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RBNA Events
Upcoming Events put on by RBNA
Neighborhood Meeting 5-23-2026
Our neighborhood feels welcoming and safe because of the care, effort, and support of our fellow neighbors. Come get updates about our efforts and successes and how you can pitch in.
2026 Ice Cream Social
Our Spring Social enjoyed perfect “Spring” Weather. We had over 80 of our neighbors stop by for ice cream and a sing-a-long with the RillitoBend Band at Valley of the Moon.
Restoration Celebration of Rio Vista Natural Resource Park, January 25, 2025
Over 60 guests gathered at the Park to celebrate the restoration. Voted in as part of Proposition 407, the Park received $330 K. The community fought for the resources to go towards renovating the natural side of the park, and Parks and Rec listened! It was a glorious day to celebrate. John and Jeanne Ronstadt serenaded folks as they arrived, and several Commissioners were present. Ron Spark, from the 2018 Park & Connectivity Bond Oversight Commission spoke of how open space is healing. So true. Fun photos from the Celebration!
Planting Event at Park, October 5, 2024
For the second planting event, volunteers showed up to help plant and learn about the park. And, it was hot! Carianne Funicelli of Strategic Habitat Enhancements instructs the volunteers. Carianne Funicelli assists Murray and Sue DeArmond placing the spaghetti lines around a cat’s claw. It was ninety degrees by 9 a.m., but we had the Catalinas––and even a few horses––as a backdrop while digging the holes. Matt Christman, Parks and Rec’s project manager, helps make cages.
Planting Event at Park, September 21, 2024
About 25 neighbors, friends, and staff convened at Rio Vista on Saturday the 21st to help beautify the main entrance of the park with trees and small plants. The plants were selected by Carianne Funicelli of Strategic Habitat Enhancements (SHE), https://www.strategichabitats.com/, who is on contract to design the native restoration plantings for the park. The plants including native trees like Desert willow, Screwbean mesquite, and Canyon hackberry as well as native plants including ocotillo, Thurber’s desert honeysuckle, desert milkweed, desert lavender and more are drought resistant and were raised locally. The drip irrigation from the existing system was extended to each plant.Under the direction of Carianne with support from Watershed Management Group project staff, the group was split up into three groups: one for planting trees, one for planting small plants, and one for making wire cages. With varying skills but all with the same eagerness and goal to help their beloved park, the teams got to work. By the end of three hours, the teams were experts! More planting restoration events are scheduled for Saturday mornings on Oct 5, Nov 2, and Nov 30 in different focus areas of the park, so come out and enjoy the camaraderie. Visit https://watershedmg.org/event to register.
Presentation of Rio Vista Plan, April 18, 2024
Matt Christman, Project Manager, presented the trail map and schedule for the Rio Vista Natural Resource Park to over 30 neighbors. He explained that Parks & Rec followed the five main recommendations from the Master Plan approved by Mayor and Council in March 2023 as their guide. The work will address: 1, consolidating and upgrading the trails; 2, revegetating open space areas; 3, upgrading the signage; 4, enhancing riparian areas; and, 5, introducing stormwater harvesting. Under the direction of Catlow Shipek of Watershed Management, consultants are starting work next week (April 22nd), first with creating 30-35 shallow catch basins. Using soil taken from the excavation, Arizona Conservation Corps will build the trails. Audubon will start removing invasive species. Planting will start when the rains start, and irrigation will coincide with planting. Both Matt and Catlow with be onsite to supervise the consultants. Parks & Rec Operations will monitor the work done to assure plants are established and trails maintained. They anticipate working with volunteer groups to help, with monthly check-ins. Trash cans will be relocated to the edges of the park so maintenance crews don’t have to drive their trucks across the park.
Dedication of Rio Vista Natural Resource Park, February 27, 2010
The dedication of the Rio Vista Natural Resource Park was celebrated by many residents and dignitaries including former Mayor George Miller, Ward 3 Council person Jerry Anderson, Pima County’s Board of Supervisors Sharon Bronson, Jim Ronstadt of the City of Tucson’s Park and Recreation Department and our Neighborhood Association’s officers. It was the culmination of years of collaboration with the City to establish this natural resource park, one of the first of its kind in the City. The ribbon cutting, l to r: George Miller (former Mayor of Tucson); Chris Tanz (artist who created the gneiss benches in the park); man in baseball hat unknown; Jim Ronstadt (Tucson Parks and Recreation Department); John O’Hare (NA); John Kovacik (NA president); George Pettit (Ward 3 liason); Murray and Sue DeArmond (NA); Sharon Bronson (Pima County Board of Supervisors); Jerry Anderson (Ward 3 councilperson); staffer from Parks and Recreation Department