The Santa Rita Park public art project is part of the City of Tucson’s Proposition 407 Parks and Connections Bond initiative, which aims to enhance public spaces and strengthen community connectivity. Alongside the addition of new public artwork, the park is undergoing major improvements, including a new splash pad, renovated sports fields and lighting, an updated playground, restrooms, ramadas, and a new walking path.
In February 2024, the project’s public art panel selected artist Oliverio Balcells to lead the project. The panel was drawn to Balcells’ versatile artistic practice, spanning murals, metalwork, and mosaics, as well as his strong commitment to community engagement. Members of the public art panel included: Selina Barajas, Bill Du Pont, Angela Quiroz, Heather Green, Megan Noli, Imelda Cortez, John Moreno, Kara Mills, Penny Buckley, Rick Schonfeld, and Matt Christman.
During the design phase, the artist and public art panel met over a series of collaborative sessions to develop the final concept. The final design reflects both the diversity of artistic media and meaningful community input. The completed public artwork includes one mosaic mural and two metal benches. Throughout the process, the public art panel provided feedback on the artwork’s themes, symbols, and text, helping ensure it reflects the history and values of the Santa Rita Park community.
A special component of the mural includes contributions from 4th–6th-grade students from Borton Elementary School. Under the guidance of outdoor learning teacher Mikeala Jones, students created 2” x 2” ceramic tiles that form the mural border, adding a personal and meaningful touch created by youth in the community. “The kids loved it and are eager to see the mural when it’s completed,” Jones shared.
The project also includes an oral history initiative. As one of Tucson’s oldest parks, Santa Rita Park has long served as a gathering place for generations—hosting baseball and softball games, picnics, Halloween costume contests, and more. To honor this legacy, the artist and neighborhood volunteers collected stories and memories from community members.
Santa Rita Park Oral Histories
The oral histories below were recorded by John Moreno and Melissa Berry with support from Artist Oliverio Belcells and the Los Descendientes de Tucson Digitization Project.
Juan Soto Oral History
Josie Powe and Connie Seres ft. Billy Powe Oral History
Billy Powe ft. Josie Powe and Connie Seres Oral History
You can learn more about Oliverio Ballcells at his website: https://www.oliveriobalcells.com
