"The Sun Worshiper," a 19-foot-high bronze sculpture, depicted a Native American tribesman. This work, created by Walter Emery of Phoenix, was installed at the mall in 1968. It was unceremoniously removed during a mid-1980s renovation (but was re-installed at the mall in 2019).
Photo from Phoenix Public Library Collection / Petley Studios, Incorporated

Meanwhile, the mall was expanded in the late 1960s. A full-line "Penneys" was built, along with a bi-level parking deck. PARK CENTRAL now encompassed around 835,300 leasable square feet and over sixty stores and services. As a matter of note, the "Shopping City" name was dropped in 1972, with the facility being promoted, henceforth, as PARK CENTRAL CENTER.

A face lift renovation was performed between March and October of 1985. A new mall entry was cut through the northeast store block and "Picnic in the Park" Food Court created. The shopping hub was also renamed PARK CENTRAL MALL. The logo montage above features stores operating in the complex during the mid-to-late 1980s.