Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve holds a special place in Oro Valley, and the pond at its center is a key reason why. Long before the preserve became the community destination it is today, the pond served as part of the area’s former golf course landscape. It functioned as a maintained water feature within that setting; an identifiable landmark and a defining element of the site’s character. Over time, however, the pond became inactive, leaving behind the 2.5-acre pond basin that no longer served its former role.
The Town of Oro Valley’s Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Pond Project is designed to change that by restoring the pond area and reinvesting in it as a community asset. Rather than treating the site as a relic of its past use, the project reframes it as an opportunity to enhance the preserve’s future. The plan centers on restoring the former pond by rebuilding the key infrastructure needed to bring it back and pairing that work with related access improvements. Together, these efforts are intended to improve how people move through and experience the preserve, making the pond area easier to reach and more comfortable to enjoy.
Today, the pond is located within Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve at the historic pond site, where the former 2.5-acre pond once stood. Its importance to residents goes beyond its physical footprint. The pond area is envisioned as a more welcoming focal point for the preserve: a gathering place that strengthens the visitor experience and helps the preserve function as a year-round destination. Just as importantly, the project emphasizes enjoyment for residents of all ages and abilities, reinforcing the preserve’s role as an inclusive public space. In restoring the pond, Oro Valley is not only reviving a prominent feature of the landscape, but it is also investing in the shared experience of the community in one of its most cherished open spaces.
Prior to construction, the Town of Oro Valley made a series of formal decisions that shaped, and ultimately reinstated, the restoration of the former 2.5-acre pond at Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve.
On April 17, 2024, the Town Council unanimously approved to move forward with a broad set of restoration and repair efforts. As part of that plan, the former pond area, located along W. Vistoso Highlands Drive, was re-envisioned not as a refilled pond, but as a “Desert Garden” park node. The plan framework for that approach included removing old pond-edge bulkheads, addressing remnants of soil cement, and filling and reshaping the basin. The concept also contemplated improvements to visitor access, including a small accessible parking area and an accessible connection into the preserve.
That direction continued into the fall. On September 18, 2024, Council approved a concept plan associated with the Desert Ecosystem Restoration effort, maintaining the then-current desert restoration/desert garden concept for the former pond area. As project development advanced, the Council also reviewed the 60% design prepared by the Town’s consultant, Kimley-Horn, on November 6, 2024, marking a major design milestone and setting the stage for further refinement.
Later that month, on November 20, 2024, Council reconsidered prior direction and discussed next steps, including funding strategy and timing considerations. This reassessment led directly to a key pivot: on December 4, 2024, Council directed the Town Manager to amend the Kimley-Horn contract scope to add a pond concept and associated cost estimate for future Council review, formally reopening the possibility of restoring the pond rather than converting the area solely to a desert garden node.
A directional change occurred on April 16, 2025, when the Council reversed the April 2024 “Desert Garden” decision and voted 4–2 to proceed with restoring the pond. Council directed the Town to move forward with the 2.5-acre pond using a phased approach, focusing first on restoring the pond itself using reclaimed water, while pursuing additional amenities in later years as funding became available. Council also emphasized cost discipline, encouraging work to be brought in-house or competitively bid where feasible, and the reuse or repair of existing infrastructure to manage project expenses.
Project design and implementation planning continued in 2025. On September 17, 2025, Council received a Kimley-Horn presentation updating the status of the restoration project. The update addressed preliminary pond design, restoration and planting components, and the operational concept of using pond water to irrigate vegetation near the pond. During this period, leadership discussed an implementation target of having “shovel in the ground” and requested confirmation of the site’s minimal parking needs. Shortly thereafter, on September 23, 2025, the Town announced it had been awarded a grant supporting improvements tied to the planned pond area, including pathway repairs, safety signage, and construction of an ADA-compliant trail loop around the planned pond area, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026 in coordination with the overall pond-area work.
In early 2026, the effort moved into procurement and contracting. The Town held a pre-bid meeting on February 17, 2026, followed by a bid opening period around March 20, 2026, during which contractors submitted pricing for the work. The most significant funding and award action followed on April 8, 2026, when Council voted 6–1 to approve additional project funding and proceed with awarded bids. Council approved $461,399 from General Fund Contingency to cover the base and alternate bids, bringing the project total to $2,033,939. The funded scope included a Base Bid (Pond + Memorial Garden) and an Alternate (Parking lot + ADA connection to the existing pathway), reflecting the Town’s paired focus on restoring the pond feature while improving accessibility and visitor connections.
By May 2026, the project had transitioned from Council authorization and bidding into implementation. The construction contract had been issued, and a pre-construction meeting had been held, indicating the restoration was moving into active construction mobilization and delivery.
The Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Pond Project is designed to bring back a signature pond feature while improving the surrounding desert landscape in a way that fits Oro Valley’s environment and long-term water realities. The project combines a restored pond basin with modern water-management systems and a future Sonoran Desert setting so the area can function reliably, look natural, and remain welcoming for the community.
A key element residents often ask about is the project’s water source and day-to-day operation. The pond and nearby landscaping will be supplied using reclaimed water. To do that, the project will install an enclosed pumping setup that draws from an existing reclaimed water connection and delivers water through a controlled system. The equipment includes a wet well, intake screening, and a skid-mounted pumping unit with filtration and controls. This is essentially the “engine” that helps fill and manage the pond and support irrigation in adjacent landscaped areas.
To keep the pond healthy and functioning as a maintained public feature, the design also includes two important systems that residents may not see but will benefit from: recirculation and aeration. Recirculation keeps water moving through the pond to support overall performance. Aeration introduces air through diffusers placed on the pond bottom, supplied by mechanical equipment located within the enclosure. Together, these systems help maintain water movement and oxygenation, so the pond remains a stable, managed amenity rather than a stagnant water feature.
The pond basin itself is being rebuilt with durability and protection in mind. The project calls for a full lining system with multiple protective layers, including a reinforced linear low-density polyethylene liner and geotextile materials around it. All pipes entering or exiting the pond are carefully sealed at the liner using specialized boots, helping to prevent leaks and protecting the integrity of the basin over time. Around the perimeter, the design includes structural edge treatments and final grading to create a finished shoreline that works with the site.
Because filling a large basin can cause erosion if water is introduced too quickly, the project includes specific measures to protect the pond during initial fill. At the water discharge point, a reinforced pad with embedded cobbles is used to prevent scouring and erosion of the liner and finished grades. The filling process itself is intended to begin slowly until the water level safely submerges the discharge, then increase flow afterward to reduce the risk of damage. A water level sensor will monitor pond water levels and help coordinate the filling of the pond with other reclaimed water supply needs throughout the town, which will prevent the system from being overloaded.
The pond is also designed with clear overflow management. An overflow structure is installed and sealed to the liner, with overflow piping routed to discharge into an adjacent wash. This helps manage high-water events and protects the pond edge and surrounding areas during storms or unusual operating conditions.
Alongside the pond work, the project includes an 8-foot concrete trail around the pond, a small parking lot, as well as irrigation improvements to support future landscaping. The irrigation approach uses a combination of drip irrigation (for trees, shrubs, and planting beds) and sprinklers for future turf areas. The system is designed to be automated and includes monitoring and safety features, such as a flow sensor and master valve that can shut down irrigation if a mainline break is detected, along with isolation valves for maintenance and clearly marked reclaimed-water components and signage.
Finally, this work will be carefully coordinated in the field with site conditions and utilities being verified. The overall goal is to restore the pond as a reliable, well-managed community feature and surround it with a resilient desert landscape that is stable, attractive, and supported by efficient reclaimed-water irrigation.