After being buried under mud, and debris during the late September floods, Stairizona—the series of stairs comprising an urban walking trail featuring murals, artwork and historic old stairs which serve to connect downtown Globe to the hills above—has made a remarkable comeback thanks to a community-driven restoration effort led by the Co-Founders of Love Where You Live; Regina Ortega and Thea Wilshire.
“What we saw at first was devastation beyond what we thought was repair,” says Regina. “But with help from local contractors, volunteers, and generous donors, Stairizona is back—and ready to welcome hikers and visitors again.”
The recovery began with Allegiance Builders LLC (Lyle Wyatt and DJ Bolinger), who stepped in to provide the heavy equipment and muscle needed to clear the site. On November 7, crews brought in 36 tons of crushed granite, donated and delivered by Dixon Rock & Minerals (John Dixon). “It’s been a fully fledged, community-supported project,” Regina says. “It’s costing nothing but a labor of love.”
Over three days, Allegiance Builders spread the granite leading up to the stairs, built a new diversion ditch to prevent future flooding, and spread more crushed granite to stabilize the stairs' base. Over a dozen volunteers followed—trimming brush, weeds and debris from the area and replacing rocks and setting stones along the new culvert.
Regina noted that some of the 250,000 poppy seeds donated years earlier by the Kathy Sanchez Conyers Memorial Foundation and poppy balls from the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce had started to reappear on the hillside, promising to make this stairway a stunning sight come spring.
Additional assistance came from City of Globe Public Works, Gila County Supervisor Woody Cline (trash bags) and Cobre Valley Youth Club (equipment) .
As for the future, the adjacent hollowed out shell of the old SilverKing building owned by the City of Globe, had long been waiting for funds to properly tear it down. The flood damage assisted that process and the City removed the building this month.
Discussions as to the best use of this new space will take place in the future such as a parking lot, public art space, and/or playground. But for now, the focus is on recovery efforts in downtown Globe and reopening the damaged portion of the Stairizona trail to enjoy.
“This space means a lot to people,” says Regina. “It’s more than stairs—it’s community pride, art, and healing all in one.”
Thanks to the contribution of equipment, materials, and volunteers, the Stairizona Trail is ready to shine again and delight locals and visitors who take to the outdoors.
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