Santa Cruz River Linear Park

In 2003, the Pima County Flood Control District, Pima County Wastewater Management, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) completed soil cement bank protection along the Santa Cruz River from Grant Road to the Ft. Lowell Road alignment.

This project connected the bank protection south of Grant Road and north of Ft. Lowell Road. Pima County desires a linear park to connect into the upstream stream system, and to set the stage for future linear park development at the Silverbell Golf Course and Christopher Columbus Park along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River. This linear park and river pathways will follow and further establish the San Juan Bautista National Historic Trail on the west side of the Santa Cruz River. The proposed project includes a parking node at Grant Road, a connection to the City of Tucson’s Julian Park, and pedestrian bridge across the Santa Cruz River to connect the linear park to the Sweetwater Wetlands Park and future linear park improvements along the east bank of the Santa Cruz River.

The project will provide continuation of the Juan Bautista National Trail, the Pima County linear river park and trail systems, as well as provide alternative modes of transportation along the Santa Cruz River. This project will also provide linkage to the Christopher Columbus Regional Park along Silverbell Road and provide connections to bike paths to the Rillito River Linear Park.