Tucson Standard

Pima County, Arizona, recently announced Roy P. Drachman-Agua Caliente Regional Park will reopen Nov. 28 after it was forced to close due to a lightning strike set hundreds of palm trees on fire.

“We are pleased that crews have been able to work so efficiently and quickly,” Vic Pereira, director of Pima County Natural Resources, Parks, and Recreation (NRPR), said in a release from the county. “To be able to open during the holiday season is beyond expectations."

“It could have been a lot worse, and we are grateful that it wasn’t," Pereira said. "Agua Caliente is a jewel in our park system, and we are ready to see it filled with visitors once again."

The Park, located at 12325 E. Roger Road, closed Sept. 28 after a lightning strike set hundreds of trees on fire, the release stated. The fire also damaged two interpretive signs, four picnic tables, two trash cans, a bike rack, and several irrigation systems, according to officials.

About 40 palm trees were removed due to safety concerns or they were too charred to recover. Park officials plan to repurpose those trees for an erosion project at Bar V Ranch, the release stated.

While the park will reopen soon, repairs will continue next year, according to the release.

The spring, stream and old grass area along the entrance road will remain fenced off to the public while crews work on repairing fire damage, NRPR said. The rest of the park will be open to the public.

Restoration work is ongoing and likely won’t be completed until sometime in 2023, officials said.