Construction projects on segments of The Loop may interfere with access or use of the path by cyclists and pedestrians.

1) The path along the Santa Cruz River at Ina Road south to the Interstate 10 frontage road will be closed for all uses beginning Monday, Oct. 22, for pathway widening to 16 feet. This closure is expected to continue through the end of January 2013. Weekend usage will be permitted throughout the construction.

2) Construction of drainage improvements on the north bank of the Rillito River, just west of Swan Road through the Fletcha Caida Wash, will continue until the end of October. The path was widened to 16 feet this week, but there will be intermittent closures of the paved path. Path users can still travel through the area by following the designated detour on the compacted dirt path. Cyclists should be prepared to dismount and walk their bikes if they are not comfortable riding on an unpaved surface.

3) Construction of improvements and widening of The Loop on the north bank of the Rillito River beneath the Oracle Road bridge will continue until the end of October. One travel lane of The Loop path will remain open in the construction area until concrete is poured later during the last week of October or first week of November, which will intermittently close The Loop completely.

The Loop is 55 miles of car-free paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson, with links to Marana and Oro Valley, for Pima County residents and visitors on foot, bikes, skates and horses.

The Loop connects the Rillito River Park, the Santa Cruz River Park, the Julian Wash Greenway, the Harrison Greenway and the Pantano River Park. The Loop connects to parks, trails, bus and bike routes, workplaces, schools, libraries, restaurants, hotels and motels, shopping areas, and sports and entertainment venues.

For more information and the latest maps and news about The Loop, go to www.pima.gov/TheLoop.

Keep up with Pima County on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pimacountyarizona.

Pima County has secured agreements with federal and state agencies to establish a 42-mile recreational trail on top of the levee or berm that runs along the Central Arizona Project canal from the Pinal County line east of Interstate 10 south and west of the Tucson Mountains to south of West Valencia Road.

The CAP Trail will be Pima County’s third Trail of National Significance, one that has been formally recognized under the 1986 National Trails System Act for historic, scenic or recreational importance.  The CAP National Recreation Trail joins the Anza National Historic Trail and the Arizona National Scenic Trail as part of Pima County’s development of a regional trail system.

The CAP Trail, which will be used by pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians, connects to 12 or more trails in Tortolita Mountain Park, Saguaro National Park’s West District, Tucson Mountain Park and Ironwood Forest National Monument.

The trail will generally be on the levee or protection berm on the east side of the CAP canal. The canal is off-limits to recreationists and is protected within its own chain-link fence.

The Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department first envisioned the CAP trail in the mid-1980s and executed a recreational development agreement with the federal Bureau of Reclamation, the developer of the canal, in 1986. The County completed a CAP Trail Master Plan in 2009.

“The CAP Water Conservation District, the folks who operate the canal, agreed that we could put the trail on the protection berm, which is a terrific victory,” said Steve Anderson, the Planning Division Manager for Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation. “That’s the best place we could ever want the CAP Trail. The berm gives the trail user a terrific view of the entire countryside.”

Anderson credits David V. Modeer, the general manager of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District who was previously the director of Tucson Water, and Tom Fitzgerald, CAP Land Administrator, with moving the trail project forward.

The CAP Trail in Pima County was designated as a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 2003.  Since then, the cities of Scottsdale and Phoenix have developed trail systems along the canal, and Pinal County has included a CAP trail in its Trails and Open Space Master Plan so the designation has been extended to the entire 336 miles along the canal from Lake Havasu to Tucson.

There is a CAP trailhead near the southeast corner of Sandario and Mile Wide roads.

See the CAP canal on the Pima Regional Trail System Master Plan map at http://www.pima.gov/nrpr/pdfs/Trails_MP_map_2012.pdf.

Pima County encourages bicyclists and pedestrians to use caution and avoid sand, debris and downed tree limbs on The Loop and in area river parks, especially Rillito River Park.

Severe storms have caused damage on The Loop, especially along the Rillito River Park.  The paths in the area between North Campbell Avenue and North La Cañada Drive experienced very heavy flow and debris.

The Rillito River Park underpass at the railroad crossing near Interstate 10 is closed.

County staff are working to clean up the river parks but these conditions may reoccur.  The National Weather Service expects heavy rains today and Tuesday, July 17, with drying the rest of the week.  But heavy storms are expected again over the weekend.

The Loop is 55 miles of car-free paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson, with links to Marana and Oro Valley, for Pima County residents and visitors on foot, bikes, skates and horses.

The Loop will connect Rillito River Park, Santa Cruz River Park, Julian Wash Greenway, Harrison Greenway and Pantano River Park.

Please visit www.pima.gov/TheLoop for the latest Loop news, maps and events.

