In the shade of Arizona ash and desert willow trees, Hudson Park is a little piece of heaven for Tempe's Hudson Manor neighborhood.
Since April, neighborhood residents have gathered almost every weekend to build an 85-feet-wide and 18-inch-high meditation labyrinth.
"This will be a nice place to come, relax in the shade, enjoy the artwork along the walls and listen to the wind chimes," says Phil Amorosi, chairman of the Hudson Manor neighborhood association.
Since 2000, the community members have been brainstorming ideas of making the Hudson Park more appealing to its residents, Amorosi says.
The neighborhood, established in the late 40's, has 140 households and is a home to local artists, musicians, business professionals, politicians, Arizona State University professors and students.
For this area that has problems with prostitution, drugs and transients in the last couple of years, the idea of a peaceful meditation place surrounded with artwork and a possible garden was always residents' favorite.
Once the labyrinth project was approved, the community members chose Kevin Moore's design. Moore, Tempe landscape designer who worked on projects such as Tempe Beach Park, captured the community vision of the labyrinth the best, Amorosi says.
With a plan in their hands, neighbors started with the construction in April under supervision of a bricklayer and former Tempe councilmember Dennis Cahill.
The rest was hard work and a lot of fun for those volunteering every weekend, neighborhood Chairmen Amorosi says.
As early as 6:30 a.m., the neighbors start working on measuring and laying bricks in a circular form. The chores are evenly spread among both young and old.
Louis Ternyik, 4, is an expert in moving tools around. His older sister Claire, 9, who calls him a "troublemaker," is a specialist in mixing cement and moving bricks along with eldest sister Madelyn, 11. Their dad Michael layers bricks and keeps an open eye of his three brood.
Michael, who moved in to Hudson Manor neighborhood in 1992, says that his kids grew up playing in Hudson Park and enjoy helping with the maze.
"It's good for them to do things," Michael says. "They are getting up early and getting to know their neighborhood."
At the corner of Cedar Street and Spence Avenue, Hudson Park is the third oldest park in Tempe.
Five years ago, the basketball court didn't have proper lightning, there wasn't a sidewalk around the park and whenever it rained, it would flood, Amorosi says.
"The park couldn't keep up with the high density population around it and we had to do something," Amorosi says.
As a part of a master makeover plan for the park, the Hudson Manor Neighborhood Association received $6,500 to build the maze from the City of Tempe Maryanne Corder Neighborhood Grant Program, Amorosi says.
For the labyrinth structure, Amorosi says that they are reusing concrete discarded from the light rail construction on Apache Boulevard and using the grant money for mortar and tools.
Even though it's Sunday and close to noon, Amorosi and Michael keep on going despite the heat.
"It's nice to see the progress [of the maze]," Amorosi says. "We have three more layers to go."
The project is in need of volunteers, he says. They have to finish the labyrinth by March of next year, because the construction of the light rail will start and there won't be any available concrete.
"It's a great way to meet the neighborhood and contribute to this great community," Amorosi says. "Everyone who helps will have their name listed on the plaque."
Reach the reporter at: ljiljana.ciric@asu.edu.
