Photos: Tucson's biggest homeless camp, at the "100-Acre Wood" bicycle park
Tucson's biggest homeless camp, at the "100-Acre Wood" bicycle park, is poised to end by May 15.
That's when the city has promised Davis-Monthan Air Force Base that it can have free and secure access to an area where D-M must start soil testing for PFAS chemicals. The testing means expulsion for the residents of one part of the huge camp on the north side of East Golf Links Road, where it meets South Alvernon Way.
It's the first wave of what is likely to be a general clearing out of the 100-Acre Wood, often called "The Acres," this year as the city prepares to renovate the area's mountain biking trails.Â
A mud wall complete with a variety of cacti keeps unwanted guests out of a shelter inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Billy Owens talks from behind the fence around his tent and lean-to in the northern edge of the homeless encampment in 100-Acre Wood, April 10, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
Large piles of trash can be found near tents inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
People walk inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
An army of shopping carts keep unwanted guests out of a woman’s shelter inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Cece Kon talks about her set-up fenced out in the homeless encampment in 100-Acre Wood, April 10, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
A shelter inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park decorates the space with the official 100 Acre-Wood bike park sign, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Matt Mullins has a large shelter inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
An abandoned stroller sits on a dirt road inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Recently unhoused Frankie Tate tells about being out on the streets for the first time outside his lean-to in the homeless encampment in 100-Acre Wood, April 10, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
A man walks by a cluster of tents among the homeless encampments living in 100-Acre Wood, April 10, 2024, Tucson, Ariz.
A group of men hangout in front of Matt Mullins, right, shelter inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Residents of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park have accessibility to water and soda, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
A woman bikes by a string of abandoned shopping carts inside of the 100 Acre-Wood bike park, 2801 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Ariz., April 18, 2024.
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
As featured on
Tim Steller's column: Tucson's biggest homeless camp faces upcoming clear-outFor Star subscribers: The 100-Acre Wood, the site of Tucson's largest homeless camp, is to be partially cleared out in early May. New plans for mountain-bike trails spell the community's eventual doom.
