Por Doug Kreutz
La Estrella de Tucsón
Un nuevo segmento del sendero The Loop llamado Paseo de las Iglesias se abrirá el sábado 2.
El nombre del segmento –que se extiende por casi 2.5 km a lo largo del Río Santa Cruz, de Silverlake Road a Ajo Way –es una referencia para “el camino entre las iglesias”, entre la histórica Misión San Agustín y la Misión San Xavier del Bac.
A lo largo de la ruta hay letreros explicativos del área y su historia, perchas para aves rapaces, hábitats de lagartos y una cuenca de recolección de agua.
“Paseo de las Iglesias es una conexión clave con otros segmentos de The Loop”, dijo Deirdre Brosnihan, del Condado Pima. El Loop ya acumula más de 160 km.
Las instalaciones para beneficiar la vida silvestre incluyen cerca de media docena de perchas de aves rapaces. Las actividades de la celebración de apertura, la cual será de 9 a.m. a 12 del mediodía en el Parque Santa Cruz River, cerca de Silverlake Road, incluyen:
Ceremonia inaugural con oradores.
Recorridos a pie con información sobre la historia, ecología y arqueología del área sobre el nuevo segmento de la ruta.
Un rodeo de niño en bicicleta; se requiere que lleven cascos.
Un recorrido por un jardín comunitario.
ENGLISH VERSION
A new segment of The Loop trail system called the Paseo de las Iglesias will be opened Saturday.
The name of the segment — which extends about 1.5 miles along the Santa Cruz River from Silverlake Road to Ajo Way — is a reference to “the path between the churches,” between the historic Mission San Agustin site and Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Features along the route include interpretive signs describing the area and its history, perches for raptors, lizard habitats and a water-harvesting basin.
“Paseo de las Iglesias is a critical connection with other segments of The Loop,” said Deirdre Brosnihan, project manager for the Pima County Regional Flood Control District. The county oversees the trail system for nonmotorized travel that loops around the Tucson metro area and now totals more than 100 miles.
Brosnihan said, “It will be great to have people come out and ride or walk the trail, but the opening celebration will also have lots of information on history and biology” of the area.
The installations to benefit wildlife include about a half-dozen raptor perches. Lizard habitat was constructed from naturally occurring rock and rubble that was on the site, Brosnihan said.
Activities at the opening celebration, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Santa Cruz River Park near Silverlake Road, include:
A dedication ceremony with speakers including county officials.
Walking tours with information on the history, ecology and archaeology of the area along the new trail segment.
A children’s bike rodeo; bike helmets required.
A community garden tour.
