Our Shrinking Park

Slow Loss of Free Public Space at Reid Park

Free green space in Reid Park has repeatedly been taken from the public. In 2012 the zoo took a 7.5-acre public soccer field. From one day to the next, with no notice, Tucson families were barred from the lovely green area along 22nd street that they had been using. It was then converted into an elephant run. Later, an area where people once ambled across green space on the northwest side of the park was fenced off and turned into a small baseball field that is closed to the public most of the time. Now the City of Tucson plans to take another 3.5 acres away from Tucsonans, including the beloved duck pond and many old growth trees — the Heart of Reid Park. (Click image below for larger view.)

Park has Only 78 acres of Open-Access Green Space

In the process of saving Barnum Hill and the South Pond in Reid Park, we’ve come to understand that many acres of Reid Park have been fenced off from the public. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a nonprofit that provides information on parks to help city governments and concerned residents make decisions to protect public green space.

For detailed discussion with maps showing the gradual reduction of open-access public green space to fewer than 78 acres, see discussion above.

Unfortunately, the TPL information on Reid Park is incorrect.

  • It reports inaccurately that Reid Park has 480 acres.

  • The park actually has fewer than 78 acres of open-access public green space, and several of these are covered with asphalt parking lots.

We have written to the Trust for Public Land requesting that they edit their report to show the true number of acres of open-access green space in Reid Park.

Implementing the G-Minor plan is vitally important. It allows the Reid Park Zoological Society to expand the zoo, as Mayor and Council requested, while leaving Reid Park free from encroachment.

In Phase Two of the Reid Park Zoo expansion project, it is imperative that the community be part of the planning process as we are committed to saving precious green space, as stated in Council Member Fimbres’ motion. See section below on engaging the community in implementing G-minor for Zoo Expansion.

If there is a will to find solutions for saving open-access park space, they will be found.