Chuck Huckelberry with Town of Marana Mayor, Council, Town Manager & project partners cutting the ribbon on a new section of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop
Ribbon-cutting celebration and ceremony for new Loop extension in North Marana (aerial view)
Chuck Huckelberry Loop extension in North Marana (photo courtesy of: Pima County)
TOWN OF MARANA- A highly anticipated new section of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop north of Avra Valley Road into the North Marana/Gladden Farms area is officially open to the public!
The Town of Marana held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Gladden Farm Soccer Fields located at 12205 N. Tangerine Farms Road to celebrate the opening of the extension.
Borderland Construction Company started construction earlier this year on this joint project with Pima County and CalPortland. This project is the result of many Town of Marana and Pima County and CalPortland staff working together over the years to complete an important Regional Trail connection.
30,000 residents in North Marana are now connected to the entire 137-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop trail system. This path is on the east bank of the Santa Cruz River, adjacent to the CalPortland Cement Plant.
“It really is a very significant connection in our regional plan,” said Marana Parks & Recreation Director Jim Conroy.
Pima County Regional Flood Control District contributed $670,000 to the Town of Marana’s $4 million project. The project was funded by the Town of Marana Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
“A lot of this is because of flooding and the Flood Control District’s now 40 plus year effort to protect the residents of Pima County and Marana from flooding and the vision of Chuck Huckelberry to use this flood protection device as a means to connect all of Pima County,” said Brian Jones, Deputy Director and Floodplain Administrator of the Pima County Regional Flood Control District. “ And while this is frankly speaking a relatively short stretch of pavement, the real feat here is the persistence of Jim and his staff in making this happen. I think it shows that by bridging a fairly small gap that was difficult to do, you can open up miles of easy road ahead.”
“This has been a dream for a long time. What it does is it ties us together as a community. The people from Avra Valley and North Marana can now ride their bike up to Continental Ranch. It is good for community health, it’s good for community relationships and I am so thankful for this day,” said Marana Mayor Ed Honea. “This is a major breakthrough, it’s a new adventure, our council has been very involved in this and I’m elated.'“
The Town of Marana would like to thank all the staff, leadership, partners, and community members who have contributed to making this project a reality. The completion of this extension is a testament to the power of collaboration in our community.
PIMA COUNTY NEWS RELEASE:
Marana unveils long-awaited new segment of The Loop
MEDIA COVERAGE:
KGUN9 New section of Chuck Huckelberry Loop officially opens
PHOTO GALLERY (LOOP RIBBON-CUTTING & CELEBRATION)
