Crowd celebrates Safford’s newest park

Safford Mayor Jason Kouts helps Jazzabelle Murrieta, 5, center, and Ada O'Doherty, of the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, cut the ribbon at the grand opening of La Tierra Park on Thursday. - David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

SAFFORD — Nearly a year after its completion and opening to the public, the City of Safford was finally able to celebrate the debut of its newest park.

A Graham County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting for La Tierra Park was celebrated with local elected officials and members of the surrounding neighborhood Thursday evening.

The park was the result of City Councilman Arnold Lopez connecting residents who wanted a public space in the neighborhood with city staff.

”There’s no credit here,” he said. “It was just leading them in the right way on who to talk to — the Engineering Department, Susan (Anderson, Planning director for Safford) — and they got it going.”

Nora Rogers, left, and Haleigh Cundari chat with Safford City Councilman Arnold Lopez during the la Tierra Park grand opening Thursday. It was Rogers reaching out to Lopez that started the park’s development. – David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

Public Works Director Lance Henrie thanks United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties for granting $50,000 toward development of the park, and the Freeport Community Investment Fund for also contributing $25,000.

City staff handled design and construction.

“This project involved not only the Building Maintenance Department and the Parks Department, Streets were involved a little bit, we had Utilities for the water lines, we had the Electric guys down here helping move the basketball courts. We had every department involved in this project,” Henrie said.

Materials to develop the park cost about $100,000, and city staff put in about 6,200 hours in design and construction, which is equivalent to about $135,000.

In addition to featuring playground equipment, basketball courts, armadas and picnic tables, the park is the home of the Safford City-Graham County Library’s first little library kiosk in memory of the late Sally Holguin.

Sally Holguin’s grandsons, Patrick Villescas, left, and Brendan Holguin, were present for the grand opening of La Tierra Park, which features a Safford Library little library kiosk named in Sally’s honor. – David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central

“She was the library for many individuals,” said Librarian Victoria Silva. “Her contagious laugh was a reminder of the joy she had in what she did; she had a tremendous passion for her job. She developed programs, like Dios de los Muertos, which is a program she was particularly proud of.”

Mayor Jason Kouts said the city is committed to recreational opportunities for its citizens and La Tierra Park is just one of many to come.

“Parks are where it’s at,” Kouts said. “I believe that our (City) Council is energetic in creating a different environment in Safford.”

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