Fort Lowell Park Master Plan

Tucson, Arizona

As a member of a multi-disciplinary design team, SAGE assisted with the development of several master plan alternatives for the enhancement of a 70-acre park. The existing park contains the historic ruins of Fort Lowell which was in operation during the late 19th century. While previous interpretive and preservation efforts have been made to protect some of the existing historic structures, the master plan concepts address the importance of further preserving and enhancing this important part of Tucson’s early history. The park also features premier recreational attractions for the community, including eight tennis courts, an Olympic sized swimming pool, and numerous ball fields. The primary challenge during the master planning phase was to strike a balance between maintaining the level of high-quality recreational activities while ensuring the integrity and preservation of the historic resources in the area. The collaborative process included multiple public discussions and task force meetings with the citizen‘s advisory committee. The phase I master plan includes preservation of the historic setting and design of an entry road, parking lots, trails, an interpretive program, interpretive signage, natural resource preservation and interpretation, enhancement of the existing recreational facilities, a maintenance facility, and entry monumentation.