Rio Rico Properties Sponsors ‘Anza Pioneers’ Trek

January 31, 2006

Rio Rico Properties, Inc., with co-sponsors Rio Rico Homes & Land and the Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona, is sponsoring the “Anza Pioneers,” a group of six students from Williams College in Williamstown, MA as they retrace the footsteps of history along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail from Nogales, AZ to San Francisco, CA.  These students are making the journey entirely on foot and bicycles, without the aid of motorized transportation, to closely resemble the original Anza Trail expedition.  This marks the first time this expedition has been attempted in this manner, and they expect to complete the 1,250-mile trek to arrive in San Francisco on January 31.

Guy Tobin, President of Rio Rico Properties, said, “This is a difficult undertaking these students hope to accomplish, and it’s a great privilege to sponsor them along their journey.  Rio Rico maintains the rich traditions of yesterday with an unspoiled rural residential ambience, and residents can literally step out their front doors and retrace the footsteps of history.”  All of Rio Rico’s neighborhoods are designed with trails linking them to the Anza National Historic Trail, allowing residents to literally walk out their front doors and retrace the footsteps of history.

Recently, the National Park Service issued the official certification of the 13 mile segment of the Anza National Historic Trail from Rio Rico to Tubac.  Rio Rico Properties received official recognition from the National Park Service for their donation of the easements for the trail segment.

Richard Williams, President of the Anza Trail Coalition of Arizona, said, “By taking this journey and comparing their experiences with those recorded by a member of Anza’s expedition in 1775, these students can offer valuable insight into the cultural and historical impact the original trek has had on the areas surrounding the National Historic Trail.”  The coalition is a non-profit organization that was formed over 10 years ago to oversee the volunteer effort in building the trail in Arizona, with a wonderful group of members from Santa Cruz County and the other counties that the trail crosses from Nogales to Yuma.

The “Anza Pioneers” consists of six cross country/track and field student athletes from Williams College: Corey Levin, Philosophy and Math, Buffalo, NY (class of ’08); David Rogawski, Chemistry, Columbia, MD (’08); Bill Ference, Psychology, Langhorne, PA (’07); Stephen Wills, Biology, Colorado Springs, CO (’07); Colin Carroll, Math, West Hartford, CT (’07); and Grant Burgess, Philosophy and Physics, Litchfield, CT (’07).  Additionally, Rogawski is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, and Ference is an avid photographer.

Once part of a vast land grant from the King of Spain, Rio Rico maintains the unique balance of new homes planned around thousands of acres of open space, a new State Park and the Anza National Historic Trail, the luxurious Esplendor Resort, and the par-72 Robert Trent Jones, Sr. golf course, which is consistently rated among the best in the state.  Rio Rico’s major attraction is a resort lifestyle, affordable housing, and its proximity to both Tucson and the Mexican border.

A subsidiary of Avatar Properties, Inc. of Florida, Rio Rico Properties is the residential, commercial and industrial developer of the 35,000 acre community.  Rio Rico Properties has enjoyed 10 years of helping to develop and build the town of Rio Rico, whose population recently topped 16,000, with a lasting commitment to preserving the culture and natural beauty of the area.

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