Pima Trails Association Summer 2010

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PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATION“Protecting Pima County’s Trails since 1987”

www.pimatrails.orgVol. 23, No. 2 Summer 2010

President’s Message

Sue Clark, President

It’s summer! Are you having fun while staying cool? Sum-mer is a slow time for trail activities but Pima Trails contin-ues to work on projects.

When REI contacted us, we were delighted to meet with them and discuss the “Tucson Mall Gap” in the Rillito riverpark. Now that REI is at Tucson Mall, we thought REI management should be aware of the “Gap” in this great rec-reational linear park and encourage the mall management to fix the problem.

Together with the Urban Trails Coalition, we met with REI and gave them a design plan for correcting this problem. We’re hoping that REI can move this project along with the mall management. Stay tuned.

Sahuarita continues to count on our expertise in designing their trails master plan. This has been an ongoing part-nership for the last two years and we are happy to be of assistance.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Bike/Ped Working Group continues to meet monthly at the Pima Association of Governments (PAG) offices on Church Ave. This group is the first step in decision making for which greenways, bikeways, pathways and sidewalks projects are funded for the 20 year plan approved by Pima County vot-ers on May 16, 2006 for a countywide ½ cent sales tax.

Have a relaxing summer.

Pima Trails Association joined many other nonprofit recreation groups at the Tucson Mall in May the grand opening of outdoor equipment retailer REI. Above, Steve Steinberg and Bev Showalter talk trails with a young trekker.

Help Out on National Public Lands Day, September 25, 2010Find an event in Arizona and volunteer your time, sweat and muscle to contribute to the public lands we enjoy year around.

Thousands of volunteers in every state will put their hands to work on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Volunteers build bridges and trails, improve habitat, plant trees, remove invasive plants that threaten fragile natives, protect natural, historic and cultural resources—and much more.

Tucson’s registered events include removing graffiti and debris at Indian Kitchen; general clean-up at Snyder Hill; and removal of debris/illegal dumping on Saginaw Hill. Contact: Al Mezzano at BLM, (520) 258-7244. To see all events, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org

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PTA Statement of Purpose Pima Trails Association is a nonprofit, 501(c)3, all-volunteer trails advocacy organization com-prised of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers working together to protect and preserve trails in Pima County.

PTA Goals1. Establish an integrated multi-use public trails system.2. Assure permanent access to trails on public lands.3. Promote cooperation with land owners and developers to preserve access to traditional-use trails on private lands.4. Foster cooperation and com-munication among all trail user-groups.5. Communicate and cooperate with government agencies on trail matters.6. Keep the community informed about trail issues and opportunities.7. Facilitate the safe and harmoni-ous multi-use of trails through trail education, community programs and fund-raising activities.8. Encourage the development of new recreational and historic trails.9. Expand the effectiveness and influence of Pima Trails Association.

2009 PTA Board MembersSue Clark, President

Terri Gay, Vice PresidentBev Showalter, Secretary

Don Scheer, Treasurer

DirectorsChuck CookJon Shouse

Steven SteinbergMike Studer

Sharon Urban

The Pima Trails Association Newsletter

is a quarterly publication of Pima Trails Association,

P O Box 35007,Tucson, Arizona 85740 Phone 520-577-7919 www.pimatrails.org

Publication of advertising should not be deemed an endorsement by PTA.

Story copy reflects the views of the author and does not necessarily

reflect the views of PTA. Story copy is subject to editing as

needed.

Co-Editors: Susan Dawson-Cook.Terri Gay Contributors: Sue Clark,

Zach MacDonald © Pima Trails Association 2010

All rights reserved. Articles or parts thereof may be re-

produced with permission if acknowl-edgment is given to

Pima Trails Association. Advertising may not be reproduced.

PTA Events Welcome, New MembersJack Carnie

Katherine CerinoMichael Cocci

Gary CookShirley CullineyMarjorie Dixon

Jim GhysPatricia GilbertDoug HawkinsBrenden Henry

Mark HildabrandChuck Hill

Clint HinmanJohn Hubbard

Robert HubbardKathleen Madril

Austin & Heather MooreScott MorrisJoseph Ortiz

Michelle PedersenJean Raviola-Chvapil

James RidgeNanette Weaver

Business & Organization Members

County. Line Riders of CatalinaColossal Cave Mountain Park

Epic RidesFair Wheel Bikes

P. C. Sheriff’s Mounted PosseSaddlebrooke Hiking Club

Sonoran Desert Mtn BicylistsSE Arizona Horseman’s AssnSouthern Arizona Hiking Club

The Magic GardenTucson Saddle Club

White Stallion Ranch

We endeavor to include every new member and current business/

organization in this listing, and we apologize if we’ve missed you! Let us know and we will acknowl-edge your membership in the next

newsletter.

