Walkers on Tumamoc Hill need to wear masks to avoid the spread of the coronavirus and keep the hill open to the public, University of Arizona officials said Thursday.
The hill might close if more walkers do not comply with mask requirements, officials with the UA, which manages the hill along with Pima County, said in a news release.
Officials made a similar announcement in July when mask compliance dropped on the hill. More walkers started wearing masks after that announcement, but compliance has dropped since then, particularly among evening walkers, according to the news release.
There are two stretches of the Santa Cruz River in Tucson where you're likely to see water. One is just south of downtown and the other is near Crossroads at Silverbell District Park in Marana. Both flow along stretches of the Loop thanks to the release of reclaimed water, or effluent by Tucson Water last summer.
“The inherent paradox of the use of Tumamoc during these times unfortunately continues,” Benjamin Wilder, director of the University of Arizona Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill, said in the news release.
“What brings stability and release also holds the threat of the virus, due to how many people walk the hill,” Wilder said. “We know how important the hill is to individuals in our community at this time, which we are grateful for, and the last thing we want is to close the hill. However, if we view the hill as an unsafe place due to a failure to wear masks, closure remains an option.”
In an effort to promote safe use of the hill, a notification board at the bottom of the hill lists the percentage of visitors who wear masks, which is about 60-70% in the mornings and about 30% in the evenings, Wilder said.
Arrows on the hill’s paths help visitors maintain social distancing. Pima County health officials are stationed at the base of the hill on Saturday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday evenings to hand out free masks to visitors.
Photos: Tucson's popular Tumamoc Hill re-opens with some changes
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Visitors wearing masks finish their hike up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Sarah Salinas, left, and her father Frank Salinas walk down Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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From left to right, Jean Lindeberg, Chris Bondante, Phyllis Webster, friends, take a quick break to talk before Lindeberg and Webster continue hiking Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Visitors take a turn while walking down Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Visitors walk to the entrance of Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. Cars lined W Anklam Rd. from N. Silverbell Rd. and W. Saint Mary's Rd.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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A visitor runs up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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A visitor walks past a hand sanitizing station while hiking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Visitors wear masks while walking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Chris Bondante pulls her mask down to take a take a drink while waiting for her friends to finish hiking Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. When asked about wearing a mask while being at Tumamoc hill, Bondante replied, "Its definitely restrictive but its what we have to do."
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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A visitor sits on a bench while waiting for friends on Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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A visitor grabs some hand sanitizer before hiking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Christine Clayton, left, walks with her husband Earl Clayton, on Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
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Many people visit Tumamoc Hill during the first day of Tumamoc's re-opening in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
