Author name: Kathleen Sinclair

Matt Christman, Project Manager COT Matthew ChristmanMatt was hired in early November 2023 as a Project Manager for Tucson’s Parks & Recreation Department. Rio Vista is one of seven projects that he currently manages. The Rio Vista project came about because the City of Tucson voters approved Proposition 407 in November 2018, a $225 million bond package aimed for capital improvements. Approximately $330K of the monies is earmarked for Rio Vista, and we have been closely watching the progress. Matt is originally from Wisconsin but calls Arizona his home. He has worked for over ten years in Parks and Recreation departments, seven of which were for Marana’s Park System. He is happy to be back in Arizona (after a few years in Texas and South Carolina). He has picked up where Tom Fisher left off, managing all aspects of the park’s implementation plan—from upgrading the natural aspects to improving the signage, fencing, irrigation and more. He has been very responsive to neighbors’ requests, a real team player. The project is on schedule and under budget, so we are thrilled to have him on board! Catlow Shipek, Watershed Management Group Catlow ShipekMany of you may have seen Catlow biking or jogging in the neighborhood. His love of the outdoors and the environment permeates his life both at home and at work.  As Senior Program Director at Watershed Management Group, Catlow takes his passion for saving our planet seriously. His home next to Rio Vista is a model for Sonoran Desert living. He bikes or takes the bus and doesn’t own a car. His knowledge of applied watershed management, planning and policy specializing in urban applications like water harvesting, green infrastructure, stream restoration, and eco-sanitation is extensive. Catlow has assembled a fantastic team of local restoration experts passionate about their work. ◦ The excavators. Jeff Rhody from Dryland Design is a local landscaper specializing in water harvesting and making the world more sustainable. ◦ The trails people. Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) is renowned for connecting young adults and recent vets with conservation service work.  They work in almost any terrain. ◦ The plant/habitat people. Tucson Audubon has started work of removing invasive plants such as Rhus lancea (African sumac). They will be back in October. And Carianne Funicelli of Strategic Habitat Enhancements (SHE) who designed the planting, will begin seeding and leading volunteers with planting in late August. What a dream team! We want to acknowledge all the wonderful work Tom Fisher did for us and the park. His last day was in late August. 

Here is the latest draft of the map panel for Rio Vista.

SignageAttached is a draft sign frame which is based on your collective feedback over the last few months. We decided to keep it simple and go with a two-post frame made out of steel with rust finish to match what is already in the park. I added a decorative mountain motif at the top but we can remove or change if needed. Maybe horse shoes or animal cut-out? Just trying to give it a unique look. I met on site with with one of our contractors Bill Baker who does fencing and signage. We walked the park to check locations of proposed signage and he will give me a quote for 10 frames (7 locations of which 3 will have double sign frames). We can add or subtract locations after I get the quote and we finalize the scope of work. I also asked for a quote to add some smooth-wire fencing along NE corner of park and remove several old posts with barbed wire in the middle of the park. We need to eliminate those potential hazards and liability for injury. Also attached is the draft park rules sign which has been modified to include a few things specific to this park. The entry sign will need to be in both english and spanish per our City standards. A second sign has been proposed by this group to show the park map in a more artistic design with more informal rules and information to orient users. I will be working with a graphic designer/sign company soon to get them going on a draft. Once we have an initial design (a few weeks?) I will send that to you for review. Trail and Landscape ImprovementsI met with Catlow on site yesterday to discuss final changes to the plans based on your collective feeedback. Overall, everyone is in 95% agreement on trail closures, trail upgrades, and trail sharing strategies. Once Catlow makes the next round of plan edits I will get that to you for review. We are getting super close to finishing the plans for bidding. An accessible trail has been identified to meet federal ADA requirements. We will also identify recommended equestrian trails and share that during the next review. The other component which we haven’t discussed yet is the landscape plans being developed by Carianne/Strategic Habitat Enhancements. We will hold another meeting to review with the landscape plans with the draft trail network plans. Perhaps later this month. TimeframeIf we can wrap up the trail and landscape plans by end of June then I can bid them out for construction by early July. If there is agreement on the sign frames and cost proposal, then I can get that work under contract in a few weeks.

Master Plan Timeline Unveiling of Parks and Recreation Department’s Draft Master Plan, September 7, 2022 Please visit NEWS/EVENTS tab for the story. Meeting with Councilmember Kevin Dahl, Ward 3 Office, November 1, 2022 On November 1st, Lindy Brigham, Jennifer Shopland, David Tiers and Mary Bird met with Councilmember Kevin Dahl and Council Aide CJ Boyd to discuss reasons for removing the dog enclosure from Rio Vista’s master plan. Kevin started off the meeting stating that the “dog park is off the list and off the budget.” CJ confirmed with Parks and Rec that it is only mentioned in the survey and nowhere else in the master plan. Updated Master Plan, November 2022The Tucson Parks and Recreation Department has updated the Rio Vista Master Plan in response to feedback received and in preparation for the Tucson Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting on November 30, 2022. Read the entire document here: Rio Vista Master Plan, Nov 2022 Rio Vista Master Plan Is Approved, March 21, 2023 At the March 21st Mayor and Council Meeting, the Rio Vista Master Plan was approved.Now the work begins!   RBNA President, Lindy Brigham, addresses the Mayor and Council. She thanked Parks and Recreation and the Ward 3 Office for their support. Overview and Next Steps, April 2023Tom Fisher, Project Manager, submitted the attached document April 7th. Next Steps

On Monday May 23rd, we met with Elise Gornish for a walk-through of Rio Vista Park . Our goal for the meeting was to figure out a strategy for restoring the vegetation at Rio Vista and to gather some ideas. Elise Gornish is a restoration ecologist who works for the UofA School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Her job is to help people like us, and that is what she did. She is full of useful and fantastic information. The meeting will, no doubt, be one of many. Some of the main messages to us are:• We cannot do it all at once. • We need to pick areas that have increased chances of surviving, areas such as under established trees (islands of fertility) or areas where water is apt to flow. • We should pick a visible area, call it out to the visitor, make it an educational opportunity.• We need to choose plants that grow quickly: mesquite and desert broom, for eg. • A candidate species list will be created using the tool on ecorestore.arizona.edu.• Once shrubs have been established, seed.• Cactus make great barriers.• Reach out to local nurseries and non-profits for plants and labor. Some of the organizations mentioned: Tucson Audubon, Bat Conservation International, Pima Prickly Park, Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society, and Hawk Watch International. Educate and get the public involved. • Signage should inform and provide a reason why a trail is closed, for eg. • Engage the visitor (a potential citizen scientist) in documenting a selected site by taking photos and uploading them to create a visual timeline of the site’s growth. • Create workshops on ways to help the park. One fun workshop idea, which Elise has offered to run, is to create seed balls. Seed balls are made of mud, seed and organic matter like horse manure. We’ve decided to name the activity “poop pourri”. Hope to see you there (in July before the monsoons)!​For more about information about Elise’s work, visit https://www.gornishlab.com

Here is the latest draft of the map panel for Rio Vista.

Over fifty people attended Tucson’s Department of Parks and Recreation Kick-Off Meeting. Click HERE to read all about it. RNAG (the RillitoBend Neighborhood Advocacy Group) is leading the efforts for RBNA.