JulyNO PTA BOArD MeeTiNG

AugustTuesday, August 24, 7 pm PTA BOArD MeeTiNG

Hampton inn, 5950 N. Oracle rd.

SeptemberSaturday, September 25

VOLuNTeer!NAT’L PuBLiC LANDS DAY

publiclandsday.org

Tuesday, September 28, 7 pm PTA BOArD MeeTiNG

Hampton inn, 5950 N. Oracle rd.

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Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists – Trail Advocatesby Zach MacDonald

PROFILE

The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists (SDMB) are a member-driven club and trail advocacy group. We lead monthly mountain bike rides for all levels and support daily/weekly social rides throughout our membership. We teach MTB 101 classes, donate time and money to great causes like Trips for Kids South-ern Arizona, Arizona Trail Las Colinas Construction Project, Pima, Pinal, & Santa Cruz County trails proj-ects, and other charity rides and events. The list goes on and on. Specifically, we are co-trail stewards of a section of the Arizona Trail with the Tucson Saddle

Club. We also partnered with Pima Trails Associa-tion to donate money for archeology work at Robles Pass so the county could continue work on a beautiful network of multi-use trails in the southern reaches of Tucson Mountain Park that have otherwise been undeveloped.

Our membership is represented within most major advocacy groups in Southern Arizona, including; Pima Trails Association, Tucson-Pima County Bi-cycle Advisory Committee, Santa Cruz Valley Bicycle Advisory Committee, Arizona State Committee on Trails, Arizona Trail Association, International Moun-

tain Bicycling Association, League of American Bicy-clists, and Mountain Bike Association of Arizona. We partner with Mountain Bike Association of Arizona and Epic Rides to send an SDMB representative to Washington DC each year for the National Bicycle Summit to lobby for mountain bike trail access and other trail issues including promoting alternatives to “Wilderness” designations that protect the land but also allow for bicycle access.

We are strong advocates of responsible trail use by our membership and the mountain bike community. As issues arise we are always at the table to discuss and find possible solutions. Recently we worked with the Pima County Parks and Recreation, local eques-trian groups and mountain bicyclists to mitigate user interactions on some of our more popular trails. We also formed a group to help obliterate illegal trails in the Tucson Mountains. Currently we are in discus-sions with City of Tucson and Pima County to de-velop urban skills parks as an option for riders who want to learn new skills in convenient, controlled, safe environments.

Our work is never done – we enjoy our trails and work to protect our right to access the land in a safe, responsible, environmentally friendly, non-motorized way.

Zach MacDonald currently serves as president of the Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists and as a board member of the Arziona Trail Association. Learn more about SDMB at www.sdmb.org

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Did you know you can download your very own copy of the Presidio Trail map?

Follow the turquoise line through downtown and learn Tucson’s history as you walk!

http://tinyurl.com/27vjp5j

The Magic Garden magicgardennursery.com

7909 e. 22nd Street520-885-7466

County Line riders of Catalinacountylineriders.org

P.O. Box 8881Catalina, AZ 85738

White Stallion ranch wsranch.com 520-297-0252

[email protected]

Pima County Sheriff’s Mounted Possesarci.org/posse.htm

posse6 @ sarci2.org.

Colossal Cave Mountain Parkcolossalcave.com

16721 e. Old Spanish Trail520-647-PArK (7275)

epic ridesepicrides.com 520-745-2033

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo event Producer

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclistssdmb.org

[email protected]

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The Tucson Saddle Club tucsonsaddleclub.com

PO Box 30433Tucson, AZ 85751

Southeastern Arizona Horseman’s Association

SeAHAseaha.org

Fair Wheel Bikes fairwheelbikes.com 1110 e. 6th Street520-844-9018

Saddlebrooke Hiking Clubsaddlebrooke.org/clubs/hiking/

hiking_welcome.htm

Southern Arizona Hiking Clubsahcinfo.org

[email protected]

The Arizona Horse Projectby Maureen Kirk-Detberner

In the spring of 2009, a small group of horse enthu-siasts started the Arizona Horse Project and created a bill HB 2634, to have the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the State Horse of Arizona. The Colonial Spanish Horse has been in Arizona since 1540 when Francisco Coronado crossed Arizona on these sturdy horses from Spain. Today in Arizona, the progeny of the Colonial Spanish Horses live on in the Cerbat horses, the Native American horses and the Wilbur-Cruce horses.

