say, you have to try it!

San Tan Village Outdoor Shopping Center   San Tan Village located at Williams Field and the Santan 202 freeway is comprised of two sections; the shopping center and the urban village.  For a layout of both click on San Tan Village Shopping Center layout.   The list of stores is almost endless as seen in the Story Directory  The layout of the the urban village is nothing new, but the uncommon outdoor layout for the shopping center is a unique twist, especially for Phoenix when  outdoors in the summer is synonymous  with 110 degree days.  That misting system better work! 

Places to eat include Paradise Bakery & Cafe, Johnny Rockets, Famous Dave’s, Blue Wasabi Sushi & Martini Bar, Cantina Laredo and the Kona Grill among others.  After a relaxing dinner, the Harkins Theatres complex is just a short walk away.

Golf Courses – Gilbert is home to 5 golf courses; Kokopelli, Trilogy, Western Skies, Seville Country Club, and Greenfield Lakes. All are public course except for Seville.  A golfing friend of mine ranks Trilogy as the best in Gilbert. 

As you can see, Gilbert has a lot of offer its residents and neighbors.  Feel free to comment on some of the activities or attractions that you enjoy in Gilbert.

Gilbert also provides some of the best real estate options in Arizona.   For assistance with real estate needs, feel free to sign up for Gilbert Real Estate listings. Or if you live in Gilbert and want to know the value of your home. To search for homes visit, Gilbert Real Estate.

Even though the Mesa Arts Center is located in Mesa, residents of the entire Phoenix valley can enjoy the most comprehensive and largest Arts Center in Arizona.  Located on a seven-acre campus, the  212,000 sq.ft. $95 million facility focuses on performing arts, contemporary arts, and arts education.  The Mesa Arts Center(MAC)  features 4 theatres that range in size from the smaller 98 seat Farnsworth Studio Theatre to the larger Ikeda Theatre that seats 1,600, along with five art galleries and 14 studios and classrooms.

The 2010 “Arts Organization of the Year”

The Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix named the Mesa Arts Center the 2010 Arts Organization of the Year. 

Satellite view of Mesa Arts Center

The goal of the Mesa Arts Center is to encourage visitors to learn about and appreciate, participate in, and experience the arts. 

 A wide range of live performances are offered in  4 theatres including the 98 seat Farnsworth Studio theatre, the Nesbitt/Elliot Playhouse, the Virginia G. Piper Repertory theatre, and the Ikeda Theatre. Patrons enjoy a variety of concerts, theatre, music, and dance in these world class facilities througout the year.  Award winning productions include Broadway, musicals, comedy, and family entertainment.

The Contemporary Arts are showcased  in 5 galleries.  Besides the exhibitions of emerging and internationally known artists, visitors can also enjoy lectures and art workshops by artists and art professionals. On the first Sunday of each month, Target sponsors “3 for Free” at the Mesa Contemporary Arts.  It begins with a musical performance in the courtyard at noon followed by free admission to the galleries at 1 pm.  This lasts until May 1, 2011.

For those who want to get involved, Mesa Arts Center excels at arts education by  offering classes such classes as glass blowing, photography, guitar, printmaking,  jewelry, sculpture, music, drama, dancing, ballet, engraving,ceramics, and many, many more in 14 different studios.

Nestled in historic downtown Mesa where many buildings were built half a century ago, the Mesa Arts Center is a world class facility that offers the most comprehensive and diverse art experience in the entire Phoenix valley.  Any east valley residents in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale or surrounding areas must put this on their list of places to visit.  There is definitely something for everyone.

Keep up with what is going on at the MAC by visiting the Mesa Arts Center blog or following them on twitter.

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Regional outdoor shopping mall in Gilbert

San Tan Village celebrated its newest addition yesterday with the grand opening of Macy’s.  San Tan Village located at Williams Field and the Santan 202 freeway is comprised of two sections; the shopping center and the urban village.  For a layout of both click on San Tan Village Shopping Center layout.   The list of stores is almost endless as seen in the Story Directory  The layout of the the urban village is nothing new, but the uncommon outdoor layout for the shopping center is a unique twist, especially for Phoenix when  outdoors in the summer is synonymous  with 110 degree days.  That misting system better work!

Not In My Backyard (NIMBY)

It was not too many years ago that a commerical development of this magnitude would have been frowned upon by the residents of Gilbert, especially if it included a Wal-Mart.  However, a realization that Gilbert needed a stronger tax base resulted in more commerical developments along the new 202 freeway.  I remember hearing a quote once that the NIMBY mindset was an improvement from earlier days that were characterized by Citizens Against Virtually Everything (CAVE).  Thank heavens things have changed.

The shops have been clustered according to age groups, and the picture to the left is of the children’s play area which is surrounded by stores such as Disney, Pumpkin Patch, Gymboree,  Naartjie, and The Glitter Box.   The 202 Santan Freeway makes this regional outdoor mall accessible and within minutes of Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa. 

Link to satellite view of Santan Village

Places to eat include Paradise Bakery & Cafe, Johnny Rockets, Famous Dave’s, Blue Wasabi Sushi & Martini Bar, Cantina Laredo and the Kona Grill among others.  After a relaxing dinner, the Harkins Theatres complex is just a short walk away.

Hale Centre Theatre in downtown Gilbert

Come and enjoy local live entertainment in downtown Gilbert.   One of 5 theatres in 3 states, the Hale Centre Theatre is the longest, continuously running center stage theatre in the country. The Gilbert Hale Centre Theatre opened in July 2003.  The unique center stage arrangement ensures everyone of having a good seat.  The company originally started in Glendale, California in 1947 to a meager opening night audience of 6, but it has not  missed a week of presenting high quality, affordable entertainment since its humble beginning.  You’ll have the opportunity to enjoy such productions as The King & I, Sleeping Beauty, Charley’s Aunt, She Loves Me, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol, and more.  Ticket prices range from $17 – $24.

Water Tower Plaza across from Hale Centre Theatre

Adding to the quaint hometown feel of  downtown Gilbert is the recent addition of Water Tower Plaza directly across from Hale Centre Theatre. The plaza is at the base of the Gilbert water tower that supplied water to the firetrucks from 1927 to 1985, and includes the town’s first jail, a tiny adobe building.

   A unique feature to Water Tower Plaza is the 19,000 pound granite ball atop a granite pedestal floating on a layer of water. One thing is certain is that the the plaza will be a favorite place to cool off during the summer months.

Local dining favorites such as Joes Real Barbeque, Liberty Market Restaurant, and Oregano’s are within walking distance of the theatre, offering a fantastic combination of dinner and theatrical performance.

All of this is located within minutes of such popular waterfront lake communities such as The Islands, Val Vista Lakes, Lago Estancia, Wind Drift, Playa del Rey Estates,  Stonebridge Lakes and Crystal Point Estates.  For assistance locating homes in these waterfront communities or Gilbert, feel free to click on Finding a Home in Gilbert.

And here’s a link to the map  view of Hale Centre Theatre.