Tucson Mountain Park Extension

As neighboring citizens to the 854-acre parcel currently under BLM ownership and management, we are asking the BLM to transfer ownership and/or management of the land to Pima County so the site can be officially incorporated within the Tuscon Mountain Park. The transfer would allow Pima County to manage the land according to current TMP rules and regulations.

Currently, the site is predominately used by gun owners who shoot 24 hours a day making it unsafe to hike, bike, and ride horses there. Gunfire noise alarms citizens and disturbs the peaceful sounds of the desert.

The transfer would allow thousands of neighboring citizens reliable safe access to TMP and the Saguaro National Park West hiking/biking trail system.  TMP rules will result in the elimination of all shooting at the subject land.

We are a group of citizens called the  Citizens For Tucson Mountain Park Extension (CTMPE).  CTMPE is mentored by the Millstone Manor Neighborhood Association (MMNA) founded in the late 1960s as a non-profit. It is a voluntary neighborhood association representing 120 residents, some located directly next to the BLM site. MMNA continues to provide valued information and opportunities for the residents to voice their concerns. We are talking to our neighbors to collect and catalog their experiences of ricocheting bullets and noise issues. We are building a media archive of their stories to garner support for the BLM land transfer.  Currently, the transfer is favorable with adjoining neighborhoods and numerous recreational and environmental groups.

As Pima County’s population grows in this area, recreational use will continue to grow.

Demographics indicate a continued development growth rate in Pima County with the expectation detailed on the Pima County web page https://www.pima.gov/331/16-Our-Expected-Population which predicts the 980,000 Pima County population in 2010 to grow to 1.3 million by 2035.

Group parking is very limited in TMP.  TMPE offers a large flat area that could be converted into a large parking for individual users and larger group events.  Kings Canyon trail head in the North part of TMP is an example of a well-used larger parking area.

The multitude and types of trails available in TMPE offer unique opportunities for equestrians.  The site offers a wide choice of ride durations and the possibility of significant loop extensions. Most TMP trailheads have limited parking. Staging and parking issues for equestrians could be addressed in TMPE.

As Pima County grows adding hiking trailheads on the South side of TMP will greatly reduce parking congestion in the TMP.   The mountainous areas of the subject land offer extended vistas and are still in good natural condition. Some trails already connect to existing TMP trails and the expansion of connections would offer excellent longer loop opportunities.

The subject land has existing trails that would provide more opportunities for mountain bikes. These trails could add preferential use to bikers so as not to be congested with other users. There are some trailhead opportunities that could facilitate both individual use and large groups.

Large tracts of contiguous desert habitat can support higher levels of biodiversity than smaller, parceled desert areas.

All gunfire be banned at BLM site and shooters directed to shoot at nearby shooting ranges.

Most of TMP was founded in 1929 and has grown to approximately 20,000 acres with over 60 miles of mixed-use trailheads. It is surrounded by mixed ownership land including BLM, State of Arizona, Central Arizona Project, Saguaro National Park, and private land. In order to conserve its open spaces, Pima County has regularly acquired additional properties for TMP, coming primarily from bond and donation money. TMPE offers the potential of very low-cost addition of approximately 854 acres to TMP via a BLM conveyance.

To be eligible, the transaction must meet one of three criteria:

(1) They are scattered, isolated tracts that are difficult or uneconomic to manage

(2) They were acquired for a specific purpose and are no longer needed for that purpose

(3) Disposing of them will serve important public objectives, such as community expansion or economic development

TMPE conveyance would meet requirement (1) in that it is fully detached from other BLM land and based on BLM experience in the Snyder Hill area, could likely present management issues such as unregulated firearm use and dispersed camping problems. Additionally, item (3) is likely met in that the additional acreage provides recreational opportunity to both individuals and groups. In 2003 the land was nominated for transfer but for unknown reasons the effort was abandoned. In 2010 a second effort was made with a $1000 deposit made by Pima County which is still in an open status and can be pursued with a minimal extension fee of approximately $2400. Several discussions with BLM have found the staff to be informally receptive to a conveyance effort but the Land department would handle an actual transaction. The normal procedure would be to reach an agreement, followed by a NEPA assessment by Pima County and finally, a one-year lease leading to a patented land deed. This would enable Pima County to originate development plans (which might be as simple as trailhead and parking area) and develop a budget plan. There would be no required purchase capital.

Name: Adelita Grijalva
Position:  District 5 Supervisor
Email: Email District 5 Form
Phone:  520-724-8126
Website:  pima.gov/District5
Mailing Address:
Adelita Grijalva
Pima County Board of Supervisor
33 N. Stone
11th Floor
Tucson,  AZ  85701

Name: Todd Trigsted
Position:  Technical Communication Specialist
Involvement:  Produces communication media 
Email:  [email protected]