A group hangs out in the shade in Santa Rita Park in Tucson.
Tucson held a groundbreaking Thursday for $8 million in improvements to Santa Rita Park — an East 22nd street park that has long been known for its large encampment of unhoused people.
The city of South Tucson Housing Authority opened 45 units on its affordable housing waitlist earlier this month, earlier reported by KGUN9. Being just a few blocks south of Santa Rita Park, Director Irma Gonzalez said they had the timing of the park closing in the back of their minds.
“We tried to make a date for the opening of the waitlist to correlate with that need, because there will be more need now due to the closing of the park,” she said.
Earlier this week they already had 500 applicants.
“The reason we're opening the waitlist is to help all the community members, from homeless to those in need, especially the elderly, disabled, near elderly, homeless, anyone that has suffered any violence of domestic abuse, and those are the eligible members,” Gonzalez said.
Fencing went up around the park earlier this week.
The project includes construction of a splash pad and playground, a plaza for special events, walking paths, more than 300 new trees and shrubs and new restrooms.
The majority of renovations are funded by voter-approved Proposition 407 bond funds. The project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2026.
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