On September 28, 2022, lightning struck a grove of palm trees near the Agua Caliente Spring on Tucson’s far northeast side. Winds carried the flames quickly down the streambed to the edge of the Main Pond before firefighters were able to contain the blaze within hours. The fire burned 225 palm trees and damaged about 40 other trees, including mesquite, willow, and hackberry. Grass within a fifty-foot radius was scorched, and turf along the entry drive was singed. Several park amenities, including interpretive signs, picnic tables, irrigation systems, and a bike rack, were also lost. Yet in the midst of the destruction, all memorial benches were spared.
In the days that followed, park staff and volunteers took recovery one careful step at a time. Rather than restore the burned grass, Pima County and the Friends of Agua Caliente chose to create something new—a Desert Garden featuring native trees, pathways, and drought-tolerant plantings that better reflect the surrounding Sonoran landscape. Today, this revitalized space is taking shape as a tranquil garden and gathering area for community events, blending conservation with natural beauty.
The spirit of renewal runs deep at Agua Caliente. Archaeological evidence suggests people have been drawn to this oasis for more than 5,000 years. Early hunter-gatherers used the springs around 3500 BC, followed centuries later by the Hohokam, who established a small village nearby around 1150 AD. After the Gadsden Purchase, the springs became a waypoint for U.S. Army patrols traveling between Fort Huachuca and the Catalina Mountains…