NEW PLAYGROUND AND DOG PARK OPENING AT LOWER LINCOLN REGIONAL PARK
Tucson Parks and Recreation will celebrate the grand opening of a new playground and its newest and largest dog park. The event will take place on Thursday, May 23, at 9 a.m., and the community is invited to join in the celebration. There will be goodies donated by Dogs-n-Donuts, Pet Friendly Fun, and Cones for Bones. There will also be a special cake for the dogs to enjoy from Dogs-n-Donuts.
“I am so excited to celebrate the grand opening of Wagging Tails Dog Park and the expansion of Lower Lincoln Regional Park,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “Thank you to the voters of Tucson for passing Prop 407 and helping us continue investing in our parks and natural spaces. Tucsonans love spending time outside with our families and pets. The residents of Ward 4 deserve this wonderful resource.”
Wagging Tails Dog Park, located at lower Lincoln Regional Park, 8330 E. Escalante Road, is a state-of-the-art facility with turf, providing a safe and comfortable environment for dogs to play. The park includes three separate areas to facilitate turf maintenance. In addition, the park offers a range of amenities for both dogs and their owners to enjoy. The park is equipped with dog agility equipment, a dog playground, water misters, shade structures, benches, additional trees, and improved parking.
“When I came into office, Lower Lincoln Park was a crime hotspot in Ward 4,” said Ward 4 Council Member Nikki Lee. “We knew we needed to activate this area with the purpose of creating a safe space for our community members and businesses. Working with the Parks and Recreation Department and our Ward 4 neighborhoods, my Ward 4 staff turned our dream into a reality. Over the last 4 years, we designed a world-class dog park and ensured funds were in place by allocating Ward 4 vacancy savings and discretionary funds, applying and receiving a PetSafe grant, and utilizing Ward 4 development impact fees. Thanks to the voters of Tucson, the Lower Lincoln parking lot was repaved with funds from Proposition 407. Every detail of the Wagging Tails dog park was thoughtfully designed with personal touches from the hand-painted dog paws on the walkways, to the art and memorials throughout the park. We welcome everyone to enjoy this beautiful space with their four-legged friends."
In addition to a new dog park, a playground with shade is complete at the lower Lincoln Regional Park Julie Marilyn Reitan Softball Complex, 8116 E. Escalante Road. Funding for the dog park was secured through Impact Fees, Ward 4 funds, and a Bark for Your Park Grant. The playground was funded by Impact Fees in addition to Ward 4 funds. The green stormwater basins around the parking lot were funded by Storm to Shade and the parking lot improvements were funded by Tucson Delivers Great Parks + Strong Connections 2018 voter-approved general obligation bonds and Ward 4 funds. The total project cost was $1,867,000. The project design team for Wagging Tails Dog Park included The Planning Center and Kimley-Horn, with Durazo Construction Corporation serving as the project contractor.
To add to the exciting features of Wagging Tails Dog Park, the community can purchase dog bone memorial benches or memorial bricks to commemorate beloved pets. These personalized items will be a lasting tribute within the park, offering a meaningful way for community members to honor their furry companions. More information about purchasing options and guidelines can be found on the Tucson Parks and Recreation website.
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