Are you feeling cooped up and bored? Get ready for some new recreational opportunities from Tucson Parks and Rec and the Tucson City Council!
The new Ready, Set, Rec! program will mobilize six vans into the community at three different park locations per week, per vehicle. This program will ensure that the entire community is served and has an opportunity to participate in recreation activities near where they live. Standard play equipment will come in each vehicle with the option to add different modules for play depending on the location and community demographics planned to be served on a given day. Some of those modules include arts and crafts, STEM, sports, yard games, large board games, container gardening, yoga, fishing, Loteria, etc.
Ready, Set, Rec! was made possible by a recommendation from Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres to use federal CARES Act funds to acquire the vans, equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), handwashing stations, and traffic cones or barricades to bring recreation to the community. This effort is backed by the Mayor and all city council members.
"The City is reimagining how we provide recreational opportunities directly to families and neighborhoods, especially those that are underserved," said Mayor Romero. "Last year was especially difficult for our youth. This innovative initiative will activate our outdoor spaces by creating safe and socially distanced programming for our children and their families to enjoy."
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Safety of the community and employees is a top priority for the City. Each program will have limited participants, masks will be required, as well as physical distancing. Equipment will be cleaned between uses and prior to the activities taking place. Each vehicle will be equipped with PPE to keep both staff and the public safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, including first aid kits, masks, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitizer. We ask that if you are feeling sick, stay home and follow all other CDC guidelines to keep safe.
The official launch of the Ready, Set, Rec! will happen at Rodeo Park on Feb. 25. After the ribbon cutting, vans will be released into the community for the first round of recreational fun at six different parks.
Official Ready, Set, Rec! Launch
When: Thursday, Feb. 25, at 1 p.m. (recreation program from 1-3 p.m.)
Where: Rodeo Park, 5000 S. Nogales Highway (entrance off Irvington Road)
Once the ribbon has been cut, the other five vans will drive to the other locations to host recreation activities. You can also watch the ceremony live on Facebook then head over to the location near you to join in on the fun.
Other Locations on Thursday, Feb. 25:
David G. Herrera and Ramon Quiroz Park, 600 W. St. Marys Road., 2-4 p.m.
Jesse Owens Park, 400 S. Sarnoff Drive, 2-4 p.m.
Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave., 2-4 p.m.
Purple Heart Park, 9800 E. Rita Road, 2-4 p.m.
Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., 2-4 p.m.
To find out where and when each Ready, Set, Rec! vehicle will be and what activities will be happening throughout the month, visit Tucsonaz.gov/parks/ReadySetRec or follow Facebook and Instagram @ReadySetRec.
