fall 2012
DESCRIPTION
News on trails and trails access in and around Pima County, Arizona.TRANSCRIPT
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PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONProtecting Pima County’s Trails since 1987
www.pimatrails.orgVol. 25, No. 2 Fall 2012
President’s Message
Sue Clark, President
Outdoor time has arrived in Tucson once again and isn’t it great!
The City of Tucson Mayor’s office asked to meet with us to discuss trails in the city. Discussion focused on the urban loop and the progress on the Santa Cruz and Pantano River Parks.
We are giving a grant of $600 for trail signage to Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation for the trail system at the 580 acre Arthur Pack Park on Thornydale Rd. at Hardy Rd.
Planning is ongoing for the April 2013 National Trails Sym-posium in Fountain Hills, AZ. It should be great so as we get closer to the time, we’ll let you know the details.
The Pima Trails annual meeting and dinner will be held Nov. 13 at El Parador restaurant. Read about it in this newslet-ter. You will get an invitation along with the ballot for 2013 soon. Plan to attend and join the fun.
Enjoy the good weather on your trails and be sure to report to us any trail problems you encounter. We are you voice for trail access
Pima Trails Association2012 Annual Meeting & Elections
You are cordially invited to attend the Pima Trails Association
Annual Meeting & Dinner
Tuesday, November 13, 6:00 pm
El Parador Restaurant 2744 E. Broadway
Dinner (served at 6:30 pm) includes:Cheese Enchilada Casserole
Green Corn Tamale Southwest Quesadilla
Spanish Rice/Refried BeansFresh Spring Greens with Dressings
Chips/SalsaDessert
Coffee, Tea, Soft Drink
$20, inclusive of tax and gratuity, payable at the event
We will be honoring this year’s Friend of the Trails award winner.
RSVP by November 9 at 577-7919 (please leave a message),
or by email at [email protected] with
“RSVP for PTA Dinner” in subject line.
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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.
2012 PTA Board Members
Sue Clark, President Terri Gay, Vice President Bev Showalter, Secretary Chuck Cook, Treasurer
Directors Jon Shouse
Mike Studer 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, Chuck Cook,
Dan Davis, Terri Gay© Pima Trails Association 2012
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 EventsWelcome, New MembersPhi Pham & Don Swann
Steve PetersonKimberly VillaSherri KindleSusan LeasureElaine MariolleJill HauschildtDon DetbernerSharon Cohen
Joel RussTom Alberti
Nancy FredrickBonnie Karman
Theresa WitzPatricia Hillman
Charles MilesThomas Gosnell
Gary LedfordThomas ColsonShirley Harmon
Vicki Kight
Business & Organization Members
County Line Riders of CatalinaColossal Cave Mountain Park
Epic RidesFair Wheel Bikes
Gentleman’s AcresPima Co. Parks and Recreation
Pima Co. Sheriff’s Mounted Posse
Sonoran Desert Mtn BicyclistsSouthern Arizona Hiking Club
The Magic GardenTown of Oro ValleyTucson Saddle Club
We endeavor to include every new member and current
business/ organization in this list-ing, 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.
November Tuesday, November 13, 6 pm
PTA ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AND BOARD ELECTION El Parador Restaurant
2744 E. BroadwayRSVP by November 9 at 577-7919
or by email at [email protected] with
“RSVP for PTA Dinner” in subject line.
December
Tuesday, December 4, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING
Hampton Inn, 5950 N. Oracle Rd.
January
Tuesday, January 22, 7 pm PTA BOARD MEETING
Hampton Inn, 5950 N. Oracle Rd.
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DakotaCom.net: Host of the
Pima Trails Association websitewww.pimatrails.org
Pima County Sheriff’s Mounted Possesarci.org/posse.htm
posse6 @ sarci2.org.
Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclistssdmb.org
Fair Wheel Bikes fairwheelbikes.com 1110 E. 6th Street520-844-9018
Southern Arizona Hiking Clubsahcinfo.org
Mike StuderAssociate Broker, GRIph (520) [email protected]
The Magic Garden magicgardennursery.com
7909 E. 22nd Street520-885-7466
Trails Update
Tangerine GreenwayWe recently discussed with Marana Assistant Town Manager the Tangerine Greewnway and the CAP crossing at Tangerine and Interstate 10. The greenway is being planned in conjuc-tion with an improved and widened Tangerine Road. There will be wildlife crossings and two ten-foot-high culverts for equestrians to cross under the road. Marana is the lead on this project, which is in and includes Oro Valley and Pima County.
