$2.9 Million Federal Boost for Jacobs Park Revamp; Palo Verde Park Temporarily Closing for Overhaul

The Tucson community is set to benefit from significant upgrades to urban parks, with major projects slated for Jacobs Park and Palo Verde Park. Announced by the U.S. Interior Department, Jacobs Park on North Fairview Avenue will receive $2.9 million from a federal grant to fund enhancements.

These upgrades are part of the $47 million federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, designed to revitalize parks across the nation. Planned developments at Jacobs Park include constructing a state-of-the-art skate park, a softball complex, two tournament-standard soccer fields, a pickleball court, and an indoor futsal court. Additional features like a new playground, picnic and grill area, concessions building, new restrooms, and an expanded dog park are also in the works. Improvements will also involve planting 310 new trees and redesigning stormwater infrastructure.

Palo Verde Park in Midtown will also see significant improvements, beginning later this month. Situated on South Mann Avenue, the park will undergo a transformation lasting through next summer. During the renovation, only the dog park will remain open to the public.

The project entails installing new and upgraded LED lighting on existing fields, converting a tennis court into a basketball court, and replacing the current basketball court with three pickleball courts. Additionally, improvements will include a renovated irrigation system, planting more trees, and reducing turf areas.

These enhancements complement the newly completed renovations of the pool plaster, tiles, and dive pools. Funding for Palo Verde Park’s upgrades comes from over $2.5 million in bond funds from Prop. 407, along with impact fees and monies from Ward 2.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program is an initiative by the Interior Department, aiming to invest in local parks. In the past year, nearly $127 million has been allocated to cities like Tucson, garnering funds to promote equitable access to outdoor spaces in underserved communities. Established in 2014 and funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, this program is part of the broader America the Beautiful initiative, which seeks to conserve and restore the nation’s natural spaces.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the importance of these projects, stating that the department’s investment is directed towards locally driven projects that cater to the needs and visions of the communities they serve. These efforts align with the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to enhance public access to outdoor areas, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions.