Julie Reitan Softball Complex Dedication

Who: Family and friends, along with U of A Softball Head Coach, Mike Candrea, will remember Julie Reitan and her legacy as softball player for the U of A Wildcats.

What: Unveiling of the new dedication sign for the Julie Reitan Softball Complex at
Lincoln Park.

When: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 11:30 a.m.

Where: 4325 S. Pantano Rd. (just south of Escalante)

Additional information: Julie began playing softball when she was 8 years old on the very fields that are dedicated to her.  She passed away at the age of 21 in 1997 from low blood sugar. She will always be remembered as the heart of the team from teammates and fans, and for her passion of the sport of softball.

Dignitaries:     Mike Candrea, Head Softball Coach, University of Arizona
Shirley C. Scott, Ward 4 Council Member
Fred H. Gray, Director, Tucson Parks and Recreation Department
Jim Conroy, East District Administrator, Tucson Parks and Recreation

Contact: Liz Baechler, Recreation Supervisor at the Clements Center 791-5787

Job Posting: Community Promotions and Marketing Manager

Open House at Udall Center

The Tucson Parks and Recreation Department will host an Open House at the Morris K. Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd. on Tuesday, February 28 from 5-7 p.m.
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Tucson Parks and Recreation department is committed to promoting socialization, health, fitness and an active lifestyle for participants of all ages. We are excited to provide the opportunity to open the center doors to the community for free during the Open House hours.
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Come and enjoy a tour of the facility and learn more about all the leisure classes offered at Udall. Staff will be available with information regarding center activities, programs as well as options for purchasing center passes.
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Instructions and opportunities to participate in Pickleball will take place throughout the evening.  Activities have also been planned for children. Refreshments will be served.
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For information about the facility contact the Udall Center at 791-4931 or visit the website at: www.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec/udall

HELP BRING BACK SPLASH TO CITY POOLS

The Tucson Parks Foundation and the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department need your help to reopen city pools which have been closed since the 2009 City budget reductions. Community and business partnerships along with donated funds will afford additional pools to open for summer 2012 swim programs.
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The Department, in concert with the Tucson Mayor and Council and community partners, has started the “Bring Back the Splash” campaign to open one pool at a time. Our community partners and donors will benefit by helping us achieve our goal to continue to provide programs, swim lessons, youth employment and overall physical health and quality of life to the community. To date, additional funding has been secured to operate four summer season pools; including a $25,000 donation from the Catalina Rotary to partially fund the summer operation at Jacobs pool.  Purple Heart, Menlo and Mansfield pools will also open this summer.
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The Citys Summer Splash pools hosted over 3000 swim-lessons and 100,000 swimming participants in the summer of 2009.
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Our quest is to open an additional seven city pools for summer swim in 2012, which requires $40,000- $60,000 for each pool for a full-summer operation and maintenance needs.
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Crissy Perham, three-time swimming Olympic Gold Medalist has joined the effort and reminds the community that Arizona is ranked #2 in the nation for child drownings.  These tragedies can be prevented when Tucsonans have access to the quality swim programs provided at Parks and Recreation facilities.
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Donations can be made online at: www.tucsonparksfoundation.org or by mailing to:
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Tucson Parks and Recreation Department
900 S. Randolph Way
Tucson, AZ 85716.
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Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to contact Parks and Recreation for information by calling 791-4877, emailing: SummerSplash@tucsonaz.gov, or visiting: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/parksandrec/aquatics
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Individuals, 16 years and older interested in being Lifeguards are encouraged to apply at http://www.tucsonaz.gov/sigma/JobListings.aspx or call 791-4245 for training and job details.

DEDICATION CELEBRATION: ARROYO CHICO URBAN GREENWAY, SI SCHORR SEGMENT

Please join us for the dedication of the Arroyo Chico Urban Greenway – Si Schorr Segment, a joint project between the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and Regional Transportation Authority which will ultimately link Reid Park to the downtown area. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11 a.m. on Camino Campestre between Randolph Way and Country Club.

