
Author
Zac Coplan
Founder & Editor
Zac is the founder and editor of East Valley Explorer, covering local communities, businesses, outdoor destinations, and the everyday places that make Arizona’s East Valley worth exploring.
Profile
About Zac Coplan.
Zac is the founder and editor of East Valley Explorer, an independent local guide to the communities, businesses, outdoor destinations, and people of Arizona’s East Valley.
His work focuses on practical, locally grounded stories that help residents better understand their neighborhoods, discover nearby places, and make the most of life in the region.
Coverage areasEast Valley communities, local businesses, community development, trails, outdoor recreation, and neighborhood guides
Story archive
More from Zac Coplan.

Queen Creek Arizona Temple: Plans, Location and Latest Updates
A field east of Barney Farms is planned for a major temple campus. Here’s the location, the Gilbert comparison and what comes before an opening day.

Queen Creek Temple: What’s Planned and What Land Buyers Should Know
What’s planned for Queen Creek’s temple, which existing neighborhoods are nearby, and what historical research actually says about home and land values.

Nash Powersports Fire in Mesa: Response Details and What Is Known
The September 6 fire at Nash Powersports drew a second-alarm response. Here are the reported safety details, original photos and information for customers.

Legacy Park: What Mesa’s Council Vote Means—and What Comes Next
Mesa advanced a tax-incentive notice for Legacy Park and Gateway Crossing. Here’s what the reported 6–1 vote covered, what remains pending and why September 14 matters.

Legacy Park Mesa: Development Plans, Location and Latest Updates
A nearly 200-acre mixed-use district planned across SR 24 from Cadence would bring upscale retail, apartments, offices, a resort and a lake-centered park to southeast Mesa.

Why Power Ranch’s Grass Looks Patchy, and What Comes Next
Uneven irrigation, gopher damage and seasonal turf stress are contributing to brown and bare areas across Power Ranch. The association has budgeted additional repairs while considering longer-term changes to where grass is maintained.

Eastmark vs. Cadence: Which Mesa Neighborhood Is Right for You?
Eastmark and Cadence share the same southeast Mesa orbit, but they live very differently. Compare their parks, pools, amenities, scale and everyday rhythm.

Ray Road at Ellsworth: What’s Finished—and What Happens Next
Fresh aerial photos show a nearly built six-lane Ray Road connection, major signal work at Ellsworth and the utility work still controlling the finish.

Sprouts at Ellsworth and Ray Has an Opening Date: September 18
The new 23,300-square-foot grocery store will anchor EastMarket, a 6.6-acre center bringing restaurants, pet care and neighborhood services to Mesa’s Eastmark community.

What’s That Giant Hole at Crismon and Williams Field? Here’s What’s Being Built.
Wondering what’s being built at Crismon and Williams Field near Cadence in Mesa? City records reveal a roughly 110,000-square-foot storage project with two buildings - and underground basement levels explain the massive excavation.