Funding has been approved to design and construct a new trail connecting the Westwing Mountain Preserve to Paloma Park.
Peoria City Council approved $75,000 from contingency to the Mountain Trail capital improvement plan project, Oct. 17.
“I’m never eager to bring forward a budget amendment that asks for more funds to be moved from contingency to a particular aspect. However, I believe this one warrants some consideration,” saod Deputy City Manager Kevin Burke.
A public meeting was held at Paloma Park to gather stakeholder input about this project Oct. 23, 2021.
Officials said key feedback provided from residents included creating a connection between Paloma Preserve and Westwing Mountain to use the Westwing/Eastwing Mountain range for its views, elevation, and challenge, as well as build more mountain bike friendly trails, and create loop trails around and through the preserve and mountain trails.
Staff also held a public meeting, Sept. 20, regarding options to complete this trail segment at which about 75 residents attended, which officials say is a big turnout for a parks and recreation meeting.
Officials said that at the meeting staff discussed the initial trails open house in 2021, explained how trails were developed, shared results from the Centralized Arizona Project Pathway Corridor Development Study, and discussed future trail connection options on Paloma Preserve, Eastwing Mountain, and Westwing Mountain.
Staff provided residents with three trail options: A, B, and C. The city found that residents overwhelmingly favored option C, which offers a variety scenic routes connecting the park and mountains.
Costs for each option are: Option A $7,000; Option B $25,000; Option C $75,000. Options B and C were not funded in the current budget.
Jerry Johnson, chair of the parks and recreation advisory board, attended the September public meeting and said it was packed with attendees spilling out into the hallway.
There was a lot of support for those trails, and there was full support from the advisory board, which unanimously recommended options B and C to the council Sept. 28, Johnson said.
“What I heard (at the meeting) was unanimous support in creating those trails, whether it be A, B, or C,” he said. “They wanted more trails, and they wanted connectivity of those trails to get from Paloma Park and so on.”
At the Oct. 17 council meeting, city staff recommended council approve a budget amendment for $100,000 from contingency to the Mountain Trail capital improvement plan project to fund Options B and C.
However, Councilmember Brad Shaffer, who represents the area of proposed trail, moved to change the language of the recommendation to include only Option C for $75,000, which was overwhelmingly supported by attendees of the September public meeting.
The motion passed 6-1.
Shafer then moved to approve the $75,000 in funding for Option C. Council voted 5-2 in favor of the motion.
Shafer said the talked to a number of bikers and hikers who use the area