Phase 1: Udall Park Community Workshop

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Based on the feedback from the community workshop and from conducting intercept surveys at Udall Park, the community appreciates a broad range of features and initiatives that contribute to the city's livability, sustainability, and overall appeal.

Community members were asked to respond to the following questions:

  • What do you like about Tucson?
  • What are your concerns about Tucson?
  • What ideas/changes do you have?
LikesConcernsIdeas/Changes

Climate and Weather:

  • Sunshine and warm weather
  • Lack of snow and not too cold in winter
  • Enjoyable outdoor activities year-round
  • River walk and outdoor spaces

Water Resources:

  • Concerns about the availability and sustainability of water resources
  • Worries about overuse of water and potential future shortages
  • Need for more responsible and efficient water managemen

Environment and Sustainability:

  • Implement water conservation initiatives, including rain harvesting and river preservation.
  • Advocate for xeriscaping and a city-wide ban on plastic bags.
  • Create more green spaces and community agriculture initiatives to increase greenery and reduce lawns.

Community and Lifestyle:

  • Friendly people and a close-knit, welcoming community
  • Laid-back and slow-paced lifestyle
  • Strong sense of community and engagement
  • Safe and family-friendly environment
  • Opportunities for families and children
  • Diverse and inclusive community

Homelessness:

  • Concerns about the increasing homeless population and lack of resources to support them
  • Need for housing and amenities for the homeless
  • Desire for better outreach and mental health care for the homeless population

Public Safety:

  • General concerns about crime levels and safety in the community
  • Safety concerns for children in schools and public areas

Community and Social Issues:

  • Address homelessness through dedicated programs, services, and housing initiatives.
  • Enhance community engagement, transparency, and involvement in decision-making processes.
  • Promote diversity, inclusivity, and bipartisanship in government and community efforts.
  • Focus on reducing drug-related issues and support rehabilitation and education for those overcoming addiction.
  • Explore ways to utilize formerly incarcerated individuals in educating youth about crime and its consequences.

Cultural and Social Aspects:

  • Arts, festivals, and cultural events
  • Honor and appreciation of Mexican and Native American culture
  • Food scene, variety of restaurants, and gourmet eats
  • Live music, food trucks, and social events
  • Respect for native species and conservation efforts

Housing Affordability:

  • Rising housing costs and unaffordable living conditions
  • Lack of affordable housing options

Housing and Urban Planning:

  • Focus on affordable housing and housing department improvements.
  • Repurpose empty buildings and invest in repurposing existing structures rather than building new ones.
  • Introduce green building practices and encourage sustainable harvesting.
  • Implement programs to repurpose plastic waste for housing materials.
  • Explore options for city-owned housing and public housing initiatives.

Urban Planning and Amenities:

  • Well-maintained parks and recreational facilities (e.g., Udall Park)
  • Well-planned city layout and easy access to amenities
  • Proximity and easy access to different areas and services
  • Variety of housing options and reasonable prices
  • Blend of city amenities and natural environment

Education:

  • Concerns about the quality of education, especially in elementary schools (reading, writing, math)
  • Teacher shortages and curriculum concerns
  • Funding and support for arts/music education

Education:

  • Improve public school education by involving parents in curriculum decisions and fostering a balanced curriculum.
  • Allocate more funding to schools, increase teacher salaries, and provide support for teachers.
  • Encourage early childhood programs that are affordable and accessible for working parents.

Environmental Awareness and Sustainability:

  • Focus on sustainability and water conservation
  • Efforts to protect and preserve the natural desert environment
  • Planting native species and blending buildings with the natural landscape
  • Limited lighting at night, enhancing natural experience

Environment:

  • Pollution and litter
  • Need for more sustainable practices, such as increasing green energy usage and promoting electric cars

Parks and Recreation:

  • Clean and maintain parks, enhance park infrastructure, and create more recreational opportunities.
  • Address the specific needs of different areas in terms of parks, focusing on inclusivity and variety.
  • Enhance existing parks like Reid Park with more greenery, trees, and nature.
  • Develop splash pads and other amenities in parks for families and kids, including areas for dogs.
  • Explore the creation of water features, lakes, or splash pads in public spaces for recreation.

Outdoor Activities and Nature:

  • Mountains, hiking trails, biking trails (e.g., Bunny Loop, Fantasy Island)
  • Outdoor recreation opportunities and access to nature
  • Saguaro Cactus and desert environment
  • Camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities
  • Parks, splash pads, water parks, and spaces for kids to play

Economic Concerns:

  • Worries about the economy, job opportunities, and affordability of living

Economic Development and Business:

  • Support small businesses through more resources and funding options.
  • Encourage economic plans that focus on employment opportunities and affordable housing.

Transport and Infrastructure:

  • Easy transport, less traffic, and bike paths
  • Convenient access to highways and locations within the city
    • Good road maintenance and accessible locations

Road Infrastructure and Traffic:

  • Poor road conditions
  • Traffic congestion and the need for improved traffic control measures
  • Concerns about speeding and reckless driving
  • Need for more highways and a loop highway to reduce traffic in the city center
  • Need for better road planning and grid layout

Infrastructure and Transportation:

  • Repair and maintain roads and bridges, prioritize pothole repairs.
  • Develop and expand bike-friendly infrastructure, including safe bike lanes.
  • Create efficient traffic solutions and speedy routes, especially in the northeast side.
  • Underground utilities for better aesthetics and functionality.
  • Construct an east-bound interstate and other expressways for easier travel within the city.
  • Improve public transportation, including a shuttle to downtown and increased accessibility.
  • Implement faster construction processes to minimize disruptions caused by construction projects.
  • Increase charging stations for electric vehicles and promote green energy production.

