Rillito River Park - Tucson, AZ - Municipal Parks and Plazas on Waymarking.com

Southern Arizona gets massive monsoons in the summer that rip down the washes. In a good winter there are steady rains that pour down the mountains that surround Tucson and fill up the washes that are dry most of the year. Pima County has developed along the Rillito River (yes I know it's a dry wash most of the year) a linear park. They have stabilized the walls of the washes with natural looking concrete but left the bed natural. Along the edges are paths for walkers, runners, skaters and bicyclists. At least one side is a paved path and sometimes both. This also keeps people from building right up to the edge and getting flooded regularly.

The Rillito Riverpark starts in the west at I-10 between Ruthrauff and Orange Grove where the Rillito goes under the railroad and interstate to merge with the Santa Cruz that runs south to north. It goes east and south for 12 miles to Craycroft Road. On weekend mornings there is a constant stream of people walking and riding along the path.

Along the Rillito is a mini Stonehenge, a Children's Park dedicated to children who have died through accidents or violence, the Rillito Race Track and a park developed from a Rural Historic Landscape that is a very nice park. The numerous bridges across side washes are decorated with original mosaics. One bridge that the path goes under has a bat flight at dusk during the summer. The Tucson Department of Transportation is careful to not work on the bridge during the summer as it's when the colony is raising their young before they fly south in the winter.

The coordinates given are at First Avenue, about half way. Coordinates for the east end are:
N 32*16.205
W 110*52.498
and the west end are:
N 32*18.934
W 111*02.637

Name: Rillito River Park Street Location: First Avenue between Wetmore Road and River Road Local Municipality: Tucson, Arizona - Pima County State/Province, etc.: Arizona Country: United States Web Site: [Web Link] Memorial/Commemoration: No Date Established: 1980s Picnic Facilities: Tables and pavillions Recreational Facilities: Trails, running, children's playground. Monuments/Statues: Children's Memorial Art (murals/sculpture, etc.): Sculptures, mini stonehenge, Ponds/Lakes/Streams/Rivers/Beach: River/wash Fountains: Not listed Special Events: Not listed Traditional Geocaches: Not listed

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Date Logged Log   09/17/2023 Tusmke visited it 08/16/2013 tugies visited it 07/17/2013 philbeer visited it 07/15/2013 Poehunters visited it 07/31/2010 Frank AZ visited it 10/16/2009 ShadowAce visited it 01/22/2009 lowcats visited it

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