Meet Kim Knotter of Rio Salado Foundation in Tempe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Knotter.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kim. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The Mission of the Rio Salado Foundation is to promote, preserve and enhance the cultural, historical, recreational and natural resources of the Rio Salado and Papago Park region and to ensure the area’s success as a major urban destination through the creation of public-private partnerships.

The Foundation is the catalyst organization, the honest broker connecting public private partnerships and dedicated individuals to embrace and support economic development, historic restoration, recreational and educational projects in the Rio Salado and Papago Park region.

Through public-private partnerships and support from the City of Tempe, major donors such as SRP, APS, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Vestar and Cox Communications, to name a few, have been instrumental in the success of our projects. Visit us at www.riosaladofoundation.org.

One of our successful projects is the 15 year, $4.3 million restoration of historic Eisendrath House also known as Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation. (www.eisendrathhouse.org)

One important component to the Carl Hayden Campus for Sustainability in Papago Park is the Eisendrath Center for Water Conservation. A culturally and historically important home.

Eisendrath Center For Water Conservation
An Adaptive Reuse Project
www.tempe.gov/conservation
www.riosaladofoundation.org
www.eisendrathhouse.org

Eisendrath Center is a cultural and historically important restored 88 year old adobe house in partnership with the Rio Salado Foundation and the City of Tempe. The site restoration was completed in 2015. The Water Conservation Center houses the City of Tempe’s Water Conservation Department and the SRP Water Education Facility & Community Room, a state-of-the-art education facility used for education classes on water conservation and sustainability best practices.

The historic house is a Visitor’s Center with educational interpretive displays throughout several galleries describing the importance of the architect, the owners and the important role water has played in the development and sustainability of our Valley. Docent led tours of the historic house are scheduled by appointment on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. To schedule a tour, call 480-858-2202 or email info@eisendrathhouse.org. The 6400 square foot historic house is listed on the National Register of Important Places and on the Tempe Historic Register. The house is also a small special event venue with a great room and four entertaining patios and verandas. The Water Conservation Center is one important component to the overall Carl Hayden Campus for Sustainability in Papago Park.

Project Components:
• Restoration of the original 1930’s Eisendrath House from floor to ceiling including the physical structure and modifications to meet current safety standards and modern conveniences. 10 years and $4.3 million have been spent. The beautiful home has a rich local history.
• SRP Water Education Facility – A free standing state of the art teaching classroom/building used for water conservation classes as well as meeting space in a unique setting where civic, educational and neighborhood organizations can hold meetings, classes and special events upon request.

• City of Tempe’s Water Conservation Program – The office for Water Conservation is located at the Eisendrath Center. Residents and visitors can attend a scheduled class and obtain information on water conservation and other sustainable practices, schedule your class now by visiting.

Rose Eisendrath Interpretive Visitor’s Center and Special Event Venue– The life of this strong woman, the career of architect and master builder Robert Evans and other aspects of the history and restoration of the home and site are described in displays throughout the home and property. A docent program created by the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation conduct one-hour tours by appointment. www.eisendrathhouse.org www.riosaladofoundation.org

The Rio Salado Foundation raised over $4.3 million from a handful of dedicated donors and corporate community leaders. Major donors to the project are: City of Tempe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Anonymous, Salt River Project, Vestar, American Express, Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation, Gila River Indian Community (www.riosaladofoundation.org 480-473-0245 Kim Knotter, Executive Director).

Has it been a smooth road?
Our challenge is to raise corporate foundation dollars as well as funds from individuals. Funds raised for this restoration project spanned over 10 years for the construction and restoration. During a portion of that time the project was dormant due to the 2008 economy dip. Also there were many restrictions and delays when dealing with a historic restoration. Historic Houses typically are difficult to sustain. Currently the property is owned and maintained by the City of Tempe. The historic House Visitor’s Center and Venue income pays for a part-time sales representative to sell the venue and staff the onsite events. We accept voluntary contributions of $10 per person for tours and get a tremendous amount of visitors during our season and have been busy with special events at least 3 times a month. We do not have a marketing budget for advertising and ad space, so we rely on word of mouth. To date we have recorded 9100 visitors in our short 2 years of being open to the public. We are part of a large historic preservation community in the state. We participate in the Hayden Ferry Days Celebration, March 2, 3 & 4. We will partner with our neighbors, the Arizona Heritage Center on a “Community Day” May 5 celebrating national historic preservation month. Another challenge we face is the weather! The magnificent 6400 sq. foot house has four outdoor patios to make a wonderful inside, outside experience, especially at sunset. Our season for events and tours is October 15 – May 15. The harsh Arizona sun makes it hard to enjoy the patios and the 9 acre Sonoran Desert setting and trails. We are challenged to find local arts & culture grants from funders who believe in history and a sense of place. We believe that the water conservation message we tell about the history of the Salt River, why Arizona became a vacation land for the rich from the cold lands of the midwest and east and how local resources and labor developed resorts and residences around Camelback Mountain and the Salt River.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Who is the Rio Salado Foundation? Rio Salado Town Lake was first envisioned in a 1966 student project at Arizona State University. In 1975, the City of Tempe adopted the project, which received a boost of support after extreme flooding in 1979 and 1980, further validated the need for a reliable flood control system. Today, a 5.5-mile stretch of the Salt River has been transformed from an eyesore to a regional recreational, cultural, and commercial destination. The lake, which is the focal point of the project, is two miles long and is surrounded by 147 acres of park and 100 acres of native habitat.

