Pima Trails Association Winter 2013

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PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONProtecting Pima County’s Trails since 1987

www.pimatrails.orgVol. 26, No. 1 Winter 2013

President’s Message

Sue Clark, President

We hope you enjoy this first newsletter of 2013, with many highlights inside.

Our annual dinner and awards ceremony last November was fun-filled and informative. We celebrated another very active and successful year. In this newsletter, we outline our accomplishments for 2012 and tell you about the 2012 re-cipient of our Friend of the Trails Award, Daphne Madison.

Now we’re looking ahead to the International Trails Sympo-sium April 14-17 in Fountain Hills east of Phoenix. This major event brings together trail representatives from around the world. We hope you can drive up the road to see us and all of the other booths and displays. More information about the symposium can be found on page 4.

If you have not already renewed your membership for 2013, there is still time. It’s easy. Just go to our website www.pima-trails.org and use PayPal or print out the renewal form and mail it and your check to our post office box. We count on your support. As an all-volunteer organization, without you, and without your financial support, we would not be able to do what we do for trail users in southern Arizona. We’re always ready to help with any trail issues. Contact us if you have questions or concerns.

It’s winter in Tucson. Those 100 degree days will be return-ing soon. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the unique Southern Arizona environment, and enjoy the 2000 miles of trails we’ve worked so hard together to protect in the Regional Trails Master Plan.

No Greenway? No Way!Pima Trails Association honored Barrio Viejo resident Daphne Madison as 2012’s Friend of the Trails. Daphne’s persistent determination figured prominently in cutting through bureau-cracy to complete the El Paso and Southwest-ern Greenway in downtown Tucson.

What was described by Daphne as a dirt plot with garbage everywhere 15 years ago is now a tidy open space with shade trees, benches and a gazebo just south of the new Fire Department Central and at the north edge of Barrio Viejo. A preserved section of

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Daphne Madison and her dog Dinga head for the gazebo near the El Paso and Southern Greenway.

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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 Goals

1. 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 opportuni-ties.

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.

2013 PTA Board Members

Sue Clark, President Terri Gay, Vice President Bev Showalter, Secretary Chuck Cook, Treasurer

Directors Jon Shouse

Mike Studer Jim Terlep

Sharon Urban

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.

Editor: Terri Gay Contributors: Sue Clark, Terri Gay

© Pima Trails Association 2013 All rights reserved.

Articles or parts thereof may be repro-duced with permission if

acknowledgment is given to Pima Trails Association.

Advertising may not be reproduced.

PTA Events Welcome, New MembersJeffery Frost

Mike GoodmanAnne LawrenceDoug LindgrenPaulette McLainBecky Patterson

Frank PittsJudy West

Business & Organization Members

County Line Riders of CatalinaEpic Rides

Pima Co. Parks and RecreationPusch Ridge Stables

Saddlebrooke Hiking ClubSDMB

Southern Arizona Hiking ClubTucson Saddle ClubWhite Stallion Ranch

We endeavor to include every new member and current

business/ organization in this listing, and we apologize if we have missed

you or misspelled your name! Let us know and we will correct the spelling and acknowledge your membership in

the next newsletter.

March Tuesday, March 26, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING

REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

April NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM

Sunday, April 14, 2 pm - 6 pm Monday, April 15, 8 am - 6 pm Tuesday, April 16, 10 am - 6 pm

See page 5 for more information

Tuesday, April 23, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING

REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

May Tuesday, May 28, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING

REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

June Tuesday, June 25, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING

REI, 160 W. Wetmore at Tucson Mall

July NO BOARD MEETING

Welcome, Jim Terlep, incoming PTA board mem-ber! Jim is active in the Southern Arizona Hiking Club and has been a full time Arizona resident since 1991. He has worked as a registered oc-cupational therapist, and is currently retired from Tucson’s University Medical Center. Although hik-ing and peak bagging are his passions, he also spends time traveling the country with his wife of thirty years.

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DakotaCom.net: Host of the

Pima Trails Association websitewww.pimatrails.org

Chuck and Debbie Cook at the Pima Trails Association Annual Membership Meeting. Board election results included the re-election of all current officers and board members plus the addition of Jim Terlep. Daphne Madison accepted the 2012 Friend of the Trails award (see page 1 article). President Sue Clark summarized the year’s accomplishments before conducting the ever-popular raffle to end the evening on a high note.

The long-awaited commemorative tree garden along the Pantano River Park south of Golf Links was dedicated January 11, 2013. The tree garden is one component of the continuing completion of the River Park system around Tucson. Other commemorative gardens can be found on the Santa Cruz and Rillito River Parks.

the old railway after which the greenway is named com-memorates the railroad’s history and parallels a paved recreation path that is part of the 54-mile Loop of continu-ous trail around Tucson. The greenway will eventually link 29th Street to Barrio Anita north of St. Mary’s Road.

In the fight to build the greenway, obstacles included dealing with plans from Rio Nuevo, University of Arizona Science Center at I-10, Santa Cruz River restoration and a grocery store. Earning neighboring property owners’ blessings and securing the last little $20,000 in funding from the city needed to qualify for $500,000 in federal grants were key components, too. The delayed city contri-bution threatened the loss of the federal grant entirely.

Additional challenges existed in overcoming the barrio resi-dents’ anger and lack of trust in City Hall over demolition of a section of the historic barrio for construction of TCC. Also, Daphne worked for City Parks and Recreation in an unrelated role; some considered it a conflict of interest even though her greenway advocacy was on her own time.

