Since June 2, 10 Ironwood Ridge High School students and recent graduates have been working on a bike and pedestrian rest stop at North First Avenue and East Palisades Road in Oro Valley.
Students are nearing completion in time for the town's dedication of the stop on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
With $75,000 from the Pima Association of Governments, the town contracted the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (now known as the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance) to find an artist who would organize the project.
Professional artist Amy Kyle has helped the young people construct the 25- by 40-foot bike and pedestrian oasis, inspired by a Zen garden. Students created and designed thousands of tiles, large and small, to complete the mosaic designs around the resting spot.
Along with the overall design, each student assembled and designed their own cylinder to be used as seats inside the stop.
The Oro Valley Public Works Department provided assistance moving boulders and dirt along with bringing its engineering expertise to the project.
