Currently, Phoenix Greyhound Park hosts off-track betting and a weekend swap meet. Dog racing ceased in 2009, and the huge site is mostly empty now. But it doesn't have to be that way. Transforming it into an outdoor concert and event venue and a family-oriented amusement park could revive the area and provide jobs by giving the swap meet a new and improved home.

The land, which is owned by Sky Harbor Airport, is centrally located with a Metro stop right at its front door. Shifting the swap meet to the south side would leave dozens of acres for an amusement park/recreation area, something that is lacking in the neighborhood. Better facilities for the swap meet could also be the spark that's needed for local businesses by giving them an outlet.

Imagine the possibilities when the people attracted by a park/event space support small-scale manufacturers and artisans in the nearby warehouses while the businesses brought more people to the neighborhood. Virtuous cycle!