Jan 08 meeting and Healthy Neighborhood events

SOUTH DOWNTOWN TUCSON -- SRPNA will hold our next regular meeting Wed. Jan 9, 2008 at the Sam Lena Library, 5:30-7pm. 22nd St. widening and related planning are the main planned topic, with presenters from the City of Tucson, and opportunity for community input.

We also have scheduled the following dates for the Building Healthy Neighborhoods planning workshops with the UA Drachman Inst.

Meeting # 1. Design workshop: Wednesday, Jan 30, 5.30 – 7pm @ Sam Lena Library.

Meeting # 2. Presentation of Preliminary Design Ideas: Wednesday Feb 27, 5.30 - 7pm @ Sam Lena Library.

We will discuss walkways, traffic calming, open spaces, community gardens, safe streets and places that support health and physical activity.

Happy holidays.

Daniel Patterson
President

November and December events

UPDATE, 11/17: Help neighbors finalize plans for Santa Rita Park.

Important meeting: Wed. Dec 5, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

Santa Rita Park neighbors – We’ve now had two park design public workshops with the UA Drachman Institute, and we’ll have another – maybe the last – on Dec 5 to discuss and try to decide on a new neighborhood vision for Santa Rita Park improvements.

Considerations include: skate park, 22nd St. widening, softball fields, pool, parking, dogs, re-vegetation, trees, homeless, gardens, art, benches, ramadas, play areas for kids, traffic control, exercise path and more.

Your review and comments are requested Dec 5. Please be there.

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Park planning with neighbors and UA Drachman Institute

Nov 17, Santa Rosa Center, 1080 S. 10th Ave., 2-4pm. Visual presentation of community input.

Dec 5, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave., 5:30-6:45pm. Final/more revisions and possible plan approval (at regular SRPNA monthly meeting).

Another Dec 5 agenda item: Consider moving 08 meetings to first Saturdays at 2pm, to increase participation and allow for more meeting time.

Finally, a possible Dec agenda item is 22nd St. widening planning, with TDoT and city consultant planners, but it may be set for Jan to allow for adequate time.

Happy holidays.

Daniel Patterson
President

SRPNA Nov meeting this Wed., Nov 7, Sam Lena

TUCSON -- We will meet again this Wed. Nov 7, 5:30-6:45pm at the Sam Lena Library.

Main agenda:

1. S. 4th Av. street scape improvements project (TDoT).
2. Park planning effort update and discussion (UA Drachman Inst.).

Please be there and bring your neighbors.

City debates Oct 29; park planning; Nov 7 meeting

UPDATE, Oct 29, 9pm: S. TUCSON -- Participating candidates were Glassman, Romero, Croteau, Spahr and Baker, and yes and no sides of the Prop. 200 tax repeal and water issue.

Voters gained knowledge on candidates and issues. All candidates and advocates there had some good ideas, and showed hard work and commitment by showing up to a neighborhood-sponsored debate.

Fox 11 TV news sent a cameraman.

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TUCSON, 10/3 -- We have invited all City Council candidates, Mayor candidates, and yes and no sides of the trash tax repeal and water measure, Prop. 200, to a SRPNA sponsored debate on Mon. Oct 29, starting at 5:30pm at the Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

There will be a neutral moderator.

The public will have a chance to ask questions.

Tentative schedule of debates, 5:30-7:35pm (confirmed in bold):

Ward 4, Scott (D) v. Spahr (R), 5:30-5:55pm

Ward 2, Glassman (D) v. Oien (R), 5:55-6:20pm

Mayor, Crouteau (G) v. Walkup (R), 6:20-6:45pm

Ward 1, Romero (D) v. Baker (G), 6:45-7:10pm

Prop. 200, Yes v. No, 7:10-7:35pm

Order may shift.

Register to VOTE

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Other upcoming important events:

SPECIAL EVENTS, Park Design and Planning Workshops with the UA Drachman Inst.
Oct 27, Armory Park Center, 3-5pm. Gathering community input for Santa Rita Park improvements.
Nov 17, Santa Rosa Center, 2-4pm. Visual presentation of community input.
Dec 5, Sam Lena Library, 5:30-6:45pm. Final revisions and plan approval.

NEXT SRPNA monthly meeting: Wed. Nov 7, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

SRPNA looks out for night sky above field glare

Tucson's dome of nightly light pollution

TUCSON -- SRPNA today raised concerns about light pollution from ball field lights. The letter below was sent to Peg Weber of Tucson Parks & Rec., and other city officials. DRP

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Hi, Peg -- We ask Tucson Parks & Rec to please carefully inspect the ballfield lights this week, preferably at night, and consider the best ways to reduce glare and light pollution in to the night sky.

