Tucson Audubon's Statement to the City of Tucson Regarding Loss of Public Space at Reid Park
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
Tucsonans have been inspired by the birds at Reid Park and its public duck ponds for generations. The experience of walking the shorelines of the North and South ponds and interacting with the waterfowl is an invaluable opportunity for people to connect with birds. Barnum Hill and its mature trees, where a Cooper’s Hawk or Vermilion Flycatcher may be seen roosting, provides a publicly-accessible, shaded viewing experience that’s unique in the heart of the city. Reid Park is a treasured resource for those who love the outdoors, including the hundreds of birders who flock there annually. More than 5,000 digital bird checklists have been submitted to Cornell University’s community science tool, eBird.org, from the park. Reducing the public space at Reid Park, including Barnum Hill and the South Pond, sacrifices opportunities for connections between birds and people—a significant loss should plans move forward to annex these spaces for the expansion of the Reid Park Zoo.
Tucson Audubon’s Mission is to inspire people to enjoy and protect birds. We recognize the open space public areas of Reid Park as places where individuals, families, and youth are able to connect with nature in ways that might not otherwise be available to them. Spending an hour at Reid Park on a weekend day reveals the joy that children and adults experience when coming close to a Mallard or Redhead duck for the first time. The mature trees, recirculating stream, and duck ponds provide a gateway where change can happen for all members of our community. We believe these important “spark moments”—which create lasting connections with wild birds and may prompt important long-term engagement with broader environmental and community issues—are too important to overlook when planning for developments in the park.
Tucson Audubon has had no involvement in the decision-making between the City of Tucson and the Reid Park Zoo, nor have we been invited to assist with planning that would seek to mitigate the loss of these amenities as a result of the zoo’s planned expansion. We request that the City of Tucson engages Tucson Audubon and its constituents in future conversations around the value of existing and new investments in green infrastructure and parks, and solicit feedback from our organization on proposals that are under consideration.
The future of conservation and environmental awareness is contingent on organizations like Tucson Audubon becoming more inclusive in our work, and we remain invested in contributing to Reid Park’s ecological values for the benefit of the park’s diverse community of users. Our staff is actively engaged with managers at the Reid Park Zoo and Dell Urich golf course complex to increase nesting habitat for owls, roosting structures for bats, and habitat for pollinating insects. These efforts enhance all of Reid Park as an opportunity for community members to experience an increasing density and diversity of wildlife in an urban setting. Tucson Audubon is committed to remaining engaged with all of our partners for the continued enhancement and access to Reid Park’s natural amenities.
After hearing from members of the community, conducting our own investigation, and fielding input from our board members and professional staff, Tucson Audubon believes the project to expand the footprint of the Reid Park Zoo to include Barnum Hill and the South Pond warrants additional consideration. The loss of accessible urban habitat and opportunities for connections between birds and people will be significant should the project move forward as planned. Tucson Audubon is invested in Reid Park and ready to engage with the City of Tucson with future planning that would add, rather than reduce, opportunities for community members to be inspired to enjoy and protect birds.
Tucson Audubon staff contacts:
Jonathan Lutz, Executive Director
Jonathan Horst, Director of Conservation and Research
Jennie MacFarland, Bird Biologist
Matthew Lutheran, Restoration Program Manager
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan E. Lutz
Tucsonans have been inspired by the birds at Reid Park and its public duck ponds for generations. The experience of walking the shorelines of the North and South ponds and interacting with the waterfowl is an invaluable opportunity for people to connect with birds. Barnum Hill and its mature trees, where a Cooper’s Hawk or Vermilion Flycatcher may be seen roosting, provides a publicly-accessible, shaded viewing experience that’s unique in the heart of the city. Reid Park is a treasured resource for those who love the outdoors, including the hundreds of birders who flock there annually. More than 5,000 digital bird checklists have been submitted to Cornell University’s community science tool, eBird.org, from the park. Reducing the public space at Reid Park, including Barnum Hill and the South Pond, sacrifices opportunities for connections between birds and people—a significant loss should plans move forward to annex these spaces for the expansion of the Reid Park Zoo.
Tucson Audubon’s Mission is to inspire people to enjoy and protect birds. We recognize the open space public areas of Reid Park as places where individuals, families, and youth are able to connect with nature in ways that might not otherwise be available to them. Spending an hour at Reid Park on a weekend day reveals the joy that children and adults experience when coming close to a Mallard or Redhead duck for the first time. The mature trees, recirculating stream, and duck ponds provide a gateway where change can happen for all members of our community. We believe these important “spark moments”—which create lasting connections with wild birds and may prompt important long-term engagement with broader environmental and community issues—are too important to overlook when planning for developments in the park.
Tucson Audubon has had no involvement in the decision-making between the City of Tucson and the Reid Park Zoo, nor have we been invited to assist with planning that would seek to mitigate the loss of these amenities as a result of the zoo’s planned expansion. We request that the City of Tucson engages Tucson Audubon and its constituents in future conversations around the value of existing and new investments in green infrastructure and parks, and solicit feedback from our organization on proposals that are under consideration.
The future of conservation and environmental awareness is contingent on organizations like Tucson Audubon becoming more inclusive in our work, and we remain invested in contributing to Reid Park’s ecological values for the benefit of the park’s diverse community of users. Our staff is actively engaged with managers at the Reid Park Zoo and Dell Urich golf course complex to increase nesting habitat for owls, roosting structures for bats, and habitat for pollinating insects. These efforts enhance all of Reid Park as an opportunity for community members to experience an increasing density and diversity of wildlife in an urban setting. Tucson Audubon is committed to remaining engaged with all of our partners for the continued enhancement and access to Reid Park’s natural amenities.
After hearing from members of the community, conducting our own investigation, and fielding input from our board members and professional staff, Tucson Audubon believes the project to expand the footprint of the Reid Park Zoo to include Barnum Hill and the South Pond warrants additional consideration. The loss of accessible urban habitat and opportunities for connections between birds and people will be significant should the project move forward as planned. Tucson Audubon is invested in Reid Park and ready to engage with the City of Tucson with future planning that would add, rather than reduce, opportunities for community members to be inspired to enjoy and protect birds.
Tucson Audubon staff contacts:
Jonathan Lutz, Executive Director
Jonathan Horst, Director of Conservation and Research
Jennie MacFarland, Bird Biologist
Matthew Lutheran, Restoration Program Manager
Respectfully submitted,
Jonathan E. Lutz