Many people in Tucson didn’t know that the Reid Park Zoo plans to expand their tiger habitat west of the zoo, across the street and destroy Reid Park’s lovely south pond (with ducks & turtles) and Barnum Hill with its waterfalls and streams. This expansion is slated to occur in February 2021 and AZ Daily Star columnist Timothy Steller recently wrote about it on Dec. 13, pages B 1 and B5 entitled “Reid Park Expansion at Reid Park wrests away a cherished spot”and online here:
This south pond and adjoining hill has been open to the public for decades, enjoyed by countless families, many of whom love to feed bread to the ducks, geese, and birds.
As Stellar writes on page B5:
“Neither the south duck pond nor Barnum Hill should be colonized by the zoo, because they are unique, precious and freely accessible.”
My husband and I, along with our son enjoyed that south pond and hill for decades and we would not like to see it taken by the Reid Park Zoo. It is a family friendly, public space for all to enjoy. Once the Zoo takes it, then you have to pay to enter. Current zoo prices are: Adults $10.50, Seniors $8,50, children 2 to 14 $6.50. That’s a lot of $ to pay for a family of 4 with children under 14. That cost would be $34.00. The South pond is also currently a peaceful oasis with water features, which is rare in this desert city. The next closest city pond is at Ft. Lowell Park at N. Craycroft/E. Glenn Rd.
Proposition 203 which passed in 2017 to expand the zoo based on a sales tax increase narrowly passed by 633 votes, according to City of Tucson Elections Dept. I’m sure if the general public had known that the proposal including taking the south pond and Barnum Hill, that proposition would not have passed. See language of Prop. 203 below.
The opponents with their group called Save the Heart of Reid Park have accumulated more than 18,500 signatures of residents opposed to this particular expansion. A solution would be for the zoo to expand elsewhere in Reid Park, maybe even a parking lot, and leave the beloved south pond and hill alone.
More info :https://www.facebook.com/groups/702874680371595
Change.org petition to save the pond: https://www.change.org/p/tucson-city-council-and-reid-park-zoo-save-the-reid-park-duck-pond
Go Fund Me Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-heart-of-reid-park-barnum-hill-south-pond?fbclid=IwAR3P7KeGyLZI4v8VN5E1efYRIvqovXp2T6JRSElpuiQd32Q8b78Z1p9IiTU
Let’s work together & hope for a reasonable solution to this problem. Our family recently attended Reid Park Zoo’s illuminated Zoo Lights 2020: Holiday Magic. I am not opposed to any zoo expansion, just not at that popular location, a free open space for the residents and guests of Southern Arizona.
Proposition 203:
UPDATE 2/3/21: 2nd opinion against this zoo expansion by Tim Steller of AZ Daily Star:
https://tucson.com/news/local/tim-stellers-opinion-city-of-tucson-must-stop-takeover-of-reid-park-pond-hill/article_5e93662f-e00b-5298-b03f-84c3ca54b81a.html
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Mayor Regina Romero has taken a stand for a delay in this proposed expansion, for a common ground to be found between the zoo and the Save the Heart of Reid Park group: https://blogforarizona.net/tucson-mayor-regina-romero-issues-statement-on-the-proposed-reid-park-zoo-expansion/. See her letter today, prior to their March 9 meeting to discuss this controversy.
Four neighborhood associations nearby Reid Park have sent a letter this week asking for a delay and more public input on this proposal zoo expansion:
https://samhughes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SHNA_letter_zoo_expansion.pdf
Survey link: https://samhughes.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Reid-Park-Zoo-Expansion-Survey-Results-01.17.21-Copy-Copy-Copy.pdf
2nd opinion by Az Daily Star Columnist Tim Steller against this zoo expansion: https://tucson.com/news/local/tim-stellers-opinion-city-of-tucson-must-stop-takeover-of-reid-park-pond-hill/article_5e93662f-e00b-5298-b03f-84c3ca54b81a.html
Good opinion piece in AZ Daily Star by former Ward 7 Councilwoman Molly McKasson and two other activists:
https://tucson.com/opinion/local/reid-park-supporters-zoo-expansion-should-halt-for-now/article_c758989f-bb2b-5c29-a01b-efd865bbff6a.html
Print edition, page A12 January 31, 2021.
I’m tired of hearing how we need zoos for breeding programs…this is false ! animal sanctuaries maybe but not zoos !
Animal Prisons !
Thanks for your article, Carolyn Classen. We really do need to fight hard for this.
Yes, if you feel strongly about preserving this duck pond and hill, please join the effort to have this expansion moved to another location in Reid Park. Thanks for writing.
Though I no longer go to Reid Park, I have very fond memories taking my children to feed the ducks and other wild fowl. It would be a great loss for the community to have the hill and pond become part of the zoo. There has to be an alternative solution.
Yes, let’s work toward a reasonable win-win solution to this problem. Thousands of people are upset via the comments posted on the change.org petition, as so much of the public loves that pond and hill, for family activities, photographs, quiet reflection. Even my husband wrote a letter in opposition to what the zoo is planning: https://tucson.com/opinion/local/letters-to-the-editor/article_49bb61a1-2ee2-592a-ac0e-d1af60059ade.html?fbclid=IwAR0mcpLtpNiZsQk2_nrIJifDaq0zJqtn5xV9YZHBuUNWWTwU8aSH9AhrBhQ
Thanks to fellow blogger Larry Bodine, Pres. of DGT, for re-publishing my article on their website: https://thedgt.org/save-the-heart-of-reid-park/. Please sign the petition or donate $ if you can to help this cause. Signatures now at over 19,000.
I used to spend quite a bit of time at the San Diego Zoo when I lived there. Not every city can have a world class zoo, of course, but all zoo animals deserve humane enclosures and it is certainly possible if cities are willing to make the investment. I hope that there are other good areas in Reid Park for the Tucson Zoo to expand. All the big cats are endangered now and it appears that the only way to save these magnificent animals is through zoo breeding programs. If we lose tigers and cheetahs and snow leopards it will be a devastating loss, but we’re on track to do just that.
Thanks for your comments Liza. I agree, but I don’t think a popular duck/turtle/bird pond area that is loved by the general public should be taken, for an expansion of the tiger habitat. Reid Park is big enough to find another location.