HB 2634 was ready for vote in the Arizona House in April, 2010. Due to the political issues with the state budget and an unpopular State Drink bill HB 2534 never made it to the House for a vote. This the fall, the Arizona Horse Project will be sub-mitting a proclamation for signature to the Gover-nor of Arizona to have the Colonial Spanish Horse named as the Arizona State Heritage Horse. We are in contact with several Arizona State Senators to sponsor a new Arizona State Heritage Horse bill for the 2011 Arizona Legislation Session. For more information on the history of the horses, the project and the bill please see our website at http://www.arizonahorseproject.com.

PiMA TrAiLS ASSOCiATiONP.O. BOX 35007TuCSON, AZ 85740

E-mail:__________________________ MeMBerSHiP: NeW reNeWAL YES, I WILL VOLUNTEER

(Please type or print. In order to preserve your privacy, we do not sell or share our membership list with anyone.) Date: __________________ Name: __________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________ State: ___ Zip: ____________ Home #:_______________ Work #:________________

Website (if business): _____________________________ Please send a digital version of logos for free listing in newsletter. How do you use the trails? (hike, bike, horse, etc.)_________________________________________________________

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDTUCSON, AZ

PERMIT NO. 176

Make checks payable to: Pima Trails Association

Mail all checks to:PTA Membership

Post Office Box 35007Tucson, Arizona 85740

_____ $15 Membership _____ $20 Family Membership _____ $50 Organization: # members_______ _____ $100 Business Sponsor

YeArLY MeMBerSHiP Fee: The membership year is January 1 - December 31. No memberships are prorated. We will recognize you in our upcoming newsletter. Please check here if you wish to remain anonymous: If you choose to join at the Booster, Advocate or Guardian level, please indicate t-shirt size: S M L XL

_____ $100-$499 Trail Booster _____ $500-$999 Trail Advocate _____ $1000-$5000 Trail Guardian _____ Other _________________

Pima Trails Association Statement of Purpose Pima Trails Association is a nonprofit, volunteer trails advocacy organization comprised of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers working together to protect and preserve trails in Pima County.

6-10

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newsletter by email? let us know!

Join online and pay with PayPal or make checks payable to: Pima Trails Association

Mail to:PTA Membership

PO Box 35007Tucson, AZ 85740

_____ $15 Membership _____ $20 Family Membership _____ $50 Business/Organization _____ $100 Bus./Org. Supporting Member _____ $100-$499 Trail Booster _____ $500-$999 Trail Advocate _____ Other _________________

PiMA TrAiLS ASSOCiATiON is a nonprofit trails advo-cacy organization of hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers working to protect & preserve trails in Pima County.YeArLY MeMBerSHiP : January 1 - December 31. No member-ships are prorated. We will recognize you in our upcoming newslet-ter. Check here if you wish to remain anonymous: MeMBerSHiP: NeW reNeWAL E-mail:____________________________ Date: ______________ i prefer my newsletter delivered digitally We do not sell or share our membership list with anyone.

Name: __________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________

City: ________________________ State: ____ Zip: ____________

Website (if business): _____________________________________

County Line riders of Catalina Summer update by Bev Showalter

CLRC continues to maintain local trails throughout the summer, since winter rains have resulted in exten-sive overgrowth. Some re-routes will be completed this summer in Tortolita Preserve that are needed to avoid precious Saguaro root systems from being damaged by the existing trail route.

Tortolita Preserve trail is maintained by CLRC and Max Shemwell, our wonderful bike buddy. CLRC cleared a horse rig turn-around at the trailhead, so please do not park in that turn-around.

CLRC has ramped up involvement with the Arizona Horse Council. A local extension of the State group has formed and will address specific problems in Southern Arizona. CLRC has signed up for the Zoning Committee and will meet in June with other Zoning Committee members from around the state to identify zoning issues affecting horse property owners.

CLRC has learned of Tucson Parklands Founda-tion, a 501c-3 nonprofit which provides funding and support for special projects that benefit our community parks and recreation facilities. You can earmark your donations for specific projects or parks, such as the Catalina Regional Park; the funds would help refurbish the Equestrian Center.