Saguaro National Park is one of the few that allow bicycling on trails, and the park Tucson may soon get a lot more active visitors.

Bike Ranch is designed to be 45-acre development across from Saguaro National Park-East and will have direct access to the Tucson Bicycle Loop. It will have casitas, a bike rental and repair shop, and a restaurant. Steve Christy, who represents District 4 in Pima County, said the project will capitalize on the city’s bike-friendly reputation.

“There really is an image of Pima County and of the Tucson region of being a  bicycle-friendly mecca ... and this bicycling resort, in its location, offers all of the amenities and availability to people who are bicycling enthusiasts,” Christy said. “We're going to be taking advantage of a whole new genre of tourists who enjoy bicycling, enjoy the beauty of our Sonoran Desert, and take advantage of all of the bicycle opportunities that are here in Pima County.”

The project was approved Tuesday by the Pima County Board of Supervisors. Opponents are concerned with environmental impacts and congestion on public streets, but Christy said the developers have to heed to a list of conditions that address these concerns. The project is projected to open in 2022.