In The News Archive

2025 Stories

  • Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at Reid Park, Nov. 29–30, 2025. Parks and Recreation announces the return of its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair in Reid Park. Come get a jump on your holiday shopping. This free event draws more than 150 vendors from all over the Southwest, ranging from artists, crafters, photographers, painters, potters, jewelers, and more.

  • Construction to Begin at 100-Acre Wood Bike Park, Nov. 19, 2025. The project marks a major step forward in transforming the Wood Bike Park site, located east of South Alvernon Way, west of North Swan Road, into a premier mountain bike park and recreation destination. 

  • Fall Family Festival at Gene C. Reid Park, Saturday, November 15, 2025, Noon–7 p.m. The community is invited to celebrate the season at the annual Fall Family Festival. Enjoy a full day of free, family-friendly fun, live music, and festive fall activities for all ages. Event is free, but a donation to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is appreciated.

  • Groundbreaking on Improvements at Francisco Elias Esquer Park, Oct. 29, 2025. The project will add separate small and large dog park areas, a pedestrian bridge connecting both sides of the park, a new walking path with lighting, landscaping, and green stormwater infrastructure.

  • Parks & Recreation to Host Open House at its Centers, August–November, 2025. We are hosting open houses at our centers throughout the year, giving you a chance to take tours, learn about programs and events, and even score some free swag. Come check us out. Click link above for dates and times.

  • Barrio Nopal Park Grand Opening Fiesta, August 16, 2025. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, and Tucson Parks and Recreation invite the community to celebrate the grand opening of the City’s newest park, Barrio Nopal Park, Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 to 11 a.m. The park is located at 311 E. Elvira Road in west Tucson.

  • Groundbreaking for Rehabilitation of Historic Fort Lowell Commissary, May 8, 2025. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Ward 2 Council Member Paul Cunningham, and the Parks and Recreation department will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 28, at 9 a.m. at the Commissary at Fort Lowell Park, 5477 E. Fort Lowell Road., to mark the beginning of a $4.62 million rehabilitation and preservation project.

  • Help Shape Tucson’s Clean Energy Future, April 29 - May 9, 2025. The City of Tucson invites you to take part in two upcoming opportunities to learn more about Tucson’s clean energy efforts and to share your input on the future of energy in our city: (1) Energy Sourcing Study – Public Forum and (2) Tucson’s Energy Future Townhalls – Part II. 

  • High School Battle of the Bands, Reid Park, April 6, 2025. Tucson Parks and Recreation is teaming up with Renewal by Andersen, Arizona Daily Star, Best Life Presents, KXCI, Cloud Microphones, and Groundworks to host the third annual Battle of the Bands, Sunday, April 6. Bands with artists 13–18 years old will compete for the grand prize. Grand prize winners will receive a full home recording package, including Ableton Suite and a Cloud Microphone, in addition to a show promoted by Best Life Presents, and an appearance on KXCI’s “Locals Only” radio show. 

  • Christopher Columbus Park Renamed Danny Lopez Park, Feb. 19, 2025. Tucson’s Mayor and Council on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 approved the renaming of Christopher Columbus Park, 4300 North Silverbell Road, to Danny Lopez Park, in recognition of Danny Lopez, a Tohono O'odham educator and elder who dedicated his life to preserving the Tohono O'odham language and culture. 

  • Parks & Recreation Seeks Community Input on Two Improvement Projects, Jan. 29, 2025. The community is invited to a public open house to view the concept plan for the 22nd Street Path at Randolph Park and Dell Urich Golf Course improvements, as well as concept plans for the Reid Park Outdoor Performance Center. Attendees can ask questions of staff and provide input on proposed improvements. 

2024 Stories

  • Randolph Park & Golf Complex Opportunity Study Meeting, Sept. 24, 2024. Tucsonans are invited to a kickoff meeting and question-and-answer session on the future of Randolph Park and the Randolph Golf Complex. Hosted by Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and design consultant team, the upcoming meeting is the next phase of an ongoing community conversation. To view the full Randolph Opportunity Study (PDF, 42MB), click here.

