Pima County Uses $27 Million For Asbestos Removal, Parks, Roads

TUCSON, AZ — Earlier this month, the Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously decided $27 million of last fiscal year’s unreserved fund balance would go toward park upgrades and repairs, another 42 miles of road preservation and fixing, and asbestos removal from a county building in downtown Tucson.

$2 Million To Parks And Rec

The county's Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation department will spend $2 million to fund urban park amenities, pavement preservation and natural resource parks, structures and buildings. The Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center will be upgraded, while the Brandi Fenton Memorial Park will have its splash pad refurbished. Mission Ridge Park’s playground will be replaced, and athletic courts will be resurfaced at the Three Points Veterans Memorial Park, Star Valley Park, McDonald Park, Ebonee Marie Moody Park, Denny Dunn Park, Catalina Regional Park and Brandi Fenton Memorial Park.

Caretakers’ house repairs at A7 Ranch and the Agua Caliente Park are also planned, as are improvements to the former Roger Road wastewater treatment facility site. Five other parks will also have pavement preservation completed.

$10 Million In Unincorporated County Road Repair

The $10 million put aside to fund unincorporated county “local road repair” gives each Supervisor’s district about $2 million for road preservation efforts and repair. The extra financial allocation means more than 42 miles of additional roads will now be worked on. That will bring total fiscal year 2020 road repair miles to 160, and the funding for unincorporated roads will now rise to $36 million after the $10 million addition.

$15 Million Goes To Building Asbestos Removal, Fire Suppression And Safety Systems

Asbestos removal at the county administration building at 130 W. Congress St. will be covered by the $15 million, as will installation of fire suppression and safety systems on four floors. Additionally, the administration buildings at 130 W. Congress St. and 150 W. Congress St., plus the Legal Services building at 32 N. Stone Ave., are slated for “badly needed upgrades,” according to a Pima County spokesperson. All three buildings will undergo façade repairs too.