CAP Trail (Central Arizona Project)The Central Arizona Water Conservation District has agreed that a trail can be put on the protection berm. This trail con-cept has been in the works for years and now that an agree-ment has been reached, planning can begin. It will probably be an unpaved trail for equestrians, hikers and bikers.
El Paso & Southwestern GreenwayPlans for the continuation of the greenway from Simpson St. to 22nd St. are in the works. This rails-to-trails project is the first of its kind in Tucson and has a paved path and a soft path.
Davidson Canyon/Marsh Station Rd.The Union Pacific Railroad has given permission to have the Arizona Trail go under the tracks at Marsh Station Rd. but is requiring a canopy be built to protect users from anything falling from a train. The design plans for the canopy are in progress and as soon as it is built, the Arizona Trail can of-ficially open under the railroad tracks. We are still working on a safe crossing of Marsh Station Road for equestrians.
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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
The Tucson Saddle Club tucsonsaddleclub.com
PO Box 30433Tucson, AZ 85751
Colossal Cave Mountain Parkcolossalcave.com
16721 E. Old Spanish Trail520-647-PARK (7275)
(Ed. Note: In October 2011, a 55-mile nonmotorized route around Tucson named “The Loop” was dedicated.)
In the last newsletter, Phil Varney and I detailed how to leave The Loop and ride along the Santa Cruz riparian area to Cortaro Road. You can now continue this ride far-ther without having to cross any traffic.
Debbie and I rode starting at the Crossroads at Silver-bell Park on the SE corner of Silverbell and Cortaro Roads where you’ll find ample parking and bathrooms. Another possible start point is a small park 0.7 miles south of Ina on the eastbound frontage road, or, of course, from The Loop itself.
Immediately after going under Cortaro Road., bicyclists need to do some serious downshifting for a 180-degree turn that takes you back up to the level of Cortaro Road (see photo). The first two crossings of washes that are con-nect to the Santa Cruz have nice bridges (see photo), but the remainder of them cross the path at the same grade as the washes. Do NOT attempt this path with a monsoon threatening.
Below, Debbie Cook crosses one of the trail’s bridges.
Beyond “Beyond the Loop”This path is easily accessed from several neighborhoods and parks along the way. It ends about four miles north of Cortaro in a nice little park (see photo) that has grass, a shaded ramada with picnic bench, and kids playground, but no bathrooms. There is also a disc golf course here.
It turns out this is a section of the Juan Batista DeAnza Historic Trail. The additional section is great for walkers, bicyclists and I think equestrians could easily use the dirt alongside the paved trail, but we will have to do some more exploring to suggest best entry points for horses.
It is doubtful the path will go any farther north as CalPor-tland is said to be resisting giving up any of their land on the banks of the Santa Cruz. Perhaps someday there will be a connector to the projected CAP trail?
—Chuck and Debbie Cook
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Gentleman’s AcresHome of fine horses and good people
http://gentlemansacres.com/
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/
Town of Oro ValleyThe Town of Oro Valley has a dynamic trail system
that can be utilized by hikers, bikers, inline skaters, runners, equestrians and other users.
http://www.orovalleyaz.gov/Town_Government/Parks_Rec_Library_Cultural_Resources/Parks_
and_Recreation/Trails.htm
Dan
Dav
is
The American International Trails Symposium is scheduled for April 14 to 17, 2013 at the Fort McDowell Radisson Re-sort and Conference Center northeast of Phoenix near the community of Fountain Hills.
Attendees can participate in workshops at local trail proj-ects, hear expert speakers and learn from seminars and exhibitors in the expo hall. The 2013 theme is “Trails Lead Everywhere,” highlighting trails and their benefits world-wide.
Held only once every two years, this gathering of trail planners, builders, users, administrators and advocates cre-ates an opportunity for ideas to propagate and percolate among attendees and exhibitors.
American International Trails Symposium returns to Arizona in 2013
Tucson hosted the symposium in 1998. Pima Trails Associa-tion helped in planning and presenting the gathering then and will be discussing trails advocacy at its table at the 2013 ITS.
“The 1998 Trails Symposium was a crash course for me in every facet of trails,” says Terri Gay, PTA vice president. “Funding, planning, construction and maintenance were as-pects of trails that I had no awareness of. The exhibits and presentations catalyzed my dedication to trails for all these years since then. I think it’s a rare opportunity for Arizona trail enthusiasts to have the Symposium in our state again.”
Registration for the event will open soon, so visit http://www.americantrails.org/2013 for information.
PIMA TRAILS ASSOCIATIONP.O. BOX 35007TUCSON, AZ 85740
10-12
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