One of Tucson's most-loved scenic walking venues will stay open for now even though many users still are not complying with coronavirus prevention rules.
Only about half of evening users at Tumamoc Hill are covering their faces, said a survey by the University of Arizona, which manages the site.
But the mask use rate has risen dramatically among daytime users, from about 23% to nearly 70% since July 24. That's when UA monitoring began to see if the site should stay open or be closed to the public.
The daytime improvement is what convinced the UA to leave the popular walking trail open for now, in the hope evening users will also rise to the challenge.
"Officials would have closed the hill if the decision was based on evening walkers alone," a UA news release said.
"A closure at a later date is still possible, but growing adherence to safety protocols is promising," it said.
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"This continues to be an uphill climb, and we need everyone doing their part," said the UA's Benjamin Wilder, director of the site.
Despite summer heat, up to 1,000 people a day have been walking Tumamoc Hill since it reopened May 25 after closing early on in the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
A look at when Tumamoc Hill reopened in May:
Photos: Tucson's popular Tumamoc Hill re-opens with some changes
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Visitors wearing masks finish their hike up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Sarah Salinas, left, and her father Frank Salinas walk down Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
From left to right, Jean Lindeberg, Chris Bondante, Phyllis Webster, friends, take a quick break to talk before Lindeberg and Webster continue hiking Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Visitors take a turn while walking down Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Visitors walk to the entrance of Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. Cars lined W Anklam Rd. from N. Silverbell Rd. and W. Saint Mary's Rd.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
A visitor runs up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
A visitor walks past a hand sanitizing station while hiking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Visitors wear masks while walking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Chris Bondante pulls her mask down to take a take a drink while waiting for her friends to finish hiking Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020. When asked about wearing a mask while being at Tumamoc hill, Bondante replied, "Its definitely restrictive but its what we have to do."聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
A visitor sits on a bench while waiting for friends on Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
A visitor grabs some hand sanitizer before hiking up Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Christine Clayton, left, walks with her husband Earl Clayton, on Tumamoc Hill in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
Tumamoc Hill re-opens
Many people visit Tumamoc Hill during the first day of Tumamoc's re-opening in Tucson, Ariz. on May 25, 2020.聽
