The power of meaningful partnerships was on full display Sunday morning in South Tucson with the unveiling of a new community habitat garden that brings together nature, culture and community.

The garden is at Luna y Sol Cafe, at the corner of West 29th Street and South 8th Avenue. The space is an important part of South Tucson’s history, with the 50-year-old building formerly occupied by Balloon Land and, before that, Ray and Sons.

Luna y Sol, owned by Selina and Abraham Barajas, is set to open in the upcoming months and will be South Tucson’s first sit-down coffee shop and community gathering space.

The Luna y Sol Community Habitat was made possible by a $20,000 grant from Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and KidsGardening’s Lots of Compassion program, which aims to transform vacant lots into vibrant community gardens.

The initiative was launched in 2023 to celebrate and empower people using the goodness of gardens to grow compassion in their communities. The Luna y Sol Community Habitat, a partnership of the Tucson Bird Alliance and Barrio Restoration, was one of 10 projects in the United States selected to receive a grant.

It aims to address historic inequities by fostering community wellness, ecological awareness, and a thriving natural habitat for both residents and local wildlife. The garden will be a place where visitors can gather, connect with one another and learn about sustainable practices that benefit residents and the environment.

Dozens of community members and local leaders were on hand for Sunday’s sneak peek and ribbon cutting event, which included a classic car show and representatives from the Pima County Library and Tucson Bird Alliance’s Habitat on Wheels with free seeds and plants.

Attendees enjoyed iced coffee from Luna y Sol and a fresh fruit spread by local caterer LETICO, as they navigated the garden, with its pollinating plants tucked in between shaded seating areas.

“I grew up on South Park, which is on the other side of the railroad, and I lived most of my life in these barrios,” said South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela. “I have never seen a project or been a part of a project like this before in South Tucson. This is going to be a wonderful place where we can all gather, storytell, where we can celebrate and where we can just enjoy the beauty of nature.”

Valenzuela called the event a milestone, saying it marked the beginning of a greener, more sustainable South Tucson.

“I do dream of … a South Tucson that is filled with trees, with open spaces for all to enjoy, and a community that is no longer a heat island,” she said. “(So) that when those temperatures hit 120 degrees, we have open spaces that are tolerable and enjoyable to all.”

South Tucson City Manager Veronica Moreno said that as soon as Selina Barajas moved back to the city, she immediately activated the community.

“We all know (this space) as Ray and Sons, which is a staple of this community, and (Barajas) always makes it a point to recognize the family, to recognize the roots that started this corner lot,” Moreno said. “For the city of South Tucson to be able to see this space activated … this is a step in the right direction.”

Barajas, who is running for the Tucson City Council’s vacant Ward 5 seat, called the project a true public-private partnership and said the habitat will be a “space where nature, culture, community, and maybe a little bit of cumbias (Latin American music and dance) will grow side by side.”

“Two years ago, when Abraham and I got the keys, I told him, ‘We need to invest in this soil.’ This belief in our community has helped us plant the seeds for what you see beginning to bloom here today,” she said. “(This shows) what’s possible when nonprofits, small businesses like ours, and local governments like the city of South Tucson can come together with a shared purpose.”

Barajas asked attendees to acknowledge the history of the space, saying that “like our seasons, times change.”

“As we tended to the soil and put our hands in the dirt and planted trees, we had the chance to learn a lot about the land,” she said. “This plot of land once housed the South Tucson Library. This was a beloved hub of knowledge and community.”

After the library moved to the South Tucson Municipal Complex, Ray Medrano purchased the land and opened a tire shop called Ray and Sons. The building later housed a music and video store and eventually, Balloon Land, operated by Medrano’s daughter, Gabi Reyes.

Reyes and her husband “shared with us their dreams of what they had envisioned for this land. They wanted a beautiful space for celebrations … but decided to not pursue that commercial endeavor,” she said. “Their dreams and efforts set the stage for what we are now growing together. At Luna y Sol, we believe small spaces can hold big dreams.”

The Tucson Bird Alliance helped with the design and installation of the garden, which will provide a habitat for a variety of local birds, insects and urban wildlife.

Megan Ewbank, the alliance’s urban habitats project manager, said the group has been looking to build more community habitats.

“We do believe, as we have a warming climate, that public green space is the path forward, the way through for Tucson, which is one of the fastest-warming cities in the country,” she said. “We’re looking to continue to spread that throughout South Tucson and the south side of Tucson, in general the hottest parts of Tucson.”

But just as important as creating the garden is its maintenance and cleanup, Barajas said, inviting partner David Garcia of Barrio Restoration to talk about his involvement in the project. Barrio Restoration aims to restore community pride and respect back to the neighborhoods.

Garcia said the project has actually been decades in the making, as he’s known Barajas since he was 14 years old and working with her father.

“When you’re connected to your community, you start getting to know all your neighbors and rekindling old relationships,” he said. “We start thinking about the land and the plants and what they do for our community. They create shade, they create safe spaces, and this really is a location for all of us to enjoy.”

Barrio Restoration uses landscape skills to connect with the community and aims to inspire residents to take ownership of and invest in their neighborhoods and get to know the people around them.

“That’s the first step to building a stronger community,” he said. “When we see trash and grass, we see opportunity to make an impact, to make a friend and just create stronger and healthier barrios. This (garden) is a great opportunity. It’s a hub for all the neighbors to get together and really start discussing how to create a cleaner, greener and healthier Tucson.”

Caitlin Schmidt is Editor and Publisher of Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at caitlin@tucsonspotlight.org.

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