 BARRIO NOPAL PARK GRAND OPENING
Saturday, Aug. 16, 9-11 a.m.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, and Tucson Parks and Recreation invite the community to celebrate the grand opening of the City’s newest park, Barrio Nopal Park, on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9–11 a.m. The park is located at 311 E. Elvira Road in west Tucson.
"Barrio Nopal Park is a celebration of persistence and the power of neighbors and community to invest in ourselves," said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. "I am grateful to many generations of families and neighbors, Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz, the voters who passed Prop 407, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation, and so many others. Barrio Nopal Park shows us that even when it takes a long time, when we work together, we can do amazing things."
Barrio Nopal Park brings new recreational amenities to the community, including a splash pad with shade, a playground, and restrooms. The park also features a walking path, ramadas, benches, and lighting, along with a new parking lot and accessible entrance on the south side of the park.
“This park is a win for the families in Barrio Nopal who’ve gone too long without a safe, welcoming space to gather, play and connect in their own neighborhood,” said Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz. “For decades, this barrio has been overlooked and disinvested in - but the neighbors never gave up. It’s their persistence that brought everyone to the table - the City, the County, Sunnyside School District, our parks staff - and made this park a reality. This is what happens when the community organizes and pushes together.”
Development of the park was guided by a community-driven master planning process conducted from March 2021 to April 2022. Tucson’s Mayor and Council approved the master plan in October 2022, and the City acquired the land from Sunnyside Unified School District in December 2023.
The park’s design was led by Kimley-Horn, with construction by Durazo Construction. Funding for the project totaled $4.6 million and came from a combination of sources, including $2 million from voter-approved Proposition 407 bond funds, $2.45 million in City Framework funding, and $150,000 in impact fees.
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