Tucson NewsNet Daily Digest - A Service of the City of Tucson
RECYCLED WATER REVIVES A FLOURISHING ECOSYSTEM ON THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER - The new ecosystem of Tucson's Santa Cruz River was highlighted last week in an article from The Arizona Republic. The newspaper chronicled the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project's history and the day in 2019 when treated wastewater released from a pipe poured into the sand and flowed downstream to start the river's transformation. "More than two years later, the City is still releasing treated wastewater into the river channel just south of Starr Pass Boulevard near downtown," the article said, "and a portion of the Santa Cruz that hadn’t flowed continuously since the early 1900s is once again teeming with life: cattails, dragonflies, red-spotted toads, red-winged blackbirds." The article goes on to report that Ecologist Michael Bogan and his students "have observed, on this 1-mile stretch of the river, 74 species of birds, five species of toads, 45 species of dragonflies and at least 100 other species of invertebrates, from giant water bugs to aquatic snails." Read the full article from the Arizona Republic Santa Cruz River Heritage Project
NEW DOG PARK PART OF IMPROVEMENTS TO DOWNTOWN PARK (VIDEO) - City of Tucson officials and others last Friday, Sept. 10, dedicated a new dog park at Anza Park, 1000 N. Stone Ave. This project marks the City’s eighth dog park and revitalizes the downtown park. The 1-acre, off-leash area includes two separate fenced-in areas, one for larger dogs (over 30 pounds) and one for smaller dogs (under 30 pounds). Other amenities include tables and benches, ADA-accessible walkways and gates, three drinking fountains, trash cans, signage, and waste dispensers. KVOA-TV recently featured a story detailing the history of the park and its turnaround. You can find that story and other event links below. Watch KVOA story Watch City of Tucson video of the dedication of Anza Dog Park View pictures of Anza Dog Park Tucson Parks and Recreation dog parks
ICYMI: SENTINEL PEAK PARK CLOSED FOR REPAIR OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE 'A' - Sentinel Peak Park ("A" Mountain) closed to all traffic today, Sept. 13, and will remain closed until Sept. 27. Crews are working to repair the rock structure of the "A" on the mountain. During this time, no vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic will be allowed past the lower parking lot. Once the mountain reopens on Tuesday, Sept. 28, the City of Tucson will be piloting new operating hours. The park hours remain open from sunrise to sunset. There will be no vehicle access on Mondays. Vehicles can access the mountain from 2 p.m.-sunset, Tuesdays through Thursdays, and from 11 a.m.-sunset, Fridays through Sundays. Read the news release Sentinel Peak Park
PAY ON THE GO WITH GOTUCSON PARKING APP - Stop digging for change to pay for metered parking. Download the GoTucson Parking mobile app for fast, convenient, and touch-free payment at any parking meter in Downtown Tucson, Fourth Avenue, or Main Gate Square. Receive alerts when your time is expiring, and extend your session directly from your phone. The app is free to download from your smartphone app store. GoTucson Parking mobile app Park Tucson website
COVID-19 UPDATE - Today's, Sept. 13, COVID-19 dashboard from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) adds 2,278 new cases and 0 deaths. ADHS has an interactive map with vaccine distribution sites (link below), and there are multiple locations throughout Tucson. The fully approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine offers protection against a virus that continues hospitalizing and killing those who aren’t vaccinated. Full approvals of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are expected in the near future. So far, more than 4 million people in Arizona, or 56.9% of the population, have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 3.6 million people are fully vaccinated with both doses. Pima County vaccination sites or call (520) 222-0119 Arizona Department of Health Services interactive map COVID-19 testing locations and hours Data Dashboard from the Arizona Department of Health Services City of Tucson COVID-19 website
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