Encanto Park Phoenix: History of the Lagoon, Enchanted Island and Historic Neighborhoods

Encanto Park is a 222-acre city park just north of downtown Phoenix, at 2605 N. 15th Avenue, with a lagoon, two golf courses and the Enchanted Island amusement park. It was set aside as park land in 1934 and built in the late 1930s, and it is surrounded by some of the city's best-known historic neighborhoods.

I'm Terry Day with DeLex Realty. When buyers ask me where to see "old Phoenix," I send them to Encanto Park. Palm trees lean over the water, families paddle boats around the lagoon, and the streets around it are lined with homes from the 1920s through the 1950s. Here is the story of the park and the neighborhoods that grew up around it, based on what I checked with the City of Phoenix, The Cultural Landscape Foundation and the park's own sources.

How Encanto Park Started

In the early 1930s, the land that became Encanto Park was open ground on the north edge of town. The Cultural Landscape Foundation credits William G. Hartranft, the president of Phoenix's first Parks and Recreation Board, with pushing for a large park on the scale of Balboa Park in San Diego and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Phoenix bought the land from local owners, including J.W. Dorris and Dr. James C. Norton, and the deed took effect in November 1934. For a short time it was known as Dorris-Norton Park.

The name that stuck was Encanto, a Spanish word often translated as "enchantment." According to The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the work of building the park was supervised by the Works Progress Administration from 1935 to 1938, during the Great Depression. The foundation also credits William P. Bell with designing the original golf course.

The Lagoon and Boathouse

The heart of the park is its lagoon, about 7.5 acres of water roughly six feet deep, with channels that wind past islands and palm-lined banks. It is part of the city's urban fishing program, so you will see people casting from the shore on most weekend mornings.

The park has changed over the decades. Two bridges across the lagoon were added in 1956, and a renovation of the north side that began in 1986 refreshed the lagoon and channel system and added new restrooms, sidewalks and a boathouse. Today you can rent pedal boats and canoes and see the park from the water, which is one of my favorite low-key things to do in central Phoenix on a cool winter day.

Enchanted Island: From Kiddieland to Today

Ask anyone who grew up in Phoenix about Encanto Park and they will probably bring up the rides. A small amusement area called Kiddieland opened in the park in 1946. The city closed it in 1986 for a major renovation, and many of the old rides were sold. Neighbors raised money to restore the park's Allan Herschell carousel, and the area reopened as Enchanted Island Amusement Park, with the carousel rededicated in 1991.

Enchanted Island, at 1202 W. Encanto Boulevard, is built for younger kids, roughly ages 1 to 10. Expect a small coaster, teacups, a replica train, the carousel, bumper boats in season and a climbing wall. It is an easy, unhurried outing compared to the big theme parks. The park's website lists a Harvest Festival on November 21 and 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a hayride through the neighborhood and a petting zoo. Hours change by season, so check their site before you go.

Golf, Ball Fields and Everyday Park Life

Encanto has two city golf courses: Encanto 18, known for wide, level fairways, and Encanto 9, a 9-hole executive course that is handy for a quick round close to downtown. Beyond golf, the city lists a swimming pool, tennis, racquetball, basketball and volleyball courts, ball fields, a soccer field, a playground, picnic areas with grills and shade structures. The park is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The City of Phoenix names Encanto Park one of its "Points of Pride," and I think it earns it. On a weekday morning you will find walkers circling the lagoon. On weekends it fills with birthday picnics, anglers and kids lining up for the carousel.

The Historic Neighborhoods Around the Park

What makes Encanto special to me as a REALTOR® is how the park and the neighborhoods grew up together. The City of Phoenix has several residential historic districts right around it:

• Encanto-Palmcroft: generally between Seventh and 15th avenues, from McDowell Road up to the park and golf course. Its period of significance runs from 1920 to 1952, and it was added to the city's historic register in 1987. The Cultural Landscape Foundation notes that 100 acres of the park, including the golf course and lagoons, were listed on the National Register as part of this district in 1984.
• Encanto Manor: north of the park between Thomas Road and Windsor Avenue, with homes from 1945 to 1959.
• Encanto Vista, Del Norte Place, Fairview Place, Margarita Place, North Encanto and Campus Vista: smaller districts nearby, each with its own era of homes, mostly from the late 1920s through the 1950s.

Just east, across Seventh Avenue, is the Willo Historic District, another neighborhood of bungalows and revival-style homes. If you like the feel of Encanto, take a look at my Willo homes for sale guide too. Historic district homes can come with design review rules for exterior changes, so I always walk buyers through what the city requires before they make an offer.

Tips for Your First Visit

• Go between November and April, when the weather is perfect for a lagoon loop and boat rental.
• Bring a picnic. There are plenty of shaded tables, but they go quickly on weekends.
• Drive the neighborhood streets south of the park afterward to see the homes and the mature trees.
• Pair it with other central Phoenix history stops, like Tovrea Castle or Papago Park.

For a bigger picture of living in the city, see my guide to moving to Phoenix or browse Phoenix homes for sale.

Questions People Ask

Where is Encanto Park in Phoenix?
Encanto Park is at 2605 N. 15th Avenue, between Thomas Road and Encanto Boulevard and between Seventh and 15th avenues, just north of downtown Phoenix.

Can you rent boats at Encanto Park?
Yes. Pedal boats and canoes are available to rent on the lagoon, which winds through the park past islands and palm trees.

How old is Encanto Park?
The land became a city park in 1934, and the park was built from 1935 to 1938 under the Works Progress Administration, so it is about 90 years old.

Is Enchanted Island good for older kids?
Enchanted Island is designed mostly for children about 1 to 10 years old, so it suits toddlers and grade-school kids best.

Terry Day, REALTOR®, DeLex Realty, 10115 E Bell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.