Comments (0) BEST PLACE FOR A PRIVATE DOWNTOWN ESCAPE - 2003

Steele Indian School Park

The boss just yelled at us. Again. We've got too much work, and don't want to do any of it anyway. When we're in this mood, instead of pulling out an Uzi, we go to Steele Indian School Park. There, nestled on one of the city's busiest intersections, is peace and calm. We can wander by the Circle of Life monument in the heart of the park, linger by its centerpiece water cistern, and read poetry etched into its side that explains the history of Native Americans in Arizona. We decompress as we cross the Arbor Bridge, strolling into the 15-acre Entry Garden with its spiraling walkway that gradually descends down into a trail of contemplation and meditation. We soften as we read Native American poems etched into the concrete, and absorb the beauty of native desert plants adorning the path. Around us are historic buildings, currently under renovation, dating from 1901; a 15-acre Neighborhood Park with a playground, basketball courts and volleyball courts; a full-symphony amphitheater; and a 2.5-acre bird-shaped lake. It's quiet -- the park is so new that nobody really goes here yet. That's fine. We've discovered it. And with that, we've discovered serenity.