The plants and animals who call the park home — and the ecosystem that sustains them — can’t speak for themselves, at least not in our language. All of us must be their voice.
The Rio Vista Conservation Project
For a year and a half, the Rio Vista Conservation Project has advocated for the natural assets of Rio Vista — one of only three natural resource parks in the City of Tucson park system. The conservation project works directly with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to protect and restore the distinctive natural character of the park.
You’ve told us — at a meeting, in a conversation, by e-mail — that you share our vision of the park as a haven for wildlife and native plants in a thriving natural landscape right here in midtown Tucson. Now we invite you to add your voice to ours as a Friend of Rio Vista. Friends of Rio Vista support the work of Tucson Parks and Recreation and the Rio Vista Conservation Project by pitching in at restoration events, by sharing their observations and concerns, or just by passing the word.
Plant Survey in the Park
In June, the Arizona Native Plant Society (AZNPS) partnered with the Rio Vista Conservation Project to initiate a plant survey of Rio Vista. Thanks to AZNPS volunteers, we will eventually have a comprehensive list of the plants in the park. This will be a central contribution to the conservation-planning process under way in collaboration with Tucson Parks and Recreation.
Palo Verde Seed Harvesting
On June 30, John Scheuring of the AZNPS led five volunteers in a field tutorial on harvesting seeds from foothill palo verde trees in the park. We now have seeds to plant in favorable areas after the monsoons — and a restoration technique under our belts. This activity was coordinated with Tucson Parks and Recreation.
What You Can Do
- Please forward our newsletter to your friends and neighbors who share our vision. Encourage them to subscribe.
- Join us for future activities in the field (watch the newsletter and the Rio Vista kiosks for details).
- When you’re in the park, please stay on the main trails, leave the park cleaner than you found it, mask up, and stay 6 feet apart!
Thank you for being a Friend of Rio Vista.
Questions about the Rio Vista Conservation Project? Interested in a current project description or vision-and-goals statement? Please e-mail us at info@friendsofriovista.org.