The communities of Safford and Thatcher are slated to get their own, riverside version of the Loop around Tucson, thanks to a series of land donations organized by Graham County, the Gila Watershed Partnership and The Trust for Public Land.
The acquisitions will allow for the development of a 5-mile linear park and recreational path along the southern bank of the Gila River, as it passes along the northern edge of the rural towns about 130 miles northeast of Tucson.
Architectural renderings show a paved, multiuse path similar to Pima Countyโs Chuck Huckelberry Loop, as well as fully accessible dirt trails and pathways leading down to the water.
โThe Gila River is such an important resource for this community, and to expand access to it through this new linear park and trail will bring economic, ecological, and recreational benefits to residents,โ said Michael Patrick, senior project manager for The Trust for Public Land, a nationwide nonprofit based in San Francisco.
The proposed trail will cross about 2 miles of land owned by Graham County and the city of Safford. The remaining 3 miles of trail easements were donated by five private landowners along the river: River View Properties, Langley Properties, Gwen DeMott, Brian and Don Smith and the Phoenix-based mining company Freeport-McMoRan.
โThank you to the landowners providing the trail easements for this project,โ said Danny Smith, chairman of the Graham County Board of Supervisors. โThis segment of trail offers a major extension of the existing trail system between Safford and Thatcher.โ
The county will own and maintain the trail, which could be built within the next two years with the help of charitable donations and public grants. Smith said most of that construction funding is expected to come from outside the Gila River Valley.
Future plans call for an extension of the river path to the west and south, eventually connecting it with an existing trail network.
A conceptual master plan was developed for the linear park and trail system in 2020, after a series of community meetings to gather input on the idea.
The projectโs accessibility will be key, according to Sarah Sayles, Gila Watershed Partnership executive director.
โWeโre excited to encourage the trail as a community-accessible project, as well as to promote eco-tourism for our region,โ Sayles said.
The Safford-based nonprofit conservation group was launched in 1992 to protect and improve water quality and the condition of the ecosystem along the river through education and economic opportunity.
The Trust for Public Land was founded in 1972 to foster equitable access to the outdoors by working with communities to create parks and preserve public spaces.
The trustโs work in Arizona so far includes more than 60 projects totaling about 280,000 acres.
Photos: The Loop trail around Tucson
A bicyclist and runner get in some exercise on the Rillito River Park Loop near St. Philipโs Plaza. Proper outdoor etiquette can help avoid confusion and conflict.
Visitors walk along the Desert Loop Trail at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road, in Tucson, Ariz. on March 30, 2022.
A cyclist photographs the Rillito River from The Loop path east of 1st Ave. a powerful storm with heavy rain over the Tucson area early Friday, July 23, 2021.
People get in some exercise while walking, riding their bike and walking their dog on The Loop along the Rillito River.
Bikers tool along The Loop just north of Valencia Road under clear and sunny skies in February.
A cyclist takes advantage of the fresh asphalt on a new segment of The Loop along the Santa Cruz River Park trail in March 2016.
Kylie Walzak and Troy Neiman take son Clyde on his first bike ride along The Loop near Alameda and Bonita Avenue in March 2016.
A cyclist heads back from hitting a dead end on The Loop just east of Craycroft Road on the south side of the Rillito River on July 21, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. Negotiations are under way for land access for the section's addition to the Pima County shared-use path around the city.
The Loop comes to a dead end just east of Craycroft Road on the south side of the Rillito River on July 21, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz. Negotiations are under way for land access for the section's addition to the Pima County shared-use path around the city.
Pedestrians and cyclists get their first crack a new bridge along the Pantano River Park path that highlights the latest segment opening of The Loop between East Broadway and Speedway Boulevards in March 2016.
A cyclist takes advantage of the fresh asphalt on a new segment of The Loop along the Santa Cruz River Park trail in March 2016.
A Loop Trail rider passes the entrance to a new segment of The Loop trail system near the Santa Cruz River and Sunset Road in April 2017.
A worker marks the new segment of The Loop trail system for striping as work continues on the mile-long stretch along the Santa Cruz in April.
Paul Roper, 53, shares the path with a few passing cyclists on the Rillito River Trail, part of the larger Pima County Loop, near North Campbell Avenue in July 19, 2014.
A faster cyclist, right, overtakes a slower rider on the Rillito River Trail, part of the larger Pima County Loop, near North Campbell Avenue in July 2014.
Workers (from left) Keith Potts, Tim Kingery and Donald Hofferberon cut and remove the ragged edge of asphalt on the Julian Wash Greenway segment of The Loop in October 2014.
Hector Saucedo, right, takes his dog Harry for a morning walk on the paved path along The Loop at the Julian Wash Archaeological Park. Saucedo says he brings Harry just about every morning.
Joggers, cyclists and equestrians, like this cowboy passing underneath Interstate 19, share the paved path along The Loop near the Julian Wash Archaeological Park.
As cars pass by at the Interstate 10 and Interstate 19 interchange, a walker goes for a morning walk on paved path along The Loop at the Julian Wash Archaeological Park 2820 S. 12th Ave., on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. Workers are completing another link in the 131-mile multi-use trail that skirts around the metropolitan
Joggers, cyclists and equestrians alike share the paved path along The Loop near the Julian Wash Archaeological Park, 2820 S. 12th Ave., on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. Workers are completing another link in the 131-mile multi-use trail that skirts around the metropolitan Tucson area.
Joggers, cyclists and equestrians, like this cowboy, alike share the paved path along The Loop near Interstate 19 and Interstate 10 interchange by the Julian Wash Archaeological Park.
Hector Saucedo goes for his daily morning walk on paved path along The Loop near the Julian Wash Archaeological Park.
Stopping on their way to tennis practice, mom Monique Lomax adjusts daughter Ayanna's, 10, helmet as they bike along The Loop near the Julian Wash Archaeological Park.
Joggers, cyclists and equestrians alike share the paved path along The Loop near the Julian Wash Archaeological Park.
