Press release from City of Tucson:

City of Tucson Ward 1 Councilor Regina Romero is inviting the public to
celebrate the bicycle and pedestrian opening of the Luis G. Gutierrez
Bridge for a “Walk to the West Side” on Thursday, October 11, 2012.
The event starts at 4 p.m. and will include guest speakers, a tour of
the bridge with artist Brenda Semanick, and Mariachi performances. The
event will take place on the west side of the new bridge. Mayor Jonathan
Rothschild, former Mayor Bob Walkup, and former Tucson City Manager Luis
G. Gutierrez, for whom the bridge is named after, will attend the
event.

In addition, University Pedicabs will be available to tour Mission
Gardens and the Mercado San Agustìn will be hosting the Community Food
Bank’s Santa Cruz River Farmer’s Market. Free parking will be
available west of Intersate 10 at Avenida Del Convento and on the
eastside of the bridge at the Riverpark Inn, 350 S. Freeway.

“This beautiful bridge is linking east and west side neighborhoods, and
doubling the size of our Downtown. We need to celebrate it every step of
the way,” said Council Member Romero. “Today we celebrate
pedestrian and bicycle connections, and early next year we will be
multi-modal with the Sun Link Streetcar.”

The 320-foot long “signature” bridge will be a vital connection in
the Sun Link Tucson Streetcar project and will provide an east-west
passage way for pedestrians, bicycles, motorists, as well as buses and
the streetcar.

The bridge is named after Mr. Gutierrez, who had a profound impact on
the City’s west side where he spearheaded downtown revitalization
while maintaining the historic integrity of the area that is often
referred to as Tucson’s birthplace. A gifted administrator, Mr.
Gutierrez was often the “bridge builder” between constituents and
special interest groups.

Tucson artists Brenda Semanick and David Johnson Vandenberg have
created an elaborate public art project for the bridge which highlights
historical and natural aspects of the area. Various artistic elements
of the project include steel cutout canopies, handmade bat sculptures,
and replicas of Hohokam pottery shards.

For more information on the “Walk to the West Side” event, contact
Ward 1 at 791-4040 or visit
http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/announcement/celebrate-luis-g-gutierrez-bridge

Luis Guiterrez is a former City Manager of the City of Tucson (1996 to 2000):

On November 9, 2011, the Tucson Mayor and Council voted unanimously to adopt resolution 21817 authorizing and approving the renaming of the Cushing Street Bridge to the Luis G. Gutierrez Bridge.

As Tucson’s former City Manager, Luis G. Gutierrez worked to make a significant and positive impact with respect to future development on the City’s west side, also known as Tucson’s Birthplace. Mr. Gutierrez’s skills as a superb city administrator and ‘bridge builder’ brought together many constituent and special interest groups. Most notable was his effort to place Proposition 400 on the ballot in 1999, a measure designed to strengthen the City’s investment in the west side and spearhead downtown revitalization in ways that both reflect and honor Tucson’s history. When complete, the Luis G. Gutierrez Bridge will be a vital link that connects the historic west side with downtown and is destined to spur economic development throughout the area.

Mayor Rothschild issued this statement on October 9:
“This beautiful bridge is another key element in linking the westside to downtown. It provides opportunities for walking and bicycling, as well as forming part of the streetcar line. I want to congratulatethose who worked on this project – both city staff and private contractors – for achieving a great result.”

I drove by this area on Sunday and got a peak of the new bridge over the Santa Cruz Wash. Check it out tomorrow at this West Side celebration. View the City’s map below to see the extent of the bridge and where to park for this event. Better yet walk, bicycle, or catch the Sun Tran bus to the celebration.

It’s Springtime and the desert is blooming. For a fun free activity (after lunch at The Grill at 100 E. Congress Street, which is open 24/7), I would like to recommend a leisurely stroll south along Scott Avenue in downtown Tucson. Here are a few highlights and photos.

First walk south from E. Congress past the old federal courthouse (built in 1929) to E. Broadway Blvd., where the recent Scott Avenue street renovation and landscaping begins.

There at that intersection are two large gateway monuments on either side (see photo below) with lots of information & photos on “Tucson’s Historic Cultural District” and “Architectural Treasures of Scott Avenue” on plaques affixed to these monuments.

Gateway towers, courtesy of Dr. Albrecht Classen

A block south you will encounter a huge 12 foot tall orange metal griffin (half lion/half eagle) sculpture by artist Joe O’Connell, which lights up at night. This griffin sculpture was recently installed in May, 2009. Close by are two lovely orange blooming cactus plants. I’m not a plant expert, but I think it’s the claret cup cactus (from my “70 Common Cacti of the Southwest” book).

claret cup cactus plant

griffin sculpture, courtesy of Dr. Albrecht Classen

Then behind the Tucson Children’s Museum (200 S. 6th Avenue), you have to be vigilant or you might miss sighting a quaint, historic bed & breakfast behind a large white rose bush which grows over the metal entry gate. This is The Royal Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast Inn, 204 S.Scott Ave, phone 520-670-9022. Just a peak into their front foyer will make you think you are back in 1878 when this home was built. See their website: www.royalelizabeth.com for videos of this amazingly charming B & B. (Closed April 12 for the summer, will be re-opening in mid-September).

Lovely palo verde trees with yellow flowers, pink blossoming bushes, towering acacias greet you as you continue your stroll south on Scott Avenue till you get to the renovated, historic Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave (built in 1927, see photo below). Arizona Theater Company has numerous performances here at night, and there are often receptions in the Cabaret Art Gallery on the second floor.

Temple of Music and Art

This lovely part of South Scott Avenue is between E. Congress Street on the north, and E. 14th Street on the south end. It truly has become one of the loveliest landscaped streets to stroll along in downtown, especially when the desert is blooming.

Coming in the future, a new T.E.P. building on Scott Avenue between E. Broadway Blvd. and E. 12th Street (former Santa Rita Hotel & Ballroom site, now vacant).

Enjoy a Spring stroll on South Scott Avenue!