Perhaps we could meet with your staff to investigate and look for solutions?

Right now the lights on the NE field are on, and some are pointing up in to the sky. They may have been rearranged by monsoon winds.

The lights on the west field also shine in to the neighborhood pretty bad. We'd like them redirected, and perhaps dimmed or a few shut off.

We believe these lights may be in violation of Dark Sky rules and goals, and it has been quite a problem for a while. The new white lights have not helped, and even seem brighter.

Have these systems ever been checked for compliance with Dark Sky rules?

Also, sometimes the ballfield lights are on, but no one is playing. Is there a number we may call so they can be shut off? Seems like a lot of wasteful and expensive energy use.

Thank you,

Daniel Patterson
President
Santa Rita Park NA

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City response from Peg Weber of Parks & Rec., 9/21

Thank you for this e-mail discussion about the lights at Santa Rita Park. We have sent our staff to check the field lights, and early next week, our light contractor will be out to make needed adjustments to the lights...

The Sports Office of our Department has been informed, and will contact the leagues that play on the fields, asking that the lights be turned off when they have completed play, rather than waiting for the timer to shut them off. We are also checking the timer to assure it is operating correctly.

President Patterson talks with high school students

Daniel Patterson

TUCSON -- I was invited and spoke today about neighborhoods and Santa Rita Park at City High School downtown.

It went well. The students were pretty interested in considering more involvement in their neighborhoods, and curious about the issues and projects of SRPNA.

Menlo Park NA President Mac Hudson also spoke.

'1000 trees' coming to south Santa Rita Park

Kids dig planting trees

UPDATE, 10/28: This project was done and very successful. Let's do more street trees in SRPN.

TUCSON -- On October 27 people all across the city will be planting 1000 trees.

This is a positive and needed effort.

More trees will help beautify and cool Tucson, reducing the urban heat island effect, lowering energy use and related power bills, and provide more shade and habitat for people and wildlife.

Santa Rita Park will be planting at least 33 new community trees along 23rd street, between 4th & 6th avenues, and 5th avenue, between 22nd and 25th streets.

Santa Rita Park neighbors along the area have committed to care for the trees.

We thank '1000 Trees for Tucson' for donating trees to the Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association, and Demion Clinco for helping organize this true 'urban renewal' effort.

Next SRPNA meeting is Wed., Oct 3, 5:30pm

TUCSON -- Join us Wed., Oct 3, 5:30-6:45pm for the next monthly meeting of the Santa Rita Park NA at the Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave. in South Tucson.

Our main item of discussion will be consideration of SRP neighborhood participation in the City's Neighborhood Preservation Zone Pilot program.

Hope to see you and your neighbors there!

SRPNA moves to oppose current skatepark plan

UPDATE, 10/31: Letter sent today to City leaders.

SANTA RITA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Oct 2007

Re: Proposed skate plaza in Santa Rita Park.

City leaders -- The Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association has become very concerned about the proposed skate facility planned for the middle of our neighborhood park. Since it was proposed many years have passed and needs have changed.

After many years of delay, and no communication from Parks and Rec. or skate park proponents for many months, neighborhood support for this proposed project has dissipated. It has been replaced by growing concern that a large concrete skate plaza replacing one of the last usable open green-spaces in our historic park is not in the public-interest.

We consider Santa Rita Park our neighborhood's greatest asset. The park is both the geographical and cultural core of our community and its future progress is paramount in the improvement and potential of this area.

Yet, now this park does not serve our neighborhood the way it could or should. Too much of the park has become a void of fenced fields and useless space nearly impossible to traverse. The useless chopped-up fragments are further devalued by an erratic un-planned landscape and no master planning.

The future 22nd Street widening will take even more park space, leaving even less for the neighborhood. This end is not acceptable.

Today, the neighborhood association finds it unwise to endorse projects that further divide the park into special interest projects – resulting in the loss of open space, worsening the urban heat island effect and further limiting usability for the entire surrounding community.

Neighbors have mounting questions regarding the appropriateness of this proposal. Is the location and concept declared suitable years ago still relevant today? Will it serve the surrounding neighborhood? What demographic will this facility serve? Will this investment benefit our neighborhood? Who will manage this space? Who will provide security? Are other areas of the park more appropriate, such as the southeast corner of the park in the paved area between the pool and the railroad tracks?

The Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association requests the skate park project to be placed on immediate hold. We would like to meet with city staff and leaders to discuss alternatives and options. We are currently working on a new park plan with the UA Drachman Institute, which will be done by the end of the year and include exciting new visionary ideas.

