What's Behind the Fence at Vistoso Trails? The Pond Is Coming Back
October 22, 2026
October 22, 2026
In the first week of October, crews at the old Vistoso golf-course pond were pumping water out of the basin. Heavy rain had soaked the site, so equipment spread the mud around to help it dry, and the liner consultant was waiting for firm ground before an inspection could happen. The next week went much the same way. More rain slowed the work, and the wet well that will eventually feed the pond still hadn't been delivered.
So a desert pond project spent its fall waiting for the ground to dry. Almost everything going on behind the fence is about controlling water, from where it comes from to how it's held and where it goes when there's too much. Until early next year, the work you can see from the path will be pipes and grading. The water comes last.
The basin covers 2.5 acres. It was part of the golf course and had been sitting empty and unused. The Town of Oro Valley's project page describes a rebuild where most of the parts end up underground or underwater:
At the October 7 Town Council meeting, staff gave a progress report.
| Status as of October 7, 2026 | Work |
|---|---|
| Completed | Clearing and grubbing, bulkhead demolition, mass grading, removal of the old liner, pump and meter stations |
| Underway or still to start | New pond liner, concrete flatwork, related site work |
According to ILoveOV.com's recap, Public Works Director and Town Engineer Paul Keesler said the project had been on track to finish January 31, 2027, until a recent storm, and he now expects mid-February. The contract deadline is May 11, 2027, and sod would go in last, around that date. Under the Town's weekly updates, the wet well goes in first and liner placement follows. The wet well has been expected "next week" in update after update, and the liner can only be inspected once the basin is dry.
Many people who walk past the fence don't know that this was nearly a gravel garden. The Town's background summary lays out the reversals:
For the April 2026 vote, the Explorer reported that eleven people spoke for the pond and one spoke against it. Mayor Joe Winfield was the one no vote, as he had been throughout the debate, and he explained why from the dais:
"I did not support the inclusion of an artificial water feature when this project was first approved. The council made its decision, and I respect that. I acknowledge there are members of our community who strongly support having an artificial water feature at this site. I understand the desire to see something meaningful and visible after so many years."
The Explorer reported that his concerns included the long-term cost of water and of the electricity needed to aerate the pond. The same story recalled what led to this point. Through the group Preserve Vistoso, residents raised about $2 million toward the $4.25 million purchase of the former Golf Club at Vistoso, which kept the land from being developed. The Conservation Fund bought the property in February 2022 and donated it to the Town that July under a conservation easement that protects it from development permanently.
The memorial garden in the approved scope is the Adam Zimerman Memorial Garden, planned near the pond. The Explorer reported that his sister, Mona, donated Adam's Oro Valley house to the Town. The Town plans to spend $50,000 of the sale proceeds on the garden and put the rest toward improvements elsewhere in the preserve.
The water source has drawn the most public debate. Archaeology Southwest monitors the conservation easement on the 202-acre preserve. It has asked the Town not to use reclaimed water, citing PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," and it filed a 60-day notice of claim. In April, the Explorer reported that the organization was "weighing our options" and had said it might sue. Its own advisory announced a May 4 public briefing on the subject.
KGUN's May 2026 report covered both sides. Preserve Vistoso argued that the contamination concerns were overstated, and many residents still wanted the pond restored. Construction has gone ahead regardless. None of the public reporting since spring describes a court outcome in either direction, so the dispute is worth following as the basin gets closer to being filled.
The 2026 contract doesn't pay for everything around the pond. On October 7, Council voted 7–0 to move $500,000 from contingency to finish the ADA trails around the pond, along with grading, irrigation and turf. According to ILoveOV.com's recap of the meeting recording, staff had estimated about $425,000 and asked for $500,000 to leave a cushion. Grading for future sidewalks and a grassy recreation area started the following week.
The second item is less settled. Staff are pursuing a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant presented at $815,790, split evenly between a $407,895 grant and a $407,895 local match. Council voted 7–0 to send the application back for revisions. The meeting recap says the list of amenities was still changing: staff mentioned taking a 0.8-acre pond lawn out of the grant scope, rising costs for trees, the pond trail and restroom work, and exercise stations as an eligible item. The pond itself is funded and under construction. Some of what eventually surrounds it, such as shade trees and restroom improvements, depends on how that revised application turns out.
The preserve's 6.2-mile, eight-foot-wide concrete path is open dawn to dusk, with views of both the Catalina and Tortolita mountains. Temporary parking is at 945 W. Vistoso Highlands Drive. Walkers, dog walkers, strollers and bicyclists can all use the paved paths. Leash-required signs went up around the preserve in April 2026.
The stretch of trail next to the pond has been fenced since August 4, and detour signs route walkers around it. The Explorer reported that paths right around the site would stay closed during construction. The Town posted a detour map with its August 5 update, but the signs on site are the best guide to the current route, since closures move as the work moves.
The same storms that held up the pond have also kept the Town's maintenance crew busy on the rest of the path. October updates mention staff still clearing debris after heavy rains. In September, crews did major pruning on a large tree damaged in a storm. After a wet week, expect some leftover branches and grit on the concrete.
Two pages are worth bookmarking to follow progress. The Town posts weekly construction notes on the pond project page and monthly property updates on the preserve page. The next milestone to watch for in those notes is the wet well installation.
Our team at Lorenia Ruiz follows projects like this one because they change daily life in north Oro Valley well before the ribbon is cut. If you live near Vistoso Highlands Drive and want to talk through how the preserve's next phase may affect your corner of Rancho Vistoso, we're glad to set up a complimentary consultation, in English or Spanish.
Whether you're buying your first home or building long-term wealth through real estate, Lorenia simplifies the process and empowers you to achieve your goals with confidence. Let’s connect and explore tailored solutions that bring your property dreams to life.
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