Celebrate the completion of another segment of The Loop on Friday, April 27, at the south end of Michael Perry Park on Tucson’s East Side.

The Loop is 55 miles of car-free paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson, with links to Marana and Oro Valley, for Pima County residents and visitors on foot, bikes, skates and horses.

The new segment — a project of Pima County and the City of Tucson — extends the Pantano River Park divided path (one gravel; the other, paved) past Michael Perry Park south to Sellarole Road.

The celebration begins at 2 p.m. at the new neighborhood trailhead at East Stella Road.  Bring your bike and join a group fun ride after the celebration.

The Loop will connect Pantano River Park to greenways along Harrison Road and the Julian Wash, Rillito River Park, and Santa Cruz River Park.

For more information, please visit www.pima.gov/TheLoop.

Pima County is proud to be a sponsor of Cyclovia Tucson, an annual free and “car-free event that opens selected streets to people so that they can walk, skate, run, bicycle, and socialize with their neighbors.”

This year’s event, on Sunday, March 18, will close to cars – and bring a variety of activities to – most of South Fourth and South Eighth avenues between downtown and Interstate 10.

Pima County has committed $15,000 a year for the next three years to Cyclovia Tucson.  It has also arranged a safe route for cyclists to Cyclovia from The Loop, 55 miles of off-street bike and pedestrian paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson.

“Pima County is committed to improving the quality of life for the entire community through our continued investment in recreational programs for all ages,” Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said.

“Development of The Loop is one such investment.  The community feedback has prompted us to expand our wellness offerings to include bicycle training, sponsored rides and other bicycle-related activities.  The more healthy activities the region provides, the better.”

Emily Yetman, 2012 Event Coordinator for Cyclovia Tucson and President of the local nonprofit, Living Streets Alliance, welcomed the County’s support.

“The County has been a leader in promoting health and wellness in the region,” Yetman said, “and we see this as a great partnership since Cyclovia Tucson is all about getting people out to get exercise, have fun, discover more about our community, and give ‘people-powered’ transportation a try.  We’re thrilled!”

The County’s financial support will come from the Pima County Bicycling and Pedestrian Program.

Cyclists on The Loop will be able to ride to Cyclovia via the bike and pedestrian path on the east side of the Santa Cruz River Park through Verdugo Park at West 19th Street and onto West 18th Street to South Eighth Avenue (see map below).  Guided rides to the event from various parts of the Tucson area are also being organized.

Pima County’s programs and services – including its educational, sustainability and environmental efforts; The Loop; and the Pima County Public Library and Health Department – will be highlighted at Santa Rita Park, South Fourth Avenue and East 22nd Street.

For more information about Cyclovia Tucson, visit www.cycloviatucson.org.

For more information about the following Pima County programs, check out the following links:

Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, including free bicycle safety classes, http://bikeped.pima.gov.

The Loop,  www.pima.gov/TheLoop

New Loop video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Etsx13J3M

Public Library,  www.library.pima.gov

Health Department,  www.pimahealth.org

Sustainability efforts,  www.pima.gov/Sustainability/

Environmental programs,  www.deq.pima.gov

Las Artes GED program,  www.pima.gov/CED/CR/LasArtes.html

Buffelgrass eradication efforts,  www.pima.gov/nrpr/eeduc/volunteers/sdweedwackers

Celebrate the launch of the Pima County Public Library’s Seed Library and Bookbike between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave.

The Seed Library is a collection of more than 5,000 edible, decorative and herb seeds that residents will be able to take home and grow – and contribute to by returning some of the seeds they harvest at the end of the season.  All the seeds are heirloom and open-pollinated.

It will start out at five locations: the Main Library downtown; the Salazar-Ajo branch in Ajo; the Quincie Douglas branch, 1585 E. 36th St.; Himmel Park branch, 1035 N. Treat Ave.; and Flowing Wells branch, 1730 W. Wetmore.  The seeds will become part of the Library’s online catalog, and eventually residents will be able to request that seeds be sent to their local branch as they do with books now.

The Library has partnered with Native Seeds/SEARCH, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and many other local gardening and sustainability groups on the Seed Library; and representatives will offer gardening demonstrations, presentations and information at the Jan. 28 event.  The movie, “Forks Over Knives,” will be shown at 3 p.m.  For more details, visit www.library.pima.gov/about/news/?id=3823.

The library is seeking donations of seeds, and volunteers to help package them. (See the attached Seed Library donation slip.)

The Bookbike is a three-wheeled, non-motorized bookmobile.  The Bookbike, and Bookbike volunteers, will represent Pima County Public Library at events in Tucson.  Bookbike volunteers and Pima County Bike Ambassadors will ride the Bookbike to the events.  Bookbike volunteers will stock the shelves of the Bookbike and assist at events.  The books will be given away free of charge to readers.

