The Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill invites the community to a thought-provoking public lecture as part of its ongoing talk series exploring the science, ecology, history, and culture of the Sonoran Desert. These talks bring together research, storytelling, and community perspectives to deepen our understanding of the desert we call home. All talks are free and open to the public.
🗓 Wednesday, February 4th
🕠 5:30 PM
🎤 Reconciliation by Design: Planning the Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge
Presented by Mackenzie Waller
This presentation examines the proposed Santa Cruz River Urban Wildlife Refuge as a powerful opportunity for reconciliation through public landscape architecture and planning—broadening the idea of restoration to include people, wildlife, and place.
Once a river that connected communities of all kinds, the Santa Cruz River was altered by extraction and neglect. Today, community leaders and designers are working to shift this narrative. Guided by diverse community voices and ecological perspectives, this effort emphasizes locally grounded strategies for resilient stewardship of our shared web of life.
About the Speaker:
Mackenzie Waller is a landscape architect, urban designer, and assistant professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture. Her work focuses on environmental and spatial justice in urban environments. Her current research explores how story, wildlife, and play can help communities imagine and co-create more just and sustainable futures.
📍 Location: Tumamoc Hill Boathouse (base of the Hill)
1675 W. Anklam Rd., Tucson, AZ
🚗 Parking:
Street parking is available along Anklam Road or in the lot at the corner of Anklam and Silverbell.
Note: There is no event parking available on Tumamoc Hill.
📞 Questions?
(520) 621-6945
✉️ tumamoc-hill@arizona.edu