Residents reached their threshold. “Excuses and stalling; we were tired of it,” sighed Daphne. So Daphne and her neighbors made a big noise. Three neighborhood associa-tions, Tucson-Pima Historical Commission, the South Tucson City Council, the Pima County parks department and four trails groups got behind the effort. City Hall heard them.

“All the different neighborhoods in the barrio have dif-ferent stories,” says Daphne. A mural near the gazebo highlights those stories of “heros” who lived in the neigh-borhood and made a difference in the community.

Pima Trails Association is grateful for Daphne’s courage and concern as a neighbor and as a trails activist. She even qualifies as a hero.

Portions of this article are excerpted from Arizona Daily Star article “Backers of parklike paths irked at city” by Tony Davis, October 20, 2003.

GREENWAY (continued from page 1)

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County Line Riders of Catalinacountylineriders.org

P.O. Box 8881Catalina, AZ 85738

Epic Ridesepicrides.com 520-745-2033

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo Event Producer

Southern Arizona Hiking Clubsahcinfo.org

[email protected]

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclistssdmb.org

[email protected]

whitestallion.com

888-WSRANCH (888-977-2624)9251 W. Twin Peaks Road

Tucson, Arizona 85743

Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation

Leading community efforts to conserve the Sonoran Desert and enhance the urban environment while providing quality recre-

ational, educational, and leisure activities.http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/

American Trails presents the 21st International Trails Sym-posium April 14 to 17, 2013, at the Fort McDowell Radis-son Resort and Conference Center northeast of Phoenix near the community of Fountain Hills. The 2013 theme is “Trails Lead Everywhere,” highlighting trails and their ben-efits worldwide.

Pima Trails Association will be sharing trails advocacy suc-cess stories at its table display. If you attend the Sympo-sium, stop by and say hello!

This opportunity for trails advocates to learn the many fac-ets of planning, funding and maintaining trails and have fun sharing experiences with other trail enthusiasts occurs only every two years in a different host city.

Attendees can participate in workshops at local trail proj-ects and enjoy off-site field trips like trail-building, rafting,

American Trails 21st Trails Symposium in Arizona, April 14-17hiking and climbing. Presenters will discuss using smart-phones to navigate and interpret trails for users, designing trails and trail plans, gaining community involvement, as well as other topics. Displays of products and information for trail professionals will fill the expo hall.

Until April 13, full registration for American Trails members is $455 and for non-members $530. This includes all meals, admission to exhibit hall and Core Track presentations. Off-site workshops and many featured workshops require additional fees. Daily registration ranges from $140 to $210 prior to April 13.

See more details and register at: http://www.americantrails.org/2013.

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Dan

Dav

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PTA Accomplishments 2012 • Pima Trails Association (PTA) continues work on the

54-mile shared use path around the metro area dubbed The Loop. The path uses county river parks and includes some greenways. PTA is actively con-sulting with Pima County on the section of the Santa Cruz River Park from Ajo Way to Silverlake Road.

• Northwest metro areas are experiencing wide-spread trail construction. A river park project in de-sign stage on which PTA is contributing its expertise is the Canyon del Oro (CDO) wash from La Cholla Boulevard to La Canada Drive. When completed, users will enjoy a paved path without bank pro-tection and a soft path in the flood plain. It offers a more rural experience compared to other river park sections. A trailhead is planned nearby on Overton Road.

• Additionally, an important connector trail of nearly three miles linking Ina Road to the Rillito River Park is under construction on the west side of La Canada Drive.

• PTA met with the Assistant Town Manager of Ma-rana to discuss plans for the Tangerine Greenway. Tangerine is envisioned as a four lane road with a greenway, wildlife crossings and equestrian cross-ings. The plan calls for the Central Arizona Project (CAP) trail to cross I-10 in the Tangerine area. The CAP has given permission for a trail along the berm of the canal.

• Also in Marana, Pima Trails assisted with the design for the popular Wild Burro Trail in the Tortolitas, culminating with a trailhead dedication in February 2012.

• Pima Trails donated over $600 for signage to en-courage safe use of the trail system at Arthur Pack Regional Park on Thornydale Road.

• Near the community of Vail southeast of Tucson, PTA helped with the design for the Gabe Zimmer-man Davidson Canyon Trailhead, dedicated Janu-ary 2012. PTA currently assists on efforts to create a safe crossing for equestrians at Marsh Station Road for Arizona Trail users.

Did you know....There is growing evidence demonstrating that parks are good for your health. Gallup’s Well-Being Index found that people who live in close proximity to parks have fewer headaches, lower obesity rates and even as many as 25 percent fewer heart attacks. Another study found that greener (more trees and vegeta-tion) neighborhoods are correlated with lower body mass indices among children. And in one town, it was discovered that for every dollar invested in trails, there was a medical cost savings of $3.Just as obesity is not evenly distributed across socioeco-nomic lines, neither is park access. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 50 percent of young people have parks or playground areas, sidewalks or walking paths in their neighborhoods. If you look behind that statistic, you will see the disparities: 70 percent of African-American and 80 percent of Latino neighborhoods lack parks and recreational facilities.--from Huffington Post, January 29, 2013, by Jackie Ostfeld

Catalina State Park 30th Anniversary

May 4, 2013 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Entrance to Park FREE to all...Go celebrate!

Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclistssdmb.org

[email protected]

The Tucson Saddle Club tucsonsaddleclub.com

PO Box 30433Tucson, AZ 85751

PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONP.O. BOX 35007TUCSON, AZ 85740

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Join online and pay with PayPal or return this form with check payable to: Pima Trails Association. Mail to: PTA Membership, PO Box 35007, Tucson, AZ 85740