The Rio Salado Town Lake Master Plan called for a 72-acre linear park system, first-class boathouse, marina, additional recreational and educational facilities, restaurants, retail shops, office space, residences, walking and bike paths, picnic areas, aquatic activities and a Performing and Visual Arts Center. Rio Salado Town Lake, now known as Tempe Town Lake, is a major national tourist destination with an outstanding array of activities for local citizens in the greater Phoenix area as well as dramatic cultural, educational and recreational opportunities for the 2.7 million visitors each year.

After a feasibility study was completed by the City of Tempe, the Rio Salado Town Lake Foundation (RSTLF) was created in 2001 to provide ongoing coordination with the City of Tempe and the community and to help develop financial resources to support the build-out of the non-commercial areas of the master plan. The Mayor of Tempe serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

In 2007, Rio Salado Town Lake Foundation officially removed the words “town lake” from its name and became the Rio Salado Foundation (RSF) to create a broader scope and larger regional area not only to include the Rio Salado Project and Town Lake District, but also Papago Park.
Current Projects:
Eisendrath House Restoration
Veterans Memorial
Arizona Boathouse and Welcome Center
Completed Projects:
The Hayden Flour Mill
The O’Connor House
Supported Projects:
Children’s Splash Pad at Tempe Beach Park
Tempe Center for the Arts
Papago Park Regional Master Plan: Discover Papago Park
Tempe Butte Rehabilitation and Preservation
The Downstream Pedestrian Bridge

We are currently in a $5M capital campaign to build a boat house on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake. We specifically focus on large capital projects that enhance the City of Tempe and are public private collaborations.
Arizona Boathouse & Welcome Center.

Overview:
The latest addition to the shores of Tempe Town Lake will be the Arizona Boathouse & Welcome Center, located next to the SRP Marina on the north shore. The building will include boat and equipment storage, lake access, a welcome center, classrooms, multipurpose meetings spaces and offices, a great room, and catering kitchen. With this state-of-the-art facility, the Arizona Boathouse will allow for the expansion of programs that serve the Valley’s families and youth as well as athletes from across the nation and around the world.

Project Components:
Since opening to the public, Tempe Town Lake has become one of Arizona’s most popular attractions now drawing more than 2.8 million visitors each year for fishing, jogging, boating, bicycling, signature events and picnics.

Current programs and activities that will expand and flourish in the new facility:
■ Clubs and Associations: A variety of boating clubs, including adult rowing clubs, Outrigger Canoe Clubs, Arizona Dragon Boat Club, Arizona Sailing Foundation and Arizona Yacht Club use the lake.
■ Collegiate Rowing: Arizona State University has an intercollegiate crew program for men and women, and support the current rowing programs organized through the ASU Student Recreation Center.
■ High School Rowing: Local high schools throughout the region are offering junior rowing clubs and competitive crew programs to their students.
■ Youth Rowing, Paddling and Fishing: Underprivileged and at-risk students from organizations such as the Pappas School programs and valley youth centers will gain greater opportunities to experience a variety of water-based recreation activities that otherwise would not be available.
■ Adaptive Rowing: In rowing, there are gender-separated races, lightweight divisions, and master’s events, and now there is also an adaptive category for rowers with physical disabilities. Adaptive rowing refers to both the equipment adaptations for rowers with disabilities and the sport as a whole. The sport gained momentum in 2005, when the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) voted to include adaptive rowing in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. This growing program offers rowing to visually impaired individuals, the disabled as well as veterans.
■ Sailing for Students and Students with Disabilities: ASU’s Student Recreation Center offers sailing programs for students and for students with disabilities, delivering both classroom instruction and on-the- water experience.
■ Water Recreation Day Camp: Youth summer camp programs teach campers how to row, kayak, and paddle a dragon boat and an outrigger canoe.
Major donors to date: Salt River Project, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Transwestern, City of Tempe

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It was recently stated that Tempe, Arizona is leading in the growth and big business development for a smaller land locked municipality.

Pricing:

• Visitor tours by appointment at $10
• Venue rental for full use of the house for 4 hours or more is $2500

Contact Info:

• Address: Eisendrath House Visitors Center & Special Event Venue
• Website: eisendrathhouse.org riosaladofoundation.org
• Phone: Reservation Hotline 480-858-2202
• Email: info@eisendrathhouse.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/EisendrathHouseVisitorsCenter/ www.facebook.com/RioSaladoFoundation
• Other: www.facebook.com/RioSaladoFoundation

Image Credit:
Rio Salado Foundation

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