A priceless piece of old Fort Lowell - long off limits to the public - will be opened to visitors as part of Fort Lowell Park following a preservation project that's in its early stages.
A key element of the work: stabilizing and protecting three historic buildings on a 5.5-acre parcel west of the existing park.
"It should make the park a much more inviting and enticing place," said Simon Herbert, program coordinator in the Pima County Office of Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation.
The county and the city of Tucson are cooperating on the project because the site - near North Craycroft and East Fort Lowell roads - is on city property while the $1.2 million funding comes from county bonds.
The three buildings served as officers' quarters when the fort was active in the late 1800s. One of them eventually will be open to public entry and the other two will be protected with so-called "ghost structures," which mimic the lines of the original buildings.
People are also reading…
Work on the buildings is expected to begin following a cleanup of soils at the site in early 2011. Officials are aiming to open the park addition to the public sometime in 2012.
The first step of the project - removing non-historic buildings from the formerly private land - was completed last month.
"Now we're eager to get these next phases completed so the public can start to enjoy the rich history of that site," said Jim Conroy, east district administrator for the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department. "It's a project that we think is very positive for the park system and for that neighborhood."
Loy Neff, program manager with the county Office of Cultural Resources and Historic Preservation, said a long-term goal is to expand preservation work to all of Fort Lowell Park.
"The effect would be to establish the footprint of the fort," Neff said, so that the layout would be more readily observable by visitors.
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or 573-4192.
Jim Click’s Tucson dealerships sell for $93 million
