phoenix program to build more gates moving ahead

The City of Phoenix has issued a Request for Proposals for a unique program that is expected to see the construction of around 160 wrought iron gates in various alleyways around the city.

The Gated Alley Program was launched two years ago with the building of an initial six gates in the Royal Palm neighborhood on the north side of the city.

In a move to prevent vandalism and the dumping of trash in alleyways, city officials determined such spaces could best be protected with 6-foot high wrought iron gates that would be installed at both ends of the corridors.

Now, in a program administered by the city’s Neighborhood Services Department, at least 80 alleyways are expected to see the construction of new gates.

Those gates will have a minimum of 45 inches between horizontal bars, with no bars in between that could be used as toeholds or handholds for climbing.

The gates will also lack meshing or screens to discourage graffiti.
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Some $400,000 in funding for the gate construction initiative was earlier secured by the city through a Neighborhood Block Watch grant program.

By Garry Boulard

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