Nearly 300 acres of land donated to Saguaro National Park

Saguaro National Park is receiving a special gift as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial on Thursday, Aug. 25: a donation of 282 acres of land for an expansion of the park’s district east of Tucson.

The donation, from The Trust for Public Land, is a parcel of property purchased by philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss and donated to the trust with the understanding that the nonprofit organization would add it to Saguaro National Park.

Part of Rincon Creek is included in the parcel of land, where vegetation includes cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees.

“There is no better way to celebrate the centennial of our national parks than by protecting this remarkable, rare, and rugged area of the Sonoran Desert,” Wyss said in a news release from The Trust for Public Land. “This milestone in the protection of the Saguaro National Park is a proud example of how we can continue to enhance America’s tradition of conserving lands and waters for the use and the enjoyment of all.”

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Michael Patrick, Arizona program manager for the Trust, said, “We are honored to provide this gift to the National Park Service on its centennial and to help protect this valuable piece of land from development for generations to come.”

Saguaro Park officials heartily welcomed the land donation, which will be added to the approximate 67,000-acre current size of the park’s east district.

“Saguaro National Park is grateful for the donation of this unique parcel of land along Rincon Creek,” said Ray O’Neil, acting superintendent of the park.