Purple Heart Park Entrance Sign
Purple Heart Park is a community park located on 9800 e. Rita Road in Rita Ranch, Tucson, Arizona. Purple Heart Park was opened in the early 1990's and is one of only a few parks located in the Southeast portion of Tucson. Upon opening, Purple Heart Park has been “dedicated to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, men and women killed or injured during combat while members of the Armed Services.”1 Purple Heart Park is host to many community events, including the annual "Worship in the Park" held by a local church, Christ Lutheran Vail.
Park Amenities
Purple Heart Park amenities include: Picnic Tables (12), Grills (4), Drinking Fountains (10), Ramadas (3), Restrooms (2), Little League Fields (3), Playgrounds with Play Structures and Swings (2), a Softball Field, a Volleyball Court, Purple Heart Skate Park, Purple Heart Pool andIvan's Spot Dog Park. Parking is free, and there are two parking lots on the east and west sides of the park. 2
Memorials
Purple Heart Park features many monuments dedicated to Purple Heart Recipients. A memorial bench located near the entrance (left) contains a quote from 18th and 19th century poet Thomas Moore, which says: "Here bring your wounded hearts, Here tell your anguish: Earth has no sorrow That heaven cannot heal."
Memorial Bench in Purple Heart Park
Tile Mosaic on the Eastern Wall of the Purple Heart Pool Center
Other notable monuments include a tile mosaic (right) containing the phrase "All gave some, some gave all," and the Ivan's Spot Dog Park. Many of the smaller features in the park like street lamp posts and trail entrances contain other memorials to veterans and Purple Heart recipients.
Ivan's Spot Dog Park
Ivan's Spot Dog Park is a community dog park located in Purple Heart Park. Ivan's Spot Dog Park is free to visit, and contains a large amount of space for dogs to inhabit. The park is split into two sections: a section for large dogs and a section for smaller dogs.
Ivan's Spot Dog Park Entrance
Sign Explaining the Story of Ivan's Spot Dog Park
Ivan's Spot Dog Park is dedicated to Police K-9 Ivan. Ivan was a Belgian Malinois. He was purchased by the Tucson Police Department as a patrol and narcotic K-9. The family who owned Ivan would take him to Ivan's Spot Dog Park before it was so named. Ivan was killed by a gun wound to the shoulder when he bit an escaping suspect in the arm. The suspect shot Ivan in retaliation. Ivan's Spot Dog Park was dedicated to Ivan after his death. The dog park is additionally dedicated to all police K-9's.
Purple Heart Pool
Purple Heart Park Pool
Purple Heart Pool is an aquatic facility located on the Northwest end of Purple Heart Park. Purple Heart Pool is a Summer season facility and is only open from June to August. The pool is also closed on Sundays, Mondays and Holidays. Purple Heart Pool has a stair entry leading to a shallow water area. The depth gradually increases to 6 feet in the 25-yard lap swim area. The pool also features a grassy area and shade structure.3 Purple Heart Pool has several aquatics programs, including competitive swim teams.
Purple Heart Skate Park
Entrance to Purple Heart Skate Park
Purple Heart Skate Park is a Skate Park located in Purple Heart Park. The skate park is open from 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM. The "In-ground facility features 8,000-square feet with ramps and small bowl. The site is not supervised and there is no charge for use." 4 The skate park is considered one of the best in Tucson. 5
Other Purple Heart Park Pictures
Sources
- https://www.tucsontopia.com/purple-heart-park/
- https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/PurpleHeartPark
- https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/PurpleHeartPool
- https://www.tucsonaz.gov/parks/skate-parks
- http://bookmanssports.com/5-best-skateparks-in-tucson/
*All Photos Taken by Joshua Landi
