Stairizona Trail Receives
Tourism Award
The Stairizona Trail, launched just four years ago, has now earned a significant honor from the Arizona Office of Tourism, organizers announced. Regina Ortega-Leonardi and Thea Wilshire of the Love Where You Live initiative presented the news to Council, noting that the project has already been featured in outlets such as Arizona Highways, the Arizona Republic, Desert Leaf, and Telemundo.
What began as 39 mapped art pieces has expanded into 105 installations on the official trail and more than 130 across the region. Artists as young as 13 and as old as 77 have contributed, with many gaining opportunities for paid work through the effort. Ortega-Leonardi described the recognition as a tribute to the community as a whole, while Wilshire highlighted support from city staff, Public Works crews, and volunteers who helped prepare staircases and other public spaces.
Councilmember Jesse Leetham emphasized the project’s broader impact: art, he said, helps people feel part of their community and more positive about it. Councilmember Mariano Gonzalez admitted he doubted the project at first but said he was “eating humble pie” now that it has gained statewide recognition and draws visitors seeking out Globe’s stairway murals.
The project has relied on a network of funders, including BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, APS, the Booth Beasley Foundation, Arizona Health Zone, and the Arizona Community Foundation, as well as private donors and businesses. Special thanks were extended to Mayor Al Gameros, recognized for spearheading key projects like the Dominion Hotel recreation and Instagram murals, and to Councilmember Fernando Shipley for his cleanup work and behind-the-scenes support. City Manager Paul Jepson, Assistant City Manager Linda Oddonetto, and the Economic Development team were also acknowledged.
Momentum continues through weekly “huddles” that generate new projects, ranging from murals and decorated staircases to hidden Gila monster art pieces and free youth-designed activity books for families.
City Accepts Haven Building
for Senior Services
The City formally accepted the Haven Building, donated by the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation (SGCEDC), with plans to clean up the structure and then transfer it to another entity for long-term development and management. City Manager Paul Jepson said possible uses include housing, physical therapy, or wellness facilities for seniors.
The three-story building, with a basement, presents major challenges. It contains asbestos, lead, and other contaminants, requiring extensive mitigation. Grants Manager Connie Calloway said the city can pursue federal brownfield cleanup funds, which currently require no local match, but City ownership of the property is a prerequisite for applying.
Jepson explained that the city will not take on development or management itself but will seek partners for those roles once the site is remediated. Because the property was donated by a California-based LLC with deed restrictions, the city cannot change its designated purpose; the building must be used for housing or programs that improve seniors’ quality of life. Calloway emphasized that the restrictions reflect the donor’s intent to guarantee a benefit for Globe’s older residents.
Skate Park Project Could
Break Ground This Year
Assistant Public Works Planning Director Travis Ashbaugh provided an update on the city’s skate park, reporting that construction could begin by late 2025. Plans call for replacement of equipment, a new sidewalk linking the adult exercise area to the park, and three ADA-accessible picnic pads.
The project is funded through Globe’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation. The City receives CDBG funds every three years, and this round was earmarked for skate park rehabilitation. Although the first round of bidding yielded no qualified contractors, a rebid is scheduled. The notice will be published September 3 in the Globe Miami Times, and bids are due by September 29. A contract could be awarded in October.
City Pushes Forward Against Common Sewer Lines
Council also discussed the city’s ongoing effort to eliminate common sewer lines, a challenge that dates back more than 70 years. Instead of building separate connections for each home, some neighborhoods were developed with multiple houses tied into a single line. This saved costs at the time but left some residents vulnerable to sewage backups.
When a common line fails, the lowest house in the sequence often floods with waste, while those uphill remain unaffected. Jepson explained that because public money cannot be used to benefit a single household, the city treats residents on a shared line as a “class of customers” and replaces the line with individual connections.
Dozens of common lines have been replaced over the years, but new problem areas continue to emerge. In some cases, backups occur in homes thought to be fixed; in others, plumbers discover a shared line when responding to a service call. Jepson said the city is steadily reaching its goal of eliminating every common line, but new problems are constantly being found.
Residents who suspect they are on a shared line are encouraged to apply for help through the city’s program, with projects prioritized by severity. Homes within city limits receive priority, but Globe does assist county residents as well.
(Please see our website for the longer version of this meeting, including the motions approved.)
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