Park Central Phoenix Light Rail Station

This station is called Park Central due to the location next to Park Central, an old mall transformed into offices with a few restaurants.  Park Central Mall was finished in 1957 which was on the outskirts of town.  It replaced an old dairy farm.  Over time the mall died out as people headed to newer enclosed malls. 

Today Park Central has some bad opinions and it could be used better, but Phoenix has space and there is no need to increase density to this area while so many other lots remain empty.  Some of the current occupants include The Good Egg, one of the busiest Starbucks in the city, a wonderful delicious Thai Basil plus locations for Banner Health Systems and St. Joseph's Hospital.

photos: Artur Ciesielski

The neighborhood is mostly composed of office buildings surrounded by a mix of condo complexes and single family home neighborhoods.  One Lexington is here.  That's the beautiful building on the top right photo.  It's a high-rise of condo lofts with high quality finishes and amazing views including of the Phoenix Mountains to the north or the Midtown/Downtown area to the south.

The Station's Public Art

"This station is across from what once was historic Park Central Mall. The area has grown and changed over the years and is emerging now as a truly urban mixed use space with offices, shops and residential units.North Carolina Artist Thomas Sayre was originally steered toward creating a large artwork in the entranceway but, given the space constraints, decided to engage the rider along the entire station platform.

Conceptually, the artwork emphasizes that the audience and the subject for the project are the riders themselves. The theme is waiting and what people do while waiting for the next train. Tapping Time depicts, via cast bronze shoe prints, the activities of approximately 100 people for five seconds after a southbound train has stopped on the west side of the platform.

Half of the people at the station are positioned to board the southbound train while the rest wait the northbound train. A range of people are depicted with business shoes, cowboy boots, moccasins, sandals, military boots, construction boots, flip flops, and children’s shoes.

Other markings indicate wheelchairs, cane-assisted walking, a stroller and street musicians. " (Metro Art Book)