Cochise supervisors approve $20,000 for Bisbee Lavender Pit bikeway West segment

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors on June 17, 2025 approved a $20,000 contribution from the District 2 Community Enhancement Fund for the West End segment of the Lavender Pit shared‑use path in Bisbee.

The funding was proposed by Supervisor Gomez and approved after public comment from project leaders and local officials who described the path as a safety measure and a tourism asset. "This project is life saving," said Megan Connolly, executive director of Bisbee Bikeways, citing "at least 4 fatalities and numerous injuries since February" on State Route 80 near the Lavender Pit and a 27‑mile vision to connect regional trails. "The West segment is the gateway to the Lavender Pit Path," Connolly said.

Why it matters: supporters and several speakers said the West segment would create an ADA‑compliant route between Old Bisbee and Lowell, connect to the Queen Mine tour and other attractions, and reduce the number of people walking and bicycling on narrow shoulders adjacent to heavy traffic. Megan Connolly told the board the project has raised $34,000 toward the design match, $20,000 from the City of Bisbee, $4,000 from the Bisbee Foundation, $30,000 from Bisbee Bikeways, and that the remaining gap before the county contribution was about $153,000. She said the county contribution of $20,000 would reduce that gap to roughly $133,000.

Local officials and community members linked safety to personal loss. "My late husband ... was run over and killed by a motorist 5 years ago," said Carolyn Harris, secretary of Bisbee Bikeways, describing white bike memorials and calling the path lifesaving. Jeremy Fricke, executive director of the Naco Heritage Alliance, and David Lloyd, a Naco Heritage Alliance board member, urged the board to consider the path's economic and cultural benefits and its potential to improve connectivity to Camp Naco.

During public comment, Karen Schumacher, Ward 1 council member for the City of Bisbee, asked the county to consider a larger county contribution (she referenced asking for $220,000 support), and noted the Bisbee City Council had approved a $20,000 city contribution and a letter of assurance on May 20, 2025. The Board's motion remained the District 2 $20,000 allocation on the table.

Formal action and vote: Supervisor Gomez moved to approve "community enhancement fund expenditures for District 2 contribution to the Bisbee Bikeways project West End segment in the amount of $20,000." The motion was seconded and passed with Supervisors Crosby and Gomez voting aye; Supervisor Antonori was absent. The motion record on the transcript shows the board said "Aye. Motion passes."

Next steps: Project proponents said the West segment connects to the East segment and is part of a larger shared‑use network envisioned to anchor trail‑based tourism and local connectivity. They said additional fundraising and grant work remain to close the approximate $133,000 gap after the county's $20,000 contribution.