Based on the feedback from the community workshop and from conducting intercept surveys at Udall Park, the community appreciates a broad range of features and initiatives that contribute to the city's livability, sustainability, and overall appeal.

Community members were asked to respond to the following questions:

  • What do you like about Tucson?
  • What are your concerns about Tucson?
  • What ideas/changes do you have?
LikesConcernsIdeas/Changes

Climate and Weather:

  • Sunshine and warm weather
  • Lack of snow and not too cold in winter
  • Enjoyable outdoor activities year-round
  • River walk and outdoor spaces

Water Resources:

  • Concerns about the availability and sustainability of water resources
  • Worries about overuse of water and potential future shortages
  • Need for more responsible and efficient water managemen

Environment and Sustainability:

  • Implement water conservation initiatives, including rain harvesting and river preservation.
  • Advocate for xeriscaping and a city-wide ban on plastic bags.
  • Create more green spaces and community agriculture initiatives to increase greenery and reduce lawns.

Community and Lifestyle:

  • Friendly people and a close-knit, welcoming community
  • Laid-back and slow-paced lifestyle
  • Strong sense of community and engagement
  • Safe and family-friendly environment
  • Opportunities for families and children
  • Diverse and inclusive community

Homelessness:

  • Concerns about the increasing homeless population and lack of resources to support them
  • Need for housing and amenities for the homeless
  • Desire for better outreach and mental health care for the homeless population

Public Safety:

  • General concerns about crime levels and safety in the community
  • Safety concerns for children in schools and public areas

Community and Social Issues:

  • Address homelessness through dedicated programs, services, and housing initiatives.
  • Enhance community engagement, transparency, and involvement in decision-making processes.
  • Promote diversity, inclusivity, and bipartisanship in government and community efforts.
  • Focus on reducing drug-related issues and support rehabilitation and education for those overcoming addiction.
  • Explore ways to utilize formerly incarcerated individuals in educating youth about crime and its consequences.

Cultural and Social Aspects:

  • Arts, festivals, and cultural events
  • Honor and appreciation of Mexican and Native American culture
  • Food scene, variety of restaurants, and gourmet eats
  • Live music, food trucks, and social events
  • Respect for native species and conservation efforts

Housing Affordability:

  • Rising housing costs and unaffordable living conditions
  • Lack of affordable housing options

Housing and Urban Planning:

  • Focus on affordable housing and housing department improvements.
  • Repurpose empty buildings and invest in repurposing existing structures rather than building new ones.
  • Introduce green building practices and encourage sustainable harvesting.
  • Implement programs to repurpose plastic waste for housing materials.
  • Explore options for city-owned housing and public housing initiatives.

Urban Planning and Amenities:

  • Well-maintained parks and recreational facilities (e.g., Udall Park)
  • Well-planned city layout and easy access to amenities
  • Proximity and easy access to different areas and services
  • Variety of housing options and reasonable prices
  • Blend of city amenities and natural environment

Education:

  • Concerns about the quality of education, especially in elementary schools (reading, writing, math)
  • Teacher shortages and curriculum concerns
  • Funding and support for arts/music education

Education:

  • Improve public school education by involving parents in curriculum decisions and fostering a balanced curriculum.
  • Allocate more funding to schools, increase teacher salaries, and provide support for teachers.
  • Encourage early childhood programs that are affordable and accessible for working parents.

Environmental Awareness and Sustainability:

  • Focus on sustainability and water conservation
  • Efforts to protect and preserve the natural desert environment
  • Planting native species and blending buildings with the natural landscape
  • Limited lighting at night, enhancing natural experience

Environment:

  • Pollution and litter
  • Need for more sustainable practices, such as increasing green energy usage and promoting electric cars

Parks and Recreation:

  • Clean and maintain parks, enhance park infrastructure, and create more recreational opportunities.
  • Address the specific needs of different areas in terms of parks, focusing on inclusivity and variety.
  • Enhance existing parks like Reid Park with more greenery, trees, and nature.
  • Develop splash pads and other amenities in parks for families and kids, including areas for dogs.
  • Explore the creation of water features, lakes, or splash pads in public spaces for recreation.

Outdoor Activities and Nature:

  • Mountains, hiking trails, biking trails (e.g., Bunny Loop, Fantasy Island)
  • Outdoor recreation opportunities and access to nature
  • Saguaro Cactus and desert environment
  • Camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities
  • Parks, splash pads, water parks, and spaces for kids to play

Economic Concerns:

  • Worries about the economy, job opportunities, and affordability of living

Economic Development and Business:

  • Support small businesses through more resources and funding options.
  • Encourage economic plans that focus on employment opportunities and affordable housing.

Transport and Infrastructure:

  • Easy transport, less traffic, and bike paths
  • Convenient access to highways and locations within the city
    • Good road maintenance and accessible locations

Road Infrastructure and Traffic:

  • Poor road conditions
  • Traffic congestion and the need for improved traffic control measures
  • Concerns about speeding and reckless driving
  • Need for more highways and a loop highway to reduce traffic in the city center
  • Need for better road planning and grid layout

Infrastructure and Transportation:

  • Repair and maintain roads and bridges, prioritize pothole repairs.
  • Develop and expand bike-friendly infrastructure, including safe bike lanes.
  • Create efficient traffic solutions and speedy routes, especially in the northeast side.
  • Underground utilities for better aesthetics and functionality.
  • Construct an east-bound interstate and other expressways for easier travel within the city.
  • Improve public transportation, including a shuttle to downtown and increased accessibility.
  • Implement faster construction processes to minimize disruptions caused by construction projects.
  • Increase charging stations for electric vehicles and promote green energy production.