The Arroyo Chico Neighborhood burst into color this weekend, as residents and volunteers gathered for a community mural painting event to revitalize and celebrate their community.

The event came weeks after a volunteer-aided cleanup of the neighborhood’s central pathway, a regular route for children heading to school and neighbors walking their dogs.

The mural, designed to honor the neighborhood’s youngest residents and their furry companions, is part of Just Communities Arizona’s most recent Community Safety Incubator Project. The non-profit organization seeks to empower residents to help their neighborhoods become safer and more connected through collaborative initiatives.  

“Neighborhoods don’t need associations to start projects like this — just people who care,” said Executive Director Caroline Isaacs. “We’re calling on all of Tucson to reimagine spaces that may have been overlooked or underfunded. All it takes is a conversation with a neighbor about what would make your community better, safer, cooler. From there, we help cultivate the rest.”  

This is the most recent of Just Communities Arizona’s beautification projects in areas including the Fairgrounds Neighborhood and Palomino Crossing Apartments. This time, their efforts were sparked by Jose Muñoz, an Arroyo Chico resident and former Just Communities volunteer.

“This has been months in the making,” Muñoz said. “Through our neighborhood association, we brainstormed how to reimagine this pathway. Conversations with neighbors led us to this wall, and with their permission, we came together to bring this mural to life.”  

Muralist and new Arroyo Chico resident Camila Ibarra helped create the design, which she said aligned perfectly with the neighborhood’s vision.  

“When I moved here, I felt this wall needed something special,” Ibarra said. “Soon after, I got a newsletter saying the community was looking for artists, so I jumped in. We worked together to design a mural that would truly belong to this neighborhood.”  

Ibarra’s whimsical creation, chosen by residents from two of her proposed concepts, features a young girl marveling at an Alebrije, colorful creatures from Mexican folk art, often carved from wood or made with papier-mâché — in this case, a bulldog with wings.  

“As a Mexican artist, I wanted to share my culture while creating something magical for the kids and dog-walking community,” Ibarra said. “The mural shows a girl in awe of this flying creation, a symbol of dreams coming true. It’s colorful, animated, and perfect for everyone here.”

The painting event quickly turned into a boisterous gathering near Robison Elementary School, with children and adults joining forces to bring Ibarra’s vision to life.

With its paint-by-numbers design, even the youngest volunteers were able to contribute to the mural’s creation, fostering a sense of pride and collaboration.  

“It’s incredible to see everyone come together like this,” Muñoz said. “The mural is a testament to what we can achieve as a community. We’re so grateful.” 

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and Spotlight reporter. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.

Angelina Maynes is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at angelinamaynes@arizona.edu.

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