Crews are wrapping up more than a year of construction at Santa Rita Park, and city project leaders say the long-awaited reopening has been shifted from June to August as final infrastructure work is completed. The renovation, funded through Proposition 407, has transformed the park at 22nd Street and Fourth Avenue with upgraded amenities designed to serve a broad range of visitors.
Construction crews work amid poles and material trailers at Santa Rita Park as on-site renovation activity continues ahead of the postponed August reopening.
Project Manager Matt Christman with Tucson Parks & Recreation said the site is in the home stretch after about 14 months of work. "It's really close to being done," he said, while noting that crews still have several tasks on their list before the park can safely reopen to the public. The remaining work includes completing certain mechanical systems tied to the splash pad and finishing infrastructure elements across the site.
Christman described several of the major pieces that are already in place: new ramadas, most vertical structures, a brand-new playground, and a splash pad whose pump room still requires attention. The renovation also includes a new restroom, a perimeter walking path and expanded concrete walkways installed to improve ADA accessibility. Landscaping additions documented in project plans call for 365 new trees and roughly 300 shrubs across the site.
The overhaul expands the park's recreational offerings beyond what was available previously. New multi-purpose turf fields will provide space for sports such as flag football, tackle football and lacrosse, filling a gap in the park's programming. "We didn't have any multi-purpose fields or multi-sport, like where you can do flag football, tackle football, lacrosse, those kind of activities. So, they have a space to do that out here as well now," Christman said.
Phase‑1 master plan for Santa Rita Park showing proposed playground, renovated fields, new parking, paths and a dog park as part of the $7.6 million renovation.
City representatives said the current phase of work reflects input from local residents and community stakeholders collected during planning. The finished portions of the project — play areas, walking paths and the remodeled landscape — are intended to be accessible and durable so the park can be used by families, athletes and other neighborhood visitors for years to come. Funding for the project was allocated through Prop 407, and officials stressed that continued improvements depend on additional financing.
A second phase of development is planned but not yet scheduled. Christman said the follow-up work would include an expansion of the existing skate park and construction of a dog park, but added that the timing of those elements is contingent on securing the necessary funding. Until then, crews will concentrate on completing the Phase 1 deliverables and ensuring that safety and operational systems are fully functional.
The park's delayed reopening occurs against a backdrop of community concerns raised earlier in the renovation process. Some neighbors have expressed worries about safety and whether people experiencing homelessness might return to the site once the work is finished. City officials have acknowledged public concerns during planning while emphasizing that design and program changes aim to broaden park use and access. As the August target approaches, Parks & Recreation staff said they will continue work on critical systems and infrastructure to meet public-safety standards before allowing visitors back into the space.
KGUN 9 will continue to monitor progress at the site and report on the park’s official reopening date and any additional details about Phase 2 as they become available.