New pickleball courts, skate park now at Jacobs Park

Tucson residents now have new places to play, practice and gather at Jacobs Park, where a skate park and pickleball courts have opened as part of a broad redevelopment of the city park. The improvements matter to nearby neighborhoods and to people who use the area for sports, swimming, family events and community programs. The project also includes stormwater and irrigation upgrades, intended to help the park handle Tucson’s intense summer rain and remain more resilient over time. Jacobs Park has been under redevelopment since 2021, and the latest additions mark a visible step in a much larger transformation.

The park, located at 3300 North Fairview Avenue, has long been a heavily used gathering place in Ward 3. Residents have relied on it for picnics, birthday celebrations, softball games and soccer, while the Jacobs Pool, splash pad and Jacobs City YMCA have served families and athletes. Council Member Kevin Dahl has described the park as well loved and well used, recalling that his own family played and celebrated there, even when winter mud and extreme summer heat made field conditions difficult. Those experiences help explain why the project focuses not only on new recreation facilities, but also on infrastructure capable of supporting regular public use.

The redevelopment grew out of a master planning process led by Tucson Parks and Recreation with community participation. Descriptions of the site identify it as a park of roughly 40 to 48 acres, with plans extending well beyond the newly opened courts and skate area. The overall project calls for a softball complex, two additional soccer fields built to tournament standards, futsal courts and expanded pickleball facilities. It also includes an enlarged dog park, a family area with a playground, picnic and grilling space, a new restroom and concessions building, and the removal of one parking lot to make room for park uses.

The project’s environmental and practical improvements are a central part of the plan. Stormwater infrastructure is being addressed to reduce the problems caused by heavy rainfall, while irrigation work is intended to improve the park’s ability to maintain its landscape in Tucson’s dry climate. The city’s redevelopment plan also includes planting 310 new trees. Together, those changes are meant to create more shade, improve the site’s resilience and make the park more comfortable for people spending time outdoors. The project is not limited to sports courts, but is designed as a broader public space that combines active recreation, family use and natural features.

Funding came in part from a $3 million federal Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant awarded to Tucson in 2024. Tucson was one of 10 communities nationwide selected in that funding round. The federal program supports new or renovated parks in economically underserved communities and is financed through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The Interior Department said the 2024 awards were intended to expand equitable access to outdoor recreation, especially in communities that lack adequate parks or safe outdoor spaces. Tucson’s award was part of a larger $46.7 million distribution for park projects in 10 cities.

Federal project details describe Jacobs Park as a redevelopment that combines recreation, family amenities and infrastructure work. In addition to the softball, soccer, futsal, pickleball and skate facilities, the plans include a new restroom and concessions building and improvements to the dog park. The family area is expected to include a playground, picnic and grill areas, while the broader site work addresses drainage and landscaping. The project reflects the federal program’s goal of supporting locally shaped park improvements, while responding to Tucson specific needs such as shade, water management and access to outdoor activity.

The redevelopment has also been tied to voter approved local funding. Mayor Regina Romero credited Tucson voters for passing Proposition 407 and said the project would help create a safe, thriving and prosperous community. At the project’s groundbreaking announcement, Romero called Jacobs Park an important gathering place in culturally significant and historic Ward 3 neighborhoods. City officials presented the investment as one that could serve families and residents for generations, rather than as a short term upgrade to a few individual amenities.

Construction has involved more than Jacobs Park itself. Work at the Nicolas P. Ochoa Soccer Complex was expected to be completed by fall 2025, while the larger Jacobs Park work was scheduled for completion by summer 2026. During construction, the Jacobs Pool and splash pad were planned to remain available from June 1 through July 31, with public swim hours posted by Tucson Parks and Recreation. The Jacobs City YMCA was also expected to remain open. The city’s Household Hazardous Waste program continued operating from the park’s south parking lot, including an event scheduled for May 10 from 8 a.m. to noon. With the pickleball courts and skate park now open, residents can begin using those new facilities while the remaining work continues across the park.