Oasis in the Desert
Sometimes in the desert-- even if you love the desert-- you need a little escape. Bonus points if that "escape" includes water, and it's always nice if it's not far away.
The best part of Tucson's Agua Caliente Park is that it's actually local. It truly is an oasis in the middle of dry desert terrain.
A favorite of photographers and bird watchers, Agua Caliente is not your typical Tucson park. You won't find a playground with ramadas. Bicycles, bounce houses, and organized sports are prohibited. Instead, meandering trails will take you along the water and among a veritable forest of palm trees. Other paths are flanked by mesquite and other native trees that arch over the walkway, providing both shade and a peaceful feeling of solitude. The multiple buildings on the property will leave you wondering just how this place came to be. Thankfully, information abounds in the form of signs, pamphlets, and park guides.
Agua Caliente has a rich history, starting with evidence (over 5,000 years old!) of native cultures utilizing the area for the hot springs that first brought this precious water to the desert. Since then, it has been the site of a ranch and health resort, with the pond currently being sustained with water being pumped from wells. The ranch house is in the National Register of Historic Places and can be toured during certain hours. It also houses an art gallery with rotating exhibits. The Tucson Audubon Society has a nature shop on the premises, as well.
This amazing mesquite tree at the park is over 300 years old!
One of the most unusual sights we encountered on our last visit was people fishing.
While fishing might not seem out of place at most parks, the pond area at Agua Caliente is typically protected from fishing and even activities such as feeding the ducks. This difference this month-- and only this month--has to do with renovations being planned for the pond area. Since the springs in the area are unpredictable, well water is pumped into the pond to sustain the wildlife that lives there (and enhance the recreation opportunities that the park provides). In an effort to prevent seepage of the water and lessen the amount of water needed to feed to pond, renovations are set to begin in February to help remove excess silt, line the pond, and limit the growth of cattails to certain areas. In order to do this, the pond must be drained. Since it would cost too much money to catch and relocate the resident fish, it was decided to allow recreational fishing in the pond for a month.
So, this upcoming summer, we won't have quite the oasis we're used to enjoying at Agua Caliente Park. By fall, though, the pond should be refreshed and filling back up again to once again be enjoyed by wildlife and visitors, alike. The progress will be exciting to witness as the area once again adapts and grows.
The best part of Tucson's Agua Caliente Park is that it's actually local. It truly is an oasis in the middle of dry desert terrain.
A favorite of photographers and bird watchers, Agua Caliente is not your typical Tucson park. You won't find a playground with ramadas. Bicycles, bounce houses, and organized sports are prohibited. Instead, meandering trails will take you along the water and among a veritable forest of palm trees. Other paths are flanked by mesquite and other native trees that arch over the walkway, providing both shade and a peaceful feeling of solitude. The multiple buildings on the property will leave you wondering just how this place came to be. Thankfully, information abounds in the form of signs, pamphlets, and park guides.
Agua Caliente has a rich history, starting with evidence (over 5,000 years old!) of native cultures utilizing the area for the hot springs that first brought this precious water to the desert. Since then, it has been the site of a ranch and health resort, with the pond currently being sustained with water being pumped from wells. The ranch house is in the National Register of Historic Places and can be toured during certain hours. It also houses an art gallery with rotating exhibits. The Tucson Audubon Society has a nature shop on the premises, as well.
This amazing mesquite tree at the park is over 300 years old!
One of the most unusual sights we encountered on our last visit was people fishing.
While fishing might not seem out of place at most parks, the pond area at Agua Caliente is typically protected from fishing and even activities such as feeding the ducks. This difference this month-- and only this month--has to do with renovations being planned for the pond area. Since the springs in the area are unpredictable, well water is pumped into the pond to sustain the wildlife that lives there (and enhance the recreation opportunities that the park provides). In an effort to prevent seepage of the water and lessen the amount of water needed to feed to pond, renovations are set to begin in February to help remove excess silt, line the pond, and limit the growth of cattails to certain areas. In order to do this, the pond must be drained. Since it would cost too much money to catch and relocate the resident fish, it was decided to allow recreational fishing in the pond for a month.
So, this upcoming summer, we won't have quite the oasis we're used to enjoying at Agua Caliente Park. By fall, though, the pond should be refreshed and filling back up again to once again be enjoyed by wildlife and visitors, alike. The progress will be exciting to witness as the area once again adapts and grows.
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