ASU Research Park

Fast Flight Facts

Target Species: Wintering waterfowl

Elevation: 1200'

Habitat: City park with three large ponds

Overall Birding Rating: 2

Difficulty: 1 (Easy)

Birding Type: Easy Hiking

Facilities: Parking

Fees/Ownership: None/Arizona State University

Closest Town or City/How far from Phoenix: Tempe /12.5 miles southeast of Phoenix

Getting there: Pull offs and parking areas along River Parkway are easiest way to bird the ponds

Overview: The Arizona State University Research Park is a business park located in Tempe. There are many private buildings and businesses within the park, put a lot of the park is open to the public. Several long and narrow lakes run through this park, and these water sources are a good place to check for waterfowl and other aquatic birds in the winter seasons. A variety of trees and plants are in the park and surrounding the ponds which may also hold an interesting songbird.

Birding Tip: Birding at this park is very easy. There are concrete paths that go around the lakes, which are easily accessed by convenient parking areas that are found in the non business areas of the park. Be sure to respect the private property in the area and stay on the public areas around the lakes. There are three different lakes to check for waterfowl, where the middle lake is easily the most productive of the three.

Directions: The ASU Research Park is located just west of the Loop 101 (Price Freeway) between two roads: Elliot Road bordering the park on the north, and Warner Road bordering the park on the south. If on the Loop 101, head west a very short distance on one of these two roads to the park turnoff. Another way to reach this park from a freeway route would be from the I-10 (Maricopa Freeway) on either the Elliot or Warner Road exit. Once on either of these two roads, head east for 4.3 miles to the park. Once at the park, River Parkway is the main road through the park which goes through many buildings, the three lakes, and plenty of parking areas. The best parking in ASU Research Park is found on Science Drive, which is just north of Warner Road, and a right (east) turn. Parking can be conveniently found throughout most of the park, but do avoid the business parking areas.

Pages:

ASU Research Park Maps

ASU Research Park eBird Data

Scenes and Sights from ASU Research Park: