City of Tucson Receives Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund Grant for Historic Fort Lowell Rehabilitation Project

The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation department was awarded a $300,000 Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund grant for the Historic Fort Lowell Rehabilitation Project. The project was developed in partnership with historic preservation community members, Fort Lowell neighbors, and the Pima County Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation Division to rehabilitate and preserve several historically significant structures. The grant funding will be matched by monies allocated to the rehabilitation and preservation of Historic Fort Lowell through the 2018 voter-approved Tucson Delivers: Parks + Connections bond program. This program was passed by Tucson voters in November 2018, authorizing a $225-million bond package to improve park, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure. 

Combined with the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund grant award, the project will invest $3.45 million into Historic Fort Lowell, in accordance with the adopted Master Plan, to create a local attraction integrated with other historic sites in Tucson for education, entertainment, and enjoyment of all visitors. These funds will be applied to the rehabilitation and preservation of the Fort Lowell Museum, Commissary Apartments, Cottonwood Lane, Donaldson House, Hospital, other structures, and site orientation. Together, this investment tells the story of military presence during the Apache Wars and the enduring histories of this land. 

This project will be managed in coordination with the Pima County Capital Program Office and Cultural Resources & Historic Preservation Division. This partnership will deliver on a decades-long community and agency effort to preserve, interpret, and open Historic Fort Lowell to all visitors. 

The grant funding comes from $5 million included in the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget for the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund and was developed by the Arizona State Parks & Trails, and the State Historic Preservation Office.