Thank you,
Daniel Patterson
President, Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association

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TUCSON, 9/5 -- Tonight at our monthly meeting SRPNA members voted to oppose the current plans to build a concrete skateboard park within Santa Rita Park near S. 3rd Av. and E. 21st St.

We have requested a meeting with city leaders to discuss possible solutions.

Next Santa Rita Park NA meeting is Wed. Sept 5

SOUTH TUCSON -- SRPNA will next meet this Wed, Sept 5, 5:30-7pm at the Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av. See below for some agenda items.

Please attend. Check back here later in the week for a likely update.

This Labor Day, let us all please remember the past and current struggles of workers.

SRPNA says no to Big L Mkt. liquor license (again)

(copy of email sent)

Hon. Mayor and Council --

The Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association (SRPNA) strongly opposes a liquor license for Big L Mkt., within our neighborhood boundaries.

As you may recall, Big L recently applied, and was denied by the state. Now they are back, and should be denied again. SRPNA opposed it then for good reason, and we still strongly oppose a liquor license for Big L.

Big L's owners, from well outside our neighborhood area, have refused to work with SRPNA to clean up the place and stop selling cheap malt liquor and single cans and bottle of alcohol.

Drunkeness related to Big L is a blight and danger in our neighborhood.

Please again support local citizens and oppose the Big L liquor license request at the hearing before you on Sept 5.

We ask you please to also direct the City Atty. to closely follow and oppose this application at all levels, including in front of state authorities in Phoenix.

Thank you,

Daniel R. Patterson
President
Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association

SRPNA Aug discussion; future agendas; park event

Image of proposed big concrete skatepark in Santa Rita Park at S 3rd Av and 21st St.

SOUTH TUCSON -- Two SRPNA officers met this eve with two UA reps at the Sam Lena Library about our participation in the Healthy Neighborhoods Program, primarily focused on park-related improvements and historic preservation.

A letter and park map with images from Demion C. was reviewed. The letter focused in part on big concerns about the skatepark proposal.

Some future meeting agenda items:

NEXT SRPNA MEETING, Wed. Sept 5: review and approve July minutes; briefing on Aug 8 informal SRPNA meeting; city censorship of mailings; skatepark; park improvements; Big L update; bike and ped safety actions; fall clean-up. 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Ave.

FUTURE SRPNA MEETING, Oct 3: 22nd St. widening issues; NPZ pilot project participation.

SPECIAL EVENTS, Park Design and Planning Workshops with the UA Drachman Inst.
Oct 27, Armory Park Senior Center, 3-5pm. Gathering community input for Santa Rita Park improvements.
Nov 17, location and time TBD. Visual presentation of community input.
Dec 5, Sam Lena Library, 5:30-6:45pm. Final revisions and plan approval.

Vote by mail early, mail back your card today

TUCSON -- The city has mailed out easy vote by mail ballot request cards to registered voters. Check the top box to get ballots for both the primary and general elections coming up, sign, and return to the City Clerk for free.

It's very easy, and important. Please do it now. There are some big city issues and races to vote on this political season.

Neighborhood meeting on park improvements 8/8

Next SRPNA meeting is Aug 8, 5:30-7pm at Sam Lena library.

Main topic is park improvements.

SRPNA's historic preservation head in 4th Av. news

DOWNTOWN TUCSON -- SRPNA's Historic Preservation Committee Chairman Demion Clinco is featured in this week's Tucson Weekly, talking about the new 4th Av. underpass design.

"It looks like Anywhere, USA," said Demion Clinco, a member of the Tucson-Pima County Historical Commission, at the group's June meeting. "We're turning into Glendale, Calif., and losing the authenticity of Tucson."

Surveys; ¿traducción de la necesidad?; 7/11 & 8/8

SOUTH DOWNTOWN -- Quick SRPNA items:

-- City elections are coming up in Sept and Nov, register to vote / registro al voto

-- SRPNA July meeting is 7/11; August meeting is 8/8, SECOND Wednesday, topic: park improvements, 5:30-7pm, Sam Lena Library.

-- Look for our improved newsletter to hit your mailbox around Aug 1.

-- Contact Daniel Patterson, SRPNA President (roundriver@gmail.com), if you want the full survey results from the May 19 Park Party, or need translation.

-- ¿Traducción de la necesidad? Contacto roundriver@gmail.com

Neighborhood news: 4th Av.; County funds; H2O

TUCSON -- Recent news articles you may want to read:

4th Av. underpass closed to all use until 2009 during construction.

Neighborhood requests and Pima County neighborhood improvement spending limits.

Water.

Violence against homeless people a daily threat

TUCSON -- Story in the Weekly about violence against homeless people.

