PARTNERS IN A LINEAR PARK
A partnership between City of Tucson, Tucson Transportation Department, RTA, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Tucson Parks and Recreation and the neighborhoods of the Grant Road Coalition is formed to create and maintain a Linear Park between Park and Santa Rita. In January 2019 plans began in earnest to complete the park. Funding is from a redirection of monies from the TDOT Basin (approximately $48K) project at Hampton and Grant and the Parks Bond 407 ($225K) passed in 2018. As plans move forward information will be posted here.
The Linear Park Steering Committee consists of:
Representing: 1000 block of Edison - B. Schlanger; 1100 block of Edison - D. Richmond; 1200 block of Edison --; JPNA Clean Committee - J. Osuna; JPNA Green Committee, David Frank; Friends of Jefferson Park, Inc - J. Daniels; JPNA, C. Nichols; SAMOS, B. Miller; Mtn/First, S. Studd; Campbell/Grant Neighborhood --; Catalina Vista Neighborhood, Anne Barrett
The Linear Park Steering Committee consists of:
Representing: 1000 block of Edison - B. Schlanger; 1100 block of Edison - D. Richmond; 1200 block of Edison --; JPNA Clean Committee - J. Osuna; JPNA Green Committee, David Frank; Friends of Jefferson Park, Inc - J. Daniels; JPNA, C. Nichols; SAMOS, B. Miller; Mtn/First, S. Studd; Campbell/Grant Neighborhood --; Catalina Vista Neighborhood, Anne Barrett
Neighbors will have opportunities to become involved and help maintain the park through the Tucson Clean and Beautiful "Adopt a Park " Program. This very exciting opportunity for Tucson's urban core will depend on everyone working together. It is a great gift to Tucson today and their children tomorrow.
WHY NATIVE PLANTINGS?
...because they are sustainable Initial watering will be in place to nurture young plantings, but in a short time the Park will be self sustaining with native plants. WHY HEALTH? ...because humans must be sustained An early partnership with Banner Health and the proposed RX trail will connect the amenities of the Grant Road Linear Park with the Greenway at Lester. The resulting pathway from Lester to Mountain, North on Mountain to Grant Road and then west to the Linear Park is only impeded by one block of homes remaining from the Phase 2 Grant Road Construction. In phase 5/6TDOT will be lobbied to create some connection safe for bicycles and pedestrians. Thus forming the first urban core walk/bike way |
Proposed historic sign bases modeled on the signs along the Turquoise Trail in downtown Tucson.
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Proposed statue at Banner Greenway Park
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WHY HERITAGE?
...because knowledge of our past sustains us The linear park will include signage which tells the story of Grant Road, Jefferson Park, Maps of early Tucson, 1940 photos of views across Grant Road where the view was desert until the horizon rose to the Catalina Mountains. The Banner Greenway at Lester will sport a community park there, scheduled for completion in April 2019 and will feature historic information about the Polo Field and Ponies which once served the UA ROTC. Additionally,there will be a ramada reminiscent of the Quonset huts which were built post WWII to accommodate the returning vets. |
Concept drawing of the benches proposed for the Banner Greenway Park
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Concept drawing of the Quonset Hut Ramada at Banner Greenway Park
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Look closely - Grant Road did not extend west past Campbell
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How things have changed!
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1940 Grant Road looking west - "A" mountain in the background
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1940 Grant Road looking north - Catalinas in the background
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Right: Quonset huts circa 1946
Above: UA ROTC Polo Game with Catalina Mountains in background Below: Images of immigrant Anne Stattleman, who was later to marry Mr. Lester. Annie homesteaded what would become Jefferson Park Neighborhood and built several homes which still stand in the neighborhood |
Above: A home built by Annie Lester which still stands in Jefferson Park today
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