EVOLUTION OF THE PROJECT
The iconic Gila River, a tributary of the Colorado River, flows just north of the adjacent rural communities of City of Safford and Town of Thatcher, both located in Graham County. With much of the river land in private ownership, however, local residents have very limited opportunities for access to the river. At the invitation of several community leaders, the Trust for Public Land – a nonprofit with a mission of connecting everyone to the outdoors - held a series of meetings in 2019‑2020 with a number of potential partners to discuss the potential to create a recreational trail along the river. A collaboration was formed with the Trust, Gila Watershed Partnership, Graham County, City of Safford and Town of Thatcher. This group developed a vision for a Gila River Linear Park and Trail, which will serve as the backbone of a trail network being developed by County, Safford and Thatcher, open up new close‑to‑home recreation access to the outdoors, and provide much‑needed public access to and along the river.
CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN
The landscape architect firm McGann & Associates ‑ highly-regarded for their work on greenways, parks and trails – was retained by Trust for Public Land to complete a community‑based conceptual master plan for this Gila River linear park and trail. The cornerstone for this project was an existing 50‑acre property on the south side of the Gila River owned by City of Safford, and which had been identified in the City’s 2016 General Plan as the future site of a park and regional sports complex. This master plan for the trail (with a total planned length of 7‑1/2 miles) was completed by McGann & Associates with substantial participation and input by the local communities. The plan was approved in 2020 by Safford City Council, Thatcher Town Council and Graham County Board of Supervisors.
TRAIL EASEMENTS
The Trust for Public Land negotiated donations of trail easements from five private landowners (all owning properties along the south side of the river in the planned trail route) that will enable the construction of an initial five-mile segment of the linear park and trail. Those trail easements were donated to Graham County in 2022. Thanks to five landowners for this important contribution to the project (see list below).
PROJECT GETS FUNDING FROM ADOT! AND CONSTRUCTION FUNDING AWARDED IN FEDERAL BUDGET!
In late 2023, Arizona Department of Transportation announced the award of a $500,000 grant to Graham County for the project through their Transportation Alternatives Program. (This will be matched by approx. $30,000 of funds from the County.) This will enable engineering, design and permitting work for what is shown in the master plan as the Safford Segment of the Linear Park and Trail.
Through the efforts of Congressman Juan Ciscomani, the federal budget passed by Congress and signed by President in March 2024 contained $1.3 million of Congressionally Directed Spending for the project. (This request to the Congressman was made by Graham County and partner Trust for Public Land in March 2023.) The funds are available to use by County for construction of a portion of the linear park and trail after the engineering and design work has been completed.
WITH THANKS TO...
PHILANTHROPIC FUNDERS
The work completed so far would not have been possible without the support of:
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Freeport McMoran Community Investment Fund
United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties
Trust for Public Land's Equitable Communities Fund
LANDOWNERS
The following private landowners donated trail easements along the river for this project:
Freeport McMoran
Langley Properties & Erik Swanson
Riverview Properties & Ted Prina
Gwen DeMott
Brian and Don Smith
PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS
And the following partners:
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Graham County
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City of Safford
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Trust for Public Land
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Gila Watershed Partnership of Arizona