The El Paso -Southwestern Greenway in Tucson

This proposed six-mile greenway is still being worked on but the first mile is already complete. I first noticed the signs for this path over a year ago when Steve and I were walking the Tourquoise trail in Tucson.  I took Hansel with me. 

Trips to Tucson always include a recycling run for glass, plastic and metal cans. I also had a quick lunch at El Minuto, a family restaurant in the northern part of the Barrio district, a historic neighborhood of small adobe homes surrounded by native flora and pretty murals. 

I began my walk from the restaurant a few blocks away since there is no designated parking for the greenway yet.  Walking south on Main Street, I turned west on Simpson before merging with the greenway. 

The greenway is signed here as it follows the old railway. Rusty tracks still remain here along the north-south greenway. Tall street lamps and historical signs and benches also align this heavily-used section. But then things quickly turn less attractive.

 

The farther south I walked, the more evident the litter became. A ditch just to the east of the path shield the homeless who make this greenway their home.  I saw one homeless man cutting live branches off a mesquite tree for firewood.

The biggest encampment was in a big culvert by a warehouse off Frontage Avenue and I-10. A stray GSDx followed us a bit before turning into a side street in a low income neighborhood. This is the kind of neighborhood I would feel very uncomfortable in at night or without a dog.

The pretty section was now behind me at the 1.5 mile as the pavement became overgrown and heavily littered. I turned around at 29th Street where La Frontera, a mental health clinic, has an office. It was a good turn around section as the pavement ends here.

I walked back the way I came and followed the greenway to its northern terminus on Cushing Avenue. I followed Cushing Avenue east past an emotional firefighter memorial (in light of the Los Angeles fires) back to my car. The entire walk was just over three miles in one hour.

I stopped at Costco on my way home, then had an artisan tea at a Bachsa and a take- out pizza from Oregano's on Speedway. Stopping here reminded me of Kevin and Eric, who both enjoyed this place.