Logan Phillips, a 43‑year‑old cowboy‑poet from Tombstone, was named Tucson’s poet laureate this spring. Since taking the role, he has launched “Poets in the Park,” a free reading series that moves to a different park each month under the city’s ¡Somos Uno! cultural‑heritage campaign.
Bringing poetry to everyday spaces
Phillips believes art should be accessible to all, not confined to academic halls. “Poetry belongs to everyone, and belongs everywhere,” he says. By holding readings in places like Udall Park and Verdugo Park, he hopes to draw residents who might never attend a traditional poetry event.
His performances are lively and personal. At a recent debut in the historic Tumamoc Hill Boathhouse, Phillips opened his new book Reckon with a booming call, “COME SEE this FAMILY!” He mixes humor, Western flair, and reflections on his upbringing in the gun‑town of Tombstone.
Community impact and support
University of Arizona Poetry Center executive director Tyler Meier, a longtime friend of Phillips, praised the series as “democratizing art” and likened it to the city’s mural projects—public works that belong to the neighborhood. Local organizer Rebecca Perez noted Phillips’ strategic skill in linking the readings to broader stewardship efforts, such as the Tucson Birthplace Open Space Coalition’s work to protect the “A” Mountain land.
Phillips also volunteers with the coalition, helping organize “Walk and Talks” that combine poetry with education about the area’s Indigenous history and recent landfill legacy. He says the language we use matters: calling the site a “landfill” erases four thousand years of native presence.
Upcoming readings
- Tucson Stories: Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026, 3:30 p.m. at Udall Park, 7290 E. Tanque Verde Rd.
- Cultivating Culture: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2026, 3:30 p.m. at Verdugo Park, 902 S Verdugo Ave.
More details and RSVP information are available on Phillips’ website dirtyverbs.com/poets‑in‑the‑park.
Family and faith
Now a father of twins, Phillips says his children inspire his stewardship ethic. “Maybe it means we’re here to help this desert survive us,” he writes, urging the next generation to love the land and its people.
Through poetry, community organizing, and open‑space advocacy, Logan Phillips is weaving together art, heritage, and environmental care—an effort that reflects Tucson’s vibrant, faith‑grounded, family‑oriented spirit.
Original reporting: Arizona Luminaria — read the source article.