The Library is seeking Bookbike volunteers.  Fill out the attached Bookbike volunteer form and bring it to the volunteer orientation in the Lower Level Meeting Room of the Main Library on Saturday, January 14, at 10 a.m.

For more information about the Jan. 28 event or Pima County Public Library, including branch locations, schedules, news and events, go to www.library.pima.gov/, call 791-4010 or email askalibrarian@pima.gov.

Pima County’s first park in Green Valley is taking shape, thanks in large part to a very determined member of that community, a band of softball players and donations of land, funds and services.

The park project was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW).  The grant focuses on helping the community find ways to stay healthy and active.  The park, once complete, will give the residents of the Green Valley area many options for healthy activities.

Plans call for the 50-plus-acre park to have four softball fields, covered bleachers, a dog park, ramadas and picnic areas, a playground, trails, restrooms, and parking.  The estimated cost: $5 million.  The CPPW grant will be used to continue design of the park.

The need for the park developed more than a decade ago when a Green Valley community sports and service club, Born Again Jocks Association (BAJA), attracted so many softball players that enough fields were hard to find.  Chuck Catino, a 15-year resident of Green Valley and a charter member of the BAJA club, has led the effort to secure land, solicit services, and raise funds.

Canoa Preserve Development Partners LLC donated about 53 acres of a former sand and gravel site and a well on South Camino de la Canoa northwest of its planned Canoa Preserve subdivision and east of the Farmers Investment Co. (FICO) pecan groves.  Local businesses such as Caterpillar, Sierra Mining and Crushing, and FICO have contributed in-kind services to prepare the site for the park improvements.

Including the land and well donations, Catino estimates the BAJA club has raised about $1.5 million in funds and donated services.  BAJA club members joined forces with the Anza Trail Coalition and Marine Corps League to clean up the site earlier this year.  The WLB Group donated grading plans, and Caterpillar Inc. donated the grading.  FICO donated 200,000 gallons of water.  Donated funds have paid for permits and some other preliminary construction costs.

The park is on a list of projects under consideration for inclusion in a Pima County bond proposal to be submitted to voters on an as yet undetermined date.  If approved, construction of the park would be funded with revenue generated from the sale of general obligation bonds.

Tax-deductible donations to continue construction of the park are being accepted by the Pima County Parklands Foundation, c/o Gregoria Tucker, Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation Department, 3500 W. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85741.  Checks should indicate that the donation is “restricted for BAJA Project #137.”

Pima County residents and visitors are a big step closer to being able to walk, ride or run on the south bank of the Rillito from the Santa Cruz River Park path all the way to Craycroft Road now that pathways between First and Campbell avenues are nearly completed.

The pathways are now open for public use, but ongoing finish work is being completed and pathway users are asked to use caution.

The pathways consist of an 8- to 11-foot-wide paved path and a parallel 3- to 8-foot-wide decomposed granite “soft” path.  Wherever possible, the paths also have shade landscaping.

As part of the Rillito River Park, the newly completed segments are also a part of The Loop, 55 miles of car-free paths being developed around metropolitan Tucson for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians.  The Loop will link the Rillito, Santa Cruz and Pantano river parks with greenways along the Julian Wash and Harrison Road.

The new segments make it easier for residents of homes and apartment complexes on the south side of the Rillito to walk or ride to workplaces and shops near Campbell Avenue, the farmers market on Sundays at St. Philip’s Plaza, and other nearby locations.

They also provide a new car-free Safe Routes to School path for students and their families going to Rio Vista Elementary School at Mountain and Prospect Lane, and to other schools located near the Rillito path.

Elsewhere on the south bank of the Rillito, pedestrians and cyclists need to cross to the north bank for short distances to travel the full 11.6 miles through the Rillito River Park.

The prime consultant for the First Avenue to Mountain segment was Westland Resources Inc.; the general contractor was Tucson Asphalt Contractors Inc.  Construction cost $300,000 and was funded primarily by a Transportation Enhancement Grant administered through the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The prime consultant for the Mountain to Campbell segment was Olsson Associates; the general contractor was M. Anderson Construction Corp.  Construction cost $240,000 and was funded by 1997 Pima County bonds.

The Pima County Bicycle and Pedestrian Program is conducting safety and informational outreach along the pathways for the next month, providing free bike maps, bike safety class schedules, and other items, as well as talking with bicyclists and pedestrians about using the pathways as safely as possible.  Contact Matt Zoll with the Pima County Department of Transportation for more information at 243-BIKE (2453).