Canyons - representing tourism, which along with Copper, Cattle and Cotton (the four C’s), was considered one of the four mainstays of Arizona's economy in the 1950's. As development moved northeast into Catalina canyons, building in the foothills presented unique challenges.

Tucson's eastward expansion may have been predicted when Camp Lowell moved from downtown to a location near Craycroft Avenue and the Rillito River in 1866. The move away from rowdy downtown was to help keep soldiers sober and free of social disease.

In the 1880's, the US Army stationed at Fort Lowell succeeded in 'establishing democracy' and, true to their 'exit strategy', repositioned themselves in New Mexico. Locals decried the devastation soon to befall the local economy with the base closure.

As the city expanded eastward and upward into the Foothills, Rick Engineering Company designers were called upon to incorporate lush vegetation and desert springs into subdivision layouts. Large washes carrying flows down from the Santa Catalina Mountains were preserved. Roadways were constructed on narrow rights-of-way using boulders from the region instead of retaining walls. This helped to ensure the natural beauty would remain.

Rick engineers were challenged to provide adequate water pressure to the upper elevations and created a system that was able to sustain fire flows for our clients and for their neighbors, opening a whole region for new residential communities.