Favorite Places: Tucson’s Back Alleys

This isn't about a specific place. It's not about parklets… although they are often cooler than the streets around them and can be interesting to explore. They're the alleys of central Tucson. A friend told me about this show, part of the 2015 Arizona Public Media TV series Favorite Places: Thirteen architects speak thoughtfully and personally about a favorite building or space in Southern Arizona. This show, one of the thirteen, is by Liz Farkas:



If you'd like to view it in another window, here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-YrNQAZFGc.

Click the "Location:" link at the end of this article for an area map. (Hint: There are more alleys toward downtown and in other parts of town. Google Maps can help you find them, and the Satellite View can help you figure out if they might be impassable — which some are.)

Why not take an (often) shady walk?

PS: If you enjoy local productions like this, why not join AZPM? (Here's a list of their original productions.) Even $5 or $10 a month can give back for the work they contribute to all of us — and help their radio broadcasts too.

Picnic and playground with A view

In the Barrio Kroeger Lane Neighborhood Association is this wonderful little parklet called Verdugo Park. Just across the Santa Cruz is “A” Mountain (painted blue the week I was there, May 9th). There's access to The Loop bicycle and multi-use path. There are big and small grills, shaded picnic tables, a playground, basketball hoop, a ramada, and a drinking fountain.

Playground, picnic table and small grill

Ramada and large grill

Closeup of large grill

Basketball hoop (The Loop and blue “A” Mountain behind)

Just a bit south is a community garden (overgrown now) with a four-sided mural and another picnic table. Today's entry Mural on a box in a garden (click there to see it) on The Tucson Murals Project blog shows it.

LOCATION: Just northwest of 22nd Street at I-10 along The Loop path.

PARKING:Three car parking spaces, also street parking. A bit of bike parking.

HOURS: There's one streetlight over the parking area. A sign says the parklet is closed from 10 PM to 6 AM, but this is very much in the middle of a neighborhood… you might want to leave earlier.

Munch with a Boneyard view

If you'd like to have lunch with a view of the Airplane Boneyard, this parklet (a ramada with two picnic tables, a bike rack and a drinking fountain) could be just the spot. It doesn't have an address that I know of, but it's across Escalante Road from the home at 6523. A bicycle path runs by.

HOURS: 24 hours (but bring your own light at night)

PARKING: Along the side of Escalante (plenty of room)

LOCATION: Just north of the Boneyard, halfway between Wilmot and Kolb

Park 'n' Park(let)

Just down the street from our previous parklet (at 86 E. Alameda) is the Public Works parking garage. Nestled in a narrow patio between it and the building at 201 N. Stone is this nook:

The high walls around it on the west, south and east, plus the umbrellas over the tables and the tree, should pretty much guarantee shade on a hot day. (I was there on rainy January 21st.) There are bike racks. It's just across the street from the main library, so it's a good place to read outside.

Enter from the north or south. Here's the south entrance, which is just to the right of the parking garage ramp, where the pedestrian is walking toward the camera:

Location: Northeast corner of Alameda and Church

Hours: Daylight — or maybe parking garage hours

Parking: In the garage :)

Two benches, two trees, and a mural

On the north side of downtown, a new public art installation along Alameda Street has two benches with a not-too-small shade tree in front of each. The parklet is on the north side of the street behind a wall and a tall building, which means that the summer sun (which comes from the north mid-day) will probably be blocked a lot of the day.

Location: Alameda at the corner of Scott

Hours: 24 hours. There's street lighting and a light on the wall behind the parklet.

Parking: Street parking

Colossal chairs

There's a very shady spot near the northwest corner of the University of Arizona Campus. It's a tree-covered parklet in front of the Moroney Theatre, between the U of A Museum of Art, Fred Fox School of Music, and the Center for Creative Photography. You'll find benches and very tall chairs (like this one) to sit on, as well as sculpture.

Standing Woman with Hands on Her Face by Francisco Zuñiga

Musical instrument case

Chair in front of theatre

Things used in a theatre production — along roof in front of theatre

Hamlet by William Arms

Curved benches

Location: Southeast of the corner of Park and Speedway. From north side of Speedway, walk through the Olive Underpass; the parklet is on your right near the south side.

Parking: The Park Avenue garage is at the north end of the Olive Underpass. All parking in the area is controlled by the University.

Hours: Probably 24 hours, though UA Police may be suspicious if you're there at 3 am…

Benches, some shade, and a streetlight

This parklet is about as basic as they come: three benches surrounded by five fairly young palo verde trees with a lone streetlight overhead. I read that it was created after buildings were torn down for the Broadway Blvd. widening that's starting just south of here. The small parking lot just north of the parklet serves the small business on the other side of the lot, but I can't imagine that the owner would mind a car or two.

The most appealing time to come is probably first thing in the morning or toward evening — when there's not much noise from Broadway and the streetlight can give a little security. (It doesn't feel like a dangerous spot to me, and you're a little bit off of Broadway.)

Location: Northwest of the corner of Broadway & Tucson, just east of where Smith and Norton Avenues split

Hours: Probably anytime; the streetlight could make it nice on a warm summer evening

Parking: The small lot just north, or limited street parking

Park yourself on Park

Down at the end of Park Avenue, south of the Lost Barrio and a couple of blocks before Park dead-ends at Aviation Bikeway/Highway, is this little spot with tables and landscaping with cisterns. A couple of bike racks make this an easy way to stop off from a ride on Aviation Bikeway. A bit farther north on Park is one very shaded picnic-type table but I think it may be for employees of the business behind the tables. (In fact, if you're here during business hours, you might ask.) There's one streetlight at the southeast street corner, and a little more light overhead.

Hours: Daylight hours, with some overhead light at night

Parking: Street parking, small bike racks

Location: Take Park Avenue south from Broadway or ride a couple of blocks north of the traffic circle along Aviation Bikeway