Another shutdown of the walking path on Tumamoc Hill looms if visitors don’t adhere to wearing masks, the University of Arizona said.
The popular site will be under evaluation starting Friday. If the mask requirements are not met in a two-week period, it will close. As manager of the site, UA officials did not say how long a potential shutdown would last.
The site was closed March 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It reopened May 25 and within a week saw nearly 1,000 people each day, a UA news release said.
However, only 30 to 40% of these visitors were following guidelines.
UA has applied some of the same protocols seen on campus to the site, including sanitizing stations. The school also added markings on the path to direct visitors to adhere to social distancing, but many walkers have not complied, the university said in the release.
Ben Wilder, director of Tumamoc Hill, acknowledged the reason for the requirements is not only due to the virus being widespread, but also frequent visitors making it nearly impossible to socially distance.
Face coverings should remain on at all times, but Wilder says visitors should refrain from threatening others walkers to follow suit at Tumamoc.
“Be mindful of effective but unthreatening approaches you might take in engaging with other members of our community who are not complying with this requirement. Think safety. Wear a mask. Be compassionate. Continue to enjoy Tumamoc Hill,” he said.
From May 2020:
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.
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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.
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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.
