Ah, water. With the long, hot summer approaching, here are examples of cool, aquatic places in Tucson to visit and enjoy.

I miss the Pacific Ocean and sometimes go out looking for ponds and public water features around town. So here’s my list of where there are large bodies of water (and fountains) in Tucson. Lots of ducks and other aquatic birds habitate most of these ponds.

Ponds:
1) Reid Park ponds, with cascading streams on the hill nearby. NE corner of E. 22nd St. and Country Club
2) Ft. Lowell Park (NE corner of Glenn and Craycroft), small pond with spouting fountain in the middle, for fish, turtles, ducks & geese
3) Kennedy Park pond (NW corner of Mission Rd. and Ajo Way), medium sized pond for fishing
4) Christopher Columbus Park (4600 N. Silverbell Rd, north of Grant Rd., west of I-10), perhaps the largest of all these ponds, even has boats, fishing, and wind surfers
5) Chuck Ford Lakeside Park pond (8300 E. Stella Rd., south of Golf Links), medium sized for fishing
6) Roy P. Drachman Agua Caliente Park pond (12325 E. Roger Rd. at Soldier Trail Road) in Pima County, pond 1 has fish, turtles, frogs, & aquatic birds; ponds 2 & 3 are dried up (see photo below)
7) University of Arizona small turtle/goldfish pond on Park Avenue (between E. 2nd St. and E. North Campus Drive, across from the AZ Historical Society)

Streams:
Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon out east both have natural steams and small pools of water

Fountains:
1) El Presidio Park (near Tucson City Hall) and La Placita Village downtown just between Leo Rich Theater and the Music Hall, east of Church Street have large fountains
2) Tucson Museum of Art (140 N. Main Avenue, north of Alameda Street), small fountain outside in front plaza
3) Fourth Avenue Underpass layered metal fountains (south end, near E. Congress St. and the new parking garage)
4) University of Arizona Administration Bldg. on the UA Mall has some spouting fountains on the south side, and the Student Union Memorial Center to the west has cascading water over large chains, near the UA Bookstore)
5) University of Arizona Old Main historic circular fountain on the west side of the building, facing Park Avenue
6) University of Arizona Architecture building on Speedway (east of Olive Street Underpass), in the back of the building is a small, lush landscaped wetland pool, “Sonoran Landscape Laboratory” with a waterfall from a metal scupper
7) Geronimo Plaza fountain at Main Gate Square, just east of Euclid Avenue on University Blvd.
8) E. Speedway Blvd. at Warren Street Underpass (west of Nob’s Hill shopping center), cascading waterfall fountain (area under construction due to streetcar)
9) River Center, cascading stream (NE corner of River and Craycroft)

Know of any more ponds, streams, or fountains in Tucson open to the public? Please note in comments below for our readers to seek out & enjoy the refreshing coolness of these water features in this Southwest desert, especially during the summer.

Agua Caliente Park pond, courtesy of Friends of Agua Caliente Park

Keep cool in the hot summer heat.

Bonus: Youtube video from University of Stuttgart in Germany about water having memory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ILSyt_Hhbjg

Aloft Hotel under construction

Backyard of Aloft Hotel

Aloft Hotel bedroom

Aloft Hotel bathroom

The 42 year old hotel (with 154 rooms) formerly known as the Plaza International, then the Four Points Sheraton is now the Aloft Hotel, opening today on April 4, 2013. It is located at 1900 E. Speedway Blvd., on the SE corner of Campbell and Speedway, across from the University of Arizona. There’s even a bar named “w xyz”.

I attended an informational meeting hosted by General Manager Craig Martin when he explained the renovation, the tearing down of the conference center in the back, moving the 2nd story swimming pool to ground level, etc. Lots of new windows and upscale, urban chic design (and neon lights) have been added as you can see from the photos above, courtesy of Martin.

www.alofttucsonuniversity.com, 1 877 go aloft.

This newly renovated hotel will be part of the Sam Hughes Historic Neighborhood & home tour on Sunday, April 7, 12 noon to 5 p.m. More info at www.samhughes.org.Tickets are $20, available beginning March 28 at Arte de la Vida (37 N. Tucson Blvd., just north of Broadway — 520-398-6720) or on the day of the tour at Rincon Market (2516 E. 6th St, NE corner of Tucson Blvd.).

On Wednesday February 27,2013 a large number of women’s (and girls’) organizations in Tucson honored new UA President Dr. Ann Weaver Hart, the first woman to serve in that capacity. A huge reception was held at the YWCA in their courtyard and the Louise Foucar Marshall Conference Center, at 525 Bonita Avenue in Tucson. About 400 women attended, plus a few men.

Opening remarks were made by organizer Alison Hughes, Chair of the Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission, followed by presentation of colors & pledge of allegiance by Girl Scouts Troop 2139. Dr. Hart, the 21st President of the University of Arizona was honored by representatives of the numerous organizations present, and then delivered a very inspiring speech.

The photo below is courtesy of Alison Hughes of Dr. Hart and members of several of the organizations which co-sponsored the event (listed below the photo). Dr. Hart is seated on the front row, sixth from the left, with Alison to her right (in the photo L-R).

American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Angel Charity
Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC)
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Black Women’s Task Force
City Women’s Golf Association
CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women)
Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
Jewish Women’s Philanthropy group
Junior League of Tucson
Kore Press
Las Adelitas
League of Mexican American Women
League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson (LWVGT)
Muslim Women Organization
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)
Office of Outreach & Multicultural Affairs, The University of Arizona
Our Family Services (New Beginnings for Women and Children)
Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission (PCTWC)
Planned Parenthood of Arizona
SACASA/Arizona Children’s Association
SIROW (Southwest Institute For Research on Women),University of AZ
Southern Az. Women in Law Enforcement
Soroptomists
Sowing of Seeds (women writers)
The Haven
Tucson Symphony Women’s Association
Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona
Women Marines Association AZ-Saguaro Chapter
United Way Women Leading United
Women’s Army Corp.
Women at the Top
Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
YWCA

Other women’s organizations which co-sponsored the reception:
Altrusa International
Business and Professional Women/AZ
Key Group
Las Donas
National Bank of Arizona Women’s Financial Group
Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement/UA College of Medicine
Raytheon Women’s Network
Southern Arizona Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Tucson Commercial Real Estate Women
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Women President’s Organization

And March 1st begins Women’s “Herstory” Month, so this was indeed a fitting tribute to Dr. Hart. She was also recently featured on the cover of Biz Tucson magazine. The article inside “Agent of Change” relates Dr. Hart’s rise to Presidency of this University, but also that she is the mother of four daughters. She served as President of Temple University in Philadelphia, and the University of New Hampshire prior to coming to Arizona.

Congratulations to Dr. Hart and welcome to Tucson.

Celebrate the many accomplishments of intelligent, hard working, powerful women and their organizations in Tucson and this country during the month of March.