El Paseo de los Arboles
Commemorative Tree Park

El Paseo de los Arboles, "The Pathway of the Trees," is a community commemorative tree planting project located in Tucson along the west bank of the Santa Cruz River Park between Ajo Way and Irvington Road. This cooperative reforestation and beautification project was coordinated in collaboration with government agencies as well as private sponsors, where the public has purchased trees for commemoration of their loved ones. Names are inscribed on numbered tile walls, with each number corresponding to a tree within the park.

At this time, all commemorative trees have been sold for this park. Tucson Clean & Beautiful is exploring options for future park sites with the City of Tucson and Pima County, along the Rillito River and Pantano Wash. To receive notification when the next commemorative tree park has been established, please call 791-3109, or email us at tcb@tucsonaz.gov.

The program was conceived by Tucson Clean & Beautiful/Trees for Tucson and the Pima County Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, in response to citizens' requests for a commemorative tree park. All 600 trees have now been purchased and planted to honor an individual or family or to commemorate a special occasion. Trees are no longer available for purchase, however we are exploring new sites for possible future projects.

The development of El Paseo de los Arboles was a cooperative community effort. Following completion of river bank protection by the Pima County Flood Control District, the Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to have this section of the Santa Cruz River Park designated a public area for commemorative tree plantings. The Arizona State Parks Board-Heritage Fund provided a grant for installation of an irrigation system, and Arizona State Lands Department provided additional support with a grant through the Arizona Forestry Council. The City of Tucson Transportation Department designed and created a parking area on land provided by the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department.

The unique tile walls were designed by Pima County Illustration Section, and produced by GY Graphics. Corporate sponsors were recruited to underwrite the cost of the construction and are given special recognition on the walls.

A special highlight of this innovative program is the historic significance of the west bank of the Santa Cruz River. In 1775-1776 Juan Bautista de Anza led a group of 300 colonists 1,200 miles from Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco Bay to establish a presidio and mission for New Spain.  In 1990 Congress designated the Anza Trail, from Nogales to San Francisco, as part of the National Trail System.