Some of it is set at Casa Maria Soup Kitchen, which is in the Santa Rita Park Neighborhood.

July meeting moved to second Wednesday

SANTA RITA PARK -- To respect the 4th of July holiday, SRPNA will next meet Wed. July 11, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, S. 6th Av., S. Tucson

Great party!; Next meeting 6/6; Truck traffic control

TUCSON SOUTH DOWNTOWN -- SRPNA had a great event in Santa Rita Park May 19. Big thanks to everyone who helped and was there.

Special big thanks to La Buena restaurant for the great food.

We will review all comments gathered, etc. at our next SRPNA meeting: Wed. June 6, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, 1607 S. 6th Av., South Tucson.

SRPNA President Daniel Patterson is working cooperatively with the city, Armory Park NA, and the Ward 5 & 6 offices on a plan to curb and hopefully end heavy truck traffic through the neighborhoods, an on-going and growing problem.

As a first step, SRPNA will petition for new speed bumps, which heavy trucks try to avoid, on 19th & 20th Sts. between 4th Av. and Jacobus, within SRPNA boundaries.

APNA will petition for speed bumps on 18th, 17th and 16th Sts.

May 19 walk in the park block party in AZ Daily Star

TUCSON -- Arizona Daily Star

Santa Rita Park association party

The Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association presents the Walk in the Park Neighborhood Block Party 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Santa Rita Park, 400 E. 22nd St. The event is free.

The party will include a "polka walk," bike safety and other activities for kids, music and refreshments. Information about receiving a free tree from Trees for Tucson, composting and gardening will be available as will health screenings.

Block Party at Santa Rita Park May 19, 4-7pm

SE DOWNTOWN/SANTA RITA PARK -- Fun event is coming up soon. Free good food, prizes, info, kids, etc. Meet neighbors and help plan to improve our neighborhoods. People from Armory Park and other adjacent barrios also welcome.

Santa Rita Park

Next block party planning meeting is May 17, 5:30-6:30pm, Santa Rita Park (near 3rd Av. & 20th St.)

Next SRPNA meeting is May 2 at Sam Lena library

S. TUCSON -- Please join us Wed., May 2, 5:30-6:45pm at Sam Lena library, 1607 S. 6th Av.

There is a special short meeting starting at 5pm about the upcoming: WALK IN THE PARK BLOCK PARTY, MAY 19.

Park party planning Thurs. Apr. 19; No on Big L

TUCSON -- Help us plan the great upcoming May 19 Walk in the Park event.

Planning meeting: Thursday, Apr 19, 4pm, Santa Rita Park, 3rd Av. & 20th St.

We're happy to report that Armory Park NA has agreed to join us in the May 19 event.

GOOD NEWS UPDATE: The State of Arizona agreed with SRPNA and the City and denied the liquor license for the Big L Mkt. on S. 4th Av. Special thanks to Councilman Leal and aide Abe Marques for help here.

SRPNA pushes for responsible mosquito control

TUCSON -- Today we inquired with Pima Cty. and the city about recently announced mosquito control plans.

Our short letter to responsible officials in Pima County and the City of Tucson is below.

How does the county plan to 'treat' standing water?

If pesticides will be used, has the county considered health concerns, and kill of other species besides mosquitos?

We are concerned that the fight against West Nile could lead to other problems created by pesticides and clearing of vegetation.

Daniel Patterson
President, Santa Rita Park NA

Pima Council on Aging guest at Wed. SRPNA mtg.

TUCSON -- Carol Ostrander of the Pima Council on Aging will discuss the Neighbors Care program, a community volunteer effort to help older residents continue to live in their homes as long as possible.

This Wednesday, Apr 4, 5:30pm, Sam Lena Library.

Walk in the (Santa Rita) Park Block Party, May 19!

Special party planning meeting Wed. Apr 4, 5pm, Sam Lena Library.

Walk in the (Santa Rita) Park Block Party, May 19!

¡Caminar en el Partido del Bloque del Parque, 19 de mayo!

What do you want in your Santa Rita Park neighborhood? ¿Qué deseas en tu vecindad?

Next meeting/planning/planeamiento: Wed., Apr 4, 5:30-6:45pm. Sam Lena Library/Biblioteca, 1607 S. 6th Av., S. Tucson

projects/proyectos: fun public events, park improvements, healthy neighborhoods, traffic control, safety; acontecimientos del público de la diversión, mejoras del parque, vecindades sanas, control de tráfico, seguridad

Unite for quality of life. Unir para la calidad de la vida.

Help plan 5/19 Santa Rita Park fiesta; Tues. 2:30pm

Meet with neighbors and the Drachman Inst. to plan the spring fiesta.

