Our Stance on Survey Options  

Because research shows that parkland and green space is of great benefit to a community on multiple levels and because Tucson is ranked 84th out of 100 when compared to other U.S. cities in terms of park space:

All Reid Park green space is precious and is to be retained. Therefore, on the City of Tucson survey regarding the best options in Reid Park with regard to the Reid Park Zoo, our preferences are as follows:

Options We Support:

Option A- No expansion of the Reid Park Zoo

This option respects the will of the voters as expressed on November 7th, 2017, when voters approved Propositions 202 & 203 by 633 votes. The ballot said that a “yes” vote would have the effect of granting funding for “capital improvements, operations and maintenance” for the Reid Park Zoo. There was no mention in the ballot of expanding the zoo. Voters were voting to improve the zoo as it stood on that day. If there had been any mention of expanding the zoo, thereby shrinking Reid Park, it is more than likely that Propositions 202 & 203 would have been rejected by voters. Save the Heart of Reid Park has collected over 400 statements from voters who voted in that election declaring that they would have voted “no” had there been any indication the funds would be used to expand the zoo into the heart of Reid Park.

Option G – Building a Reid Park Zoo expansion on what is currently parking lot and older City of Tucson buildings

As stated above, Reid Park green space is precious for many reasons. Tucson voters approved funding for the zoo as it stood on November 7, 2017. There was no mention on the ballot of expanding the zoo. However, if the Reid Park Zoo were to be expanded, converting what is currently a paved area to zoo territory would avoid the loss of green space in Reid Park. The tax increase approved by voters with Propositions 202 & 203, approximately $11 million per year until 2028, would fund this endeavor.

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 contents 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.”

Option H – Move the zoo

The Reid Park Zoological Society, under contract by the City of Tucson to manage and operate Reid Park Zoo, has set forth in the zoo’s master plan the goal of making the facility a world-class zoo. Its current proposal for expansion of the zoo is part of how it seeks to achieve that goal. Yet Reid Park is too small to house a world-class zoo. Even with the expansion currently proposed, the Reid Park Zoo would still be too small to be a world-class zoo. Therefore, if the Reid Park Zoological Society persists in working toward the goal of Reid Park Zoo becoming world-class, and if the City of Tucson continues to retain the Reid Park Zoological Society as the the M&O contractor for Reid Park Zoo, then the Zoo needs to move to a location where there would be sufficient territory to realize that goal.

Options We Oppose:

Option B – Destruction of the mature tree canopy on Barnum Hill and underground tree root network hub, building a building on that area and covering it with concrete, and taking it and the south duck pond away from Tucson families, as shown in the plans provided to SHRP by the CEO of the Reid Park Zoological Society. This would constitute a social and environmental injustice for multiple reasons and is unacceptable.

Option C – Destruction of the mature tree canopy on Barnum Hill and underground tree root network hub, building a building on that area and covering it with concrete, and taking it and the south duck pond away from Tucson families, as shown in the plans provided to SHRP by the CEO of the Reid Park Zoological Society. This would constitute a social and environmental injustice for multiple reasons and is unacceptable. This option also involves destroying some of the trees in a nearby area of the park and doing desert landscaping there.

Option D – Building a zoo expansion to the northwest of the current zoo footprint

Option D would remove a significant amount of green space from Reid Park. Tucson needs more park space, not less. This option would also create a barrier to park users’ free movement through the park.

Option E – Expanding the zoo to the southwest

This option would cover green space with concrete and would kill trees, including an important underground tree root hub. Also, moving the Cancer Survivors Plaza to a different part of the park would cover that new area with concrete as well.

Option F – Expanding the Reid Park Zoo onto the Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course

As stated above, green space provides a benefit to the Tucson community. Moving the Reid Park Zoo onto the Randolph Dell Urich Golf Course would put concrete onto what is now green space, killing trees and green space.