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Payson officials and volunteers outline trailhead, High Line and Granite Dells plans and $550,000 in grants
Summary
Parks staff and volunteer trail groups told the council about progress on the PATHS master plan, new Boulders-area trails, two proposed trailheads at Granite Dells and funds awarded for maintenance and connections, while urging council support for design funding to unlock construction grants.
Steve Richardson, Payson parks and recreation director, presented an update on the town's PATHS master plan and recent regional trail work, accompanied by U.S. Forest Service and volunteer partners.
"This isn't a plan that's been sitting on a shelf collecting dust," Richardson said, listing recent milestones including a five-year MOU with the Payson Ranger District and continuing collaboration with the Rim Country Mountain Bike Association and a newly formed Rim Country Trail Fund.
Trevor Creighton, president of the Rim Country Mountain Bike Association, told the council the High Line trail is becoming a draw: "The High Line offers accessibility to all rider and hiker levels plus traverses through pines, red rock sections, multiple creek crossings, unparalleled views," he said, noting completed reroutes and remaining work to connect segments.
Forest Service recreation manager Angie Abel said the Forest Service has signed up to adopt and build out about six miles of new trail in the Boulders area and to formalize roughly eight miles of social trails. She and Richardson said the town has submitted a CIP request for design and engineering of two proposed Granite Dells-area trailheads (described in presentation materials as Cypress and Granite Dells trailheads) and would need design funding before construction grants can be successfully pursued.
Funding developments: The Rim Country Trail Fund and partners secured roughly $550,000 from Arizona State Parks and Trails, split among local projects: $150,000 for Forest Service planning/development at the Boulders area; $100,000 for trail maintenance by the Rim Country Mountain Bike Association; $150,000 for High Line trail connections; and $150,000 for Pine Strawberry fuels-reduction projects that include trail work.
Why it matters: Presenters emphasized trails as an economic and tourism asset that also supports health and local recreation. Creighton cited a University of Arizona study noting large statewide participation in non-motorized trail use and said trail-oriented visitors often stay multiple days and spend locally. Volunteer speakers and nonprofit leaders urged the council to support the town's engineering/design funding so the community can leverage construction grants.
Council reaction and next steps: Council members and staff discussed the need for parking solutions at Granite Dells and for clear agreements to manage trailhead traffic; Richardson said the town and Forest Service are seeking grant funds for signage and design and that local partners have pledged to continue volunteer maintenance work.
Ending: With state grant awards and a growing nonprofit fund, presenters asked the council to consider supporting design-phase CIP requests to enable construction grants and to back volunteer maintenance programs that will be needed after trails are built.