The new 1.5 mile path traces the perimeter of Reid Park along Camino Campestre, Country Club and 22^nd Street. This new segment connects to the existing David Bell Multi-Use Path bordering the Randolph Golf Course and Reffkin Tennis Complex. 

Funding for the Si Schorr Segment was from the Regional Transportation Authority and City of Tucson Impact Fees.  The RTA granted the project $1.1 million.  City of Tucson Impact Fees added $717,000. For further information regarding the RTA plan visit: www.rtamobility.com.

Mr. Schorr was the first Chair of the Regional Transportation Authority Board.  His advocacy and leadership helped make this path a reality.

The project includes:

• the design of a urban streetscape that integrates a multi-use path
• parallel parking for Reid Park and Hi Corbett Stadium
• path lighting
• 12’ wide asphalt path and pervious pavers
• landscaping with innovative water harvesting techniques such as street-side infiltration basins, structural soil, vegetated swales and micro-basins to address localized drainage issues and provide supplemental irrigation for new and existing plants.

Participating in the dedication ceremony will be Si Schorr, first RTA Board Chair, Steve Kozachik, City of Tucson Ward 6 Council Member, a representative of the Regional Transportation Authority, and Fred H. Gray, Jr., City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Director.

For more information contact Julie Parizek, Project Manager at 837-8042.

SUN RUN (@Reid Park) 5k AND 10k TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Beginning at 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., Sunday, January 22, 2012 the following right curb lane closures will be in effect to facilitate the Pima College Sun Run.
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●       22nd Street from Alvernon Way to Country Club Road
●       Country Club Road from 22nd Street to Broadway
●       Broadway from Country Club Road to Randolph Way
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Motorists driving through the event areas can expect delays. The traveling public should use caution when driving or bicycling along the event route, obey all traffic control signs, and watch for event participants and pedestrians.

CONNIE AND SHABA TO BE MOVED TO SAN DIEGO ZOO ELEPHANT ODYSSEY

City of Tucson Parks and Recreation officials and staff from the Reid Park Zoo have been re-evaluating a decision to separate Connie and Shaba from one another. Today, after conferring with experts from San Diego Zoo Global, Reid Park Zoo staff, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the African Elephant Taxon Advisory Group (TAG), both Connie and Shaba will be relocated to Elephant Odyssey in San Diego.
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The decision to move Shaba to San Diego along with Connie allows Reid Park Zoo to continue to meet the long-established objectives of its elephant program:
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● Provide both Connie and Shaba with additional space, superior whole-life care, and expertly trained staff at AZA institutions.
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● Introduce both Connie and Shaba to additional herd members, as two-animal “herds” do not provide for long term social needs for elephants.
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● Continue to participate actively in the African Elephant Species Survival Plan and breeding program.
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● Partner with fellow elephant experts for the future of elephants at AZA zoos.
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● Provide an accredited Zoo in Tucson where guests have the opportunity to learn from elephants and are encouraged to form personal and meaningful connections with wildlife.
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Following a conference call with San Diego Zoo officials, City of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said “I am glad we found a solution that will keep Connie and Shaba together and provide them both with excellent care. This is a really good result for Connie, Shaba and the Tucsonans of all ages who love them.”
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The attached link is a photo of Mayor Rothschild and Parks and Recreation officials during a conference call to San Diego Zoo officials to discuss moving both Connie and Shaba to the San Diego Zoo - http://db.tt/tCgqmVy0

A-MOUNTAIN TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY

PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE WEST CAMPUS TENNIS COURTS CLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS

The Pima Community College (PCC) West Campus Athletic Department has notified the City of Tucson that all eight tennis courts at the West Campus facility will be closed from December 29, 2011 through January 6, 2012 to allow works crews to resurface the courts prior to the start of the 2012 men’s and women’s tennis season in early February.
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PCC officials planned to systematically close two courts at a time leaving six other courts open for public use, but inclement weather over the past month has forced officials to change their plans.
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The City of Tucson has an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with PCC for several facilities making them available for public use. The West Campus tennis courts are open to the public as a park outside of the time PCC uses the courts for classes, team practices and meets. The City of Tucson maintains the nets and lights as part of the IGA.

HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR IN REID PARK