Pima County is getting ready to invest in parks and pools — and new splash pads, expanded aquatics programs and upgraded community centers are coming.
Those measures and many others are included in the county’s first-ever Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will guide how the department spends money and plans facilities for the next 10-20 years. Here are the highlights.
The big ideas
The plan identifies six priority areas to guide decision-making: strengthening organizational capacity, expanding access and equity, maintaining existing assets, broadening recreation programs, enhancing partnerships and advancing sustainability.
Action items in the 20-year plan include:
- Investing in pool facilities at several locations to replace outdated pumps, filters, heaters and locker rooms
- Modernizing community centers on the northwest side, south side and west side to improve accessibility and functionality
- Developing Esmond Station Park in the Vail area to meet recreation needs in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions
- Adding new splash pads and shaded playgrounds countywide
- Expanding aquatics capacity and youth sports programming
- Converting turf to drought-tolerant landscaping and transitioning parks to reclaimed water irrigation
- Installing solar lighting at five or more parks and replacing athletic field lights with LEDs
What the county manages now
Pima County Parks and Recreation oversees 41 parks across 5,707 acres, 12 community centers, nine pools, 106 sports fields, nine dog parks, three shooting range complexes, and 150 miles of multi-use paths — including the popular 138-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop. The department also runs a swim team program with more than 800 young swimmers.
The City of Tucson and other local towns maintain their own systems of parks, separate from the county system.
Why the plan matters
The department is facing financial pressures. According to benchmarking data in the plan, Pima County’s parks funding is $17 per capita compared to $24 at the low end nationally — a gap of about $6.6 million annually.
Staffing is also below national benchmarks. The department has about 237 full-time employees, roughly 25 fewer than recommended for a system this size. And budget growth has trailed inflation by 22.7%, leaving the department about $1.5 million short of its 2019 inflation-adjusted spending level.
Popular programs like swim lessons and water aerobics regularly sell out early in the season at pools like Manzanita and Kino, but staffing and facility constraints prevent the department from expanding offerings to meet demand.
What the community said
The planning process gathered input from more than 650 households through surveys, plus feedback at community events including Tucson Meet Yourself, the Rillito and Rincon Valley Farmers Markets, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair, and the Tucson Rodeo.
Common themes emerged across all five county districts:
- Repairing and updating existing parks, pools and community centers
- Expanding aquatics programs and community events
- Adding walking loops, dog parks and playgrounds
- Improving overall sports field and park access
- More pickleball courts
Among the more surprising requests is a cricket field in Catalina Foothills.
What’s next
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission approved the plan on Nov. 14 and then the Board of Supervisors approved it on Dec. 16.
Implementation will require general fund support and is expected to unfold in three phases: short-term goals through Fiscal Year 2030, mid-term goals through 2035, and long-term sustainability initiatives extending to 2046.
Paying for these improvements will be the topic of future county budget discussions. Some capital projects, including pool renovations and park updates, may be funded through bond initiatives.
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