Meet this Tues. 3/13 at 2:30pm, Historic Y, 738 N. 5th Av., first floor conference room.

Next regular meeting of SRPNA is Wed. Apr 4, 5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library. We will discuss adding 'Barrio' to the front of our name.

Drachman Inst. at tonight's SRPNA meeting

Topic: Healthy Neighborhoods program and planning for Santa Rita Park.

5:30-6:45pm, Sam Lena Library, S. 6th Av., S. Tucson

Future guests: April, Pima Council on Aging. May, Tucson-Pima Public Libraries

Spring fiesta in Santa Rita Park planned for May 19

Spring fiesta planning will happen at the Mar 7 meeting (info below).

Plan to be there for a fun Sunday afternoon in the park May 19.

Homeowners 60+ can get $4k for home repairs

TUCSON -- Homeowners in Pima County 60 years and older can apply for up to $4,000 in home repair assistance.

Deadline for applications is April 14.

Healthy Neighborhoods update -- Drachman Inst.

Dear Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association Members,

We appreciated your time and interest in the Building Healthy Neighborhoods Project and were excited about the discussion we had at your February 7th meeting. Our Building Healthy Neighborhood Project team came away with a sense of how the Neighborhood Association wanted to proceed.

In the meeting we attended, there was a lot of discussion about neighborhood improvements, including considerable focus on Santa Rita Park.

One of the suggestions for how to gather general information and improve communication within the neighborhood, was to hold a community / Health Festival in Santa Rita Park.

This event could have booths for raising health awareness; screenings, games, activities and prizes, information sharing, gardening sign up, Neighborhood Watch or safe neighborhood sign up, a neighborhood / park improvements Table..etc.

If that is step one, then things for the neighborhood to consider are:

1.) If a Community Meet & Greet event was to take place, what months would draw a larger audience? (April/ May/June/July/August...?)

2.) What specific focus would Santa Rita Park Neighborhood like to see at this event?

3.) Who are neighborhood leaders that could head up planning & coordination?

The Neighborhood Association also sought assistance with getting a newsletter going instead, of the simple card that goes to residents currently.

Our Building Health Neighborhoods team would like to attend another Neighborhood Association meeting, to gather more information and help plan the next step.

Jean McClelland, Kirsten Hoak & Lauve Metcalfe
Drachman Institute
University of Arizona

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SRPNA thanks the Drachman Inst. We will meet again with them in Mar or Apr to continue planning on this and more. DRP

Action planning Feb 24; Monthly meeting March 7

What do you want in the neighborhood? ¿Qué deseas en la vecindad?

planning/planeamiento: Sat., Feb 24, 2-4pm, Santa Rita Park, SE corner of 4th Av. & 21st St.
Wed., Mar 7, 5:30-6:30pm. Sam Lena Library/ Biblioteca, 1607 S. 6th Av., S. Tucson

Unite for quality of life. Unir para la calidad de la vida.

projects/proyectos: healthy neighborhoods, fun public events, park improvements, traffic control, safety; vecindades sanas, acontecimientos del público de la diversión, mejoras del parque, control de tráfico, seguridad

Contact: Daniel R. Patterson, President, 906.2159; Oscar Rendon, VP, 882.0616

SRP picked for UA Healthy Neighborhoods plan

TUCSON -- It's just been learned that the Drachman Institute's HUD project "Building Healthy Neighborhoods" (BHN) will work with the Santa Rita Park Neighborhood to explore ways to pursue healthy lifestyles, healthy homes, and a healthy neighborhood for our residents.

Be a part of this exciting project's first strategy session: Wed. Feb 7, 6pm, Sam Lena Library

Big thanks to Viki Rambo, SRPNA Secretary for working hard on this.

Santa Rita Park petitions for 4th Av. speed tables

TUCSON -- The Barrio Santa Rita Park Neighborhood Association has filed an official city petition with resident signatures in support of speed tables on S. 4th Av. between 20th & 19th Sts., and 17th & 16th Sts. Armory Park NA is also in support.

Speeds now in this residential stretch are well above the posted 25 mph limit.

Next SRPNA mtg. is 1st Wed Feb 7 at Sam Lena

5:30-6:45pm at Sam Lena library on S. 6th Av. in South Tucson.

Neighborhood Day at Capitol, Jan 24, RSVP now

PHOENIX -- Neighborhood leaders should sign up now for this free trip to promote neighborhood interests at the State Capitol.

RSVP by Jan 10 by calling 791.4605.

Tucson Water at next SRPNA mtg. Jan 10

to discuss rates, growth, and future water quality. 6pm.