  • Parks & Recreation Launches “Leach Up, Clean Up” Campaign, Sept 3, 2024. In celebration of Responsible Dog Ownership Month, this initiative encourages all pet owners to keep their dogs on a leash in public spaces and to always clean up after their pets. The campaign aims to promote responsible pet ownership, emphasizing the importance of following local and state regulations, while highlighting the environmental, health, and public safety benefits.

  • Tucson Clean & Beautiful Seeks Youth Tree Leaders, August 2024. TCB is recruiting for their Youth Tree Leaders Program, a dynamic initiative designed to empower young people to become environmental stewards. Participants learn about the crucial role trees play in urban environments, get hands-on experience in tree planting, and develop leadership skills that will serve them and their communities well into the future. Learn more in the City of Tucson’s August 2024 Climate Action Report; scroll down to the section on Youth Tree Leaders.

  • Protect Trees from Heat Stress Now. High temperatures combined with dry conditions place stress on our trees and other plants just as much as us! You can help prevent wilt, die back, pest, and other impacts from heat stress by providing extra water to your trees during periods of high heat. Follow watering best practices to avoid wasting water while protecting the value and life of our canopy and shade. Tap or click here for guidelines.

  • Old Zoo Parking Lot Closes; New Parking Lot Opens. Monday, April 15, 2024, the old Zoo and Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center (ARC) parking lots and entry to those parking lots closed permanently to make way for Pathway to Asia. Guests to Reid Park Zoo, Gene C. Reid Park amenities and ARC now park in the new lot located to the north of ARC. Access the new lot by entering from Lakeshore Lane or following the signs on Randolph Way to the entry next to Hi Corbett Field.

  • Volunteer for Community Planting Day at Cele Peterson Rose Garden in Gene C. Reid Park, March 24, 8:30–11:30 a.m. The department needs volunteers to help plant 126 rose bushes as well as distribute mulch and compost to ensure a beautiful bloom season. Volunteers should bring their own gloves if possible.

  • Join Us at Pop-up Cafe at Reid Park, March 23, 2024, 10 a.m.–Noon. Learn more and give your input on the results of our alternative analysis of the Camino Miramonte–Palo Verde Bicycle Boulevard, a Bicycle Safety and Mobility Project that aims to create a network of safer and more comfortable bicycle routes.

  • Public Meetings on Parks’ Proposed Rate/Fee Revisions. The City is hosting a series of in-person and two virtual public town hall meetings for the community to find out more about the revisions and provide feedback prior to the April 9 Mayor and Council meeting to consider approving the recommended fees. If adopted, the proposed rate change plan would go into effect beginning in FY 2025 and progressing through FY 30.

2023 STORIES

  • Party to Celebrate Reid Park’s New, Expanded Parking Lot. Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., the public and the media are invited to help open the new lot with a special tailgate party. The Zoo is providing free doughnuts and coffee (and juice for the kids) as an incentive for guests to familiarize themselves with the new lot.

  • Tim Steller's column: Randolph golfers should compromise on paths for walkers, runners, Arizona Daily Star, Dec. 4, 2023. (Don’t subscribe to tucson.com? Click the link above; then click the “Reader View” icon in that page’s address field.)

  • Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at Reid Park Nov. 25–26, 2023. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation department is excited to announce the return of its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair in Reid Park. Come get a jump on your holiday shopping.

  • Randolph Golf Complex and Park Opportunity Study. In a July 18, 2023 memorandum, Timothy M. Thomure, Deputy City Manager, apprised Mayor and City Council of findings and recommendations from a Tucson Parks & Recreation Department (TPRD) “study on increasing open space around the Randolph Golf Complex and Randolph Park, while maintaining the integrity of golf and identifying opportunities to increase the audience for the clubhouse and restaurant amenities.”

  • New Parking Lot Progresses at Reid Park. The new parking lot for the Zoo, Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center (ARC), and Reid Park is in progress. According to the Zoo’s July 25, 2023 project update, “work continues on utilities as well as pouring of curb stops and light pole bases.

    2022 STORIES

  • SHRP helps host Tucson Tree Fest 2022. Save the Heart of Reid Park was in Reid Park on Saturday, October 15, to help Mayor Regina Romero, The City of Tucson, Tucson Clean & Beautiful and other hosts at Tucson Tree Fest 2022 celebrate the importance of trees for Tucson’s climate future.

  • Photos: Trees at Reid Park get makeover, by Mamta Popat, Arizona Daily Star, April 5, 2022. “The group, Save the Heart of Reid Park, provided a donation to hire an International Society of Arboriculture–certified arborist to assess the health of trees on and near Barnum Hill at Gene C. Reid Park, and the landscape crew to cut away dead branches on the Aleppo pine trees.”

  • City of Tucson bulletin: Gene C. Reid Park Tree Trimming April 4 and 5. March 30, 2022. We have some exciting work happening on Barnum Hill in Reid Park! If you are at the park on Monday, April 4, or Tuesday, April 5, you will get to see some certified arborists in action pruning the dead material on some of our Aleppo pine trees.

  • Save the Heart of Reid Park Transitions, Jan. 25, 2022. In December 2021 SHRP began the process of terminating our political action committee (PAC), dissolving our 501(c)(4), disconnecting our Donorbox platform, and closing our bank account. We officially completed the process January 19, 2022, with disbursement of SHRP's remaining funds to a qualifying nonprofit.

    2021 STORIES

  • Update on the Reid Park Zoo Expansion, September 23, 2021 (project website). View the most recent Mayor and Council memorandum from Sept. 23, 2021 here. The project website provides updated graphic and explanatory text for the currently proposed configuration. A meeting was held October 1, 2021, to discuss the layout and gather any further community input. View the meeting on the project website or on the City of Tucson YouTube channel. In the City’s Bulletin of Oct. 6, 2021, Sierra Boyer, Community Promotions and Marketing Manager, Tucson Parks and Recreation, states: “If you would like to reach out to the team regarding the ongoing discussions and plans for the park and zoo expansion, please direct your emails to info@engageparkandzoo.info.“

  • SHRP enthusiastically endorses Miranda Schubert for Ward 6 Council Member, July 14, 2021. Miranda has actively supported Save the Heart of Reid Park since the beginning of her candidacy. Her main opponent, incumbent Steve Kozachik, is the only member of city council who voted to destroy Barnum Hill and the south duck pond. Please vote for Miranda in the August 3 Democratic primary and November 2 general election.

  • SHRP EMAIL TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, May 13, 2021. SHRP thanks the May and City Council for approving G-Minor and expresses desire to participate actively in the planning process for its implementation.

  • SHRP EMAIL TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, May 4, 2021. SHRP argues that “Option G Minor is the result of the community process far more than Option D” and contends that “G Minor meets all of the criteria that emerged from the Community Dialogue process” established by the mayor and city council. Moreover, SHRP maintains “Option G Minor raises the bar on intentional planning in Reid Park, which is sorely needed as Reid Park has gone without the consideration of a Master Plan for nearly two decades.”

  • ARCHITECT BOB VINT’S EMAIL TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, May 4, 2021. Vint shares his thoughts with Council before its May 4 meeting, specifically with regards to several major problems with Option D still being recommened by the city manager and addressing significant disparities between the city manager’s cost estimates and Vint’s professional estimates. For more details on G-minor, see also Bob Vint’s A Path Forward on this website.

  • The City of Tucson’s online survey, in both English and Español, regarding eight concepts for the Zoo expansion and possible changes to Gene C. Reid Park is now officially closed, with the votes tally currently tilted toward our favored options. However, the Community Conversation on these issues continues. There’s still time to join the conversation by submitting comments in either English or Español. The deadline for submitting comments online is Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

  •  City announces on April 1 a new survey on concepts for Reid Park. “A survey is now open for the community to see and learn about eight concepts regarding the Zoo expansion and possible changes to Gene C. Reid Park, weigh in on each concept, and offer any other ideas not covered by those presented. The concepts are based on input from the Core Stakeholder Group, the Reid Park Zoo Master Plan for expansion, and City of Tucson staff.” The survey can be taken online in both English and Spanish. The survey will close at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13.