Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Plaza Celebration - Monday, May 3, at 10 a.m.

You are invited to join City of Tucson Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres, the Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter (GSAAC) of the Buffalo Soldiers, and Tucson Parks and Recreation in a celebration of the completion of the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Plaza. This memorial plaza is the first voter-approved one-of-its-kind, honoring the contributions of Black Americans in defense of the nation and settling Southern Arizona.  

This project has been in the works since 2015, when Fimbres and members of the GSAAC began to pursue public funding for the memorial. Originally slated in the Pima County bond program that year, it subsequently was not approved by voters. 

"This is a great accomplishment for our community,” Fimbres said. “Tucson will be the first in the nation to have a voter-approved Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Project. The good citizens of Tucson approved Proposition 407, and this project was completed in record time." 

In 2018, Tucson Marble and Granite was awarded a contract to design the granite memorial monument to be placed at the Quincie Douglas Center, 1575 E. 36th St. The GSAAC membership voted to fund the memorial monument with a sizable donation from its treasury, members, and through fundraising efforts 

“At the start of this project, there were no memorials in Tucson that recognized or honored the contributions of Black Americans in the growth and defense of the nation,” said Trooper Jon Covington, GSAAC Memorial Project co-chair. “This is about to change!” 

Council Member Fimbres continued to lobby for funding for the memorial and was able to get the project into the Tucson Delivers Great Parks + Strong Connections, Proposition 407 bond program, which was successfully approved by voters in November 2018. The City hired Wheat Design Group (WDG) in 2019 to begin planning and design. In 2020, the project team finalized the plans for the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Plaza, hired M. Anderson Construction as the contractor, and held a groundbreaking on Oct. 29, 2020. The project consists of a new shaded plaza in front of the center with a granite monument, seating, and six information plaques with the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. 

The memorial is funded through donations to the GSAAC of the Buffalo Soldiers and funds from Tucson Delivers Parks + Connections.. 

Date: Monday, May 3, at 10 a.m. 

Location: Quincie Douglas Center, 1575 E. 36th St. 

                  Masks and physical distancing will be required.  

                  Or view livestream on Tucson Parks and Recreation Facebook page 

For more information on the bond projects, visit the Tucson Delivers Parks + Connections website. For more information on the rich history of the GSAAC of the Buffalo Soldiers, visit their website.