“Let children walk with nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star” —John Muir
Las Lagunas de Anza is an outreach project of the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, and it’s vision of embracing the community in promoting out-of-doors education continues at the wetlands.
Las Lagunas provides interpretive historical and environmental education. An outdoor classroom and ramadas are available for field trips or groups.
Trails, historical and environmental signage, and various habitat including marsh, riparian and bosque grace the site. Our new Discovery Garden which is host to native and heritage plants provide opportunities to discover, learn and enjoy the beauty of this natural world.
The Sedgwick family have been protecting this site for decades in a state where a third of the wetlands have been modified or drained since the late 1800’s.
The Santa Fe Ranch staff, volunteers and partners continue to work together to preserve and protect Las Lagunas which is considered to be the last remaining wetland on the upper Santa Cruz River. More than 200 species of birds as well as amphibians, reptiles and mammals have been observed at Las Lagunas.
The Santa Fe Ranch has been working with many local, State and Federal partners including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NRCS, Anza Youth Ambassadors, Nogales High School Science Club, BSA, Girl Scouts, City of Nogales, Santa Cruz County, local organizations and volunteers. The restoration of Las Lagunas has generated an awareness in the local schools and in the community that a place of beauty, history and nature exist within their urban surrounds.
Tony Sedgwick, as the owner of Las Lagunas and president of the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation, has been instrumental in getting the word out in this border community that they have in their backyard a place to be proud of: to protect, learn from and share. Because of his leadership and work in bringing the community together in protecting and restoring this rare, natural wetland, he has been honored with the 2012 National Wetlands Award administered by the Environmental Law Institute, Washington D.C.
Staff Members: Tony, Anthony, Dean, Maria, Yara, Hilary
Hours of Operation:
We are open to the public Tuesday through Sunday 7AM – 7pm.
Cars left in the lot after 7 pm will be locked in until the next day.
* Please respect the park and pick up your trash.
* Smoking and starting fires is prohibited.
Follow our Facebook Page for recent updates and news.