As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about how to have fun and get involved with your community this fall. Tucson Parks and Recreation has numerous leisure classes and programs, including pottery, health and fitness, motor development for children, walking, swimming and multiple indoor and outdoor recreation options available for all ages. However, the best way to start the fall season off with a bang is attending Tucson Parks and Recreation’s free, fall kickoff event, Ready, Set, Rec! kickoff. This event kicks off the mobile recreation program, bringing recreational activities to all ages with a variety of games and opportunities to win raffle prizes.
How Ready, Set, Rec! Began
Ready, Set, Rec!, which was implemented in February 2021, gives communities an opportunity to experience more recreational activities through means of six mobile, recreational vans, each representing the six wards in Tucson. The vans visit various parks per week, equipped with a diverse range of indoor and outdoor amenities that provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all ages. The program was made possible through the efforts of Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and Council members, who voted to use federal CARES Act funds to acquire the use of six vans, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE). The mobile recreation program’s mission ensures inclusivity, access to numerous activities and connectivity for the community, all while being safe, staying healthy and having fun despite the pandemic.
All vans are loaded with the following equipment:
- Arts and crafts
- Bubbles
- Cards
- Carnival games
- Chalk
- Coloring and origami
- Container gardening
- Corn hole
- Disc golf
- Dominoes
- Field activities
- Fishing
- Large board and yard games
- Music
- Reading
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
- Track and fitness
- Walking sticks
- Yoga
About the Event
Tucson Parks and Recreation’s Ready, Set, Rec! free, fall kickoff event will feature six vans, providing multiple options of play throughout Saturday morning’s festivities. There will be a wide variety of games for all ages, such as corn hole, large board games, hoops, cards, music, dominoes, walking sticks and so much more. Be sure to come out with your game face and competitive edge on as raffle tickets will be distributed throughout the day with a drawing and winning of prizes for everyone in attendance!
Ready, Set, Rec! Kickoff Details:
Where: Palo Verde Park, 425 S. Mann Ave. (located between S. Mann Ave. and S. Langley Ave)
When: Saturday, Aug. 28
Hours: 9 a.m.to noon
Safety Precautions during COVID-19
When providing fun, recreational events and programs, safety is Tucson Parks and Recreation’s top priority. Each program stationed throughout Palo Verde Park will have limited participants, mask requirements and physical distancing. All vans are equipped with PPE for the safety and well-being of the staff and public, including first aid kits, extra masks, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. If you, or anyone in your family, are feeling sick, please stay home and follow all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to keep you and others healthy and safe.
Fall Leisure Classes and Programs
Along with Tucson Parks and Recreation’s Ready, Set, Rec! program, the department also provides leisure classes and opportunities with a wide array of interests for seniors (ages 50+), teens (ages 12-17) and youth (ages 5-11). These classes include:
- Adaptive aquatics
- Aquatic fitness
- Aquatics
- Arts and crafts
- Ceramics
- Drawing and painting
- Gymnastics
- Health and fitness
- Jewelry
- Motor development
- Music
- Musical theater
- Photography
- Pottery
- Sports classes
- Therapeutic programs
- Workshops
- Youth and teen programs
Registration for these indoor and outdoor recreational activities are as follows:
- Register for classes and activities online at EZEEreg.com. Contact Registration Services (520-791-4877) to set up or update your account.
- Register for classes and activities by using the mail-in registration form.
- Register for classes and activities in person at the Lorena Yanez Jones Class Registration Building
(920 S. Randolph Way).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are certain guidelines to follow for the indoor leisure classes:
- Masks must be worn at all times if unvaccinated.
- We will only use rooms that allow at least six feet of distance between participants.
- Class size will be limited to accommodate physical distancing.
- Where feasible and when the activity is not being instructed, partitions will be used to ensure separation between participants.
- Sanitation protocols will ensure all high-contact areas are cleaned prior to and after use.
- Participants who feel sick are required to stay home.
- Only registered participants are allowed in the facility (with the exception of a parent of a youth participant).
Contact City of Tucson Parks and Recreation
To find out more about Tucson Parks and Recreation’s Ready, Set, Rec! kickoff event on Saturday, Aug. 28, including where and when each van will be and what activities to expect throughout the fall season, visit Tucsonaz.gov/parks/ReadySetRec or follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @ReadySetRec.
For more information on other events and activities Tucson Parks & Recreation has to offer, visit our website at Tucsonaz.gov/parks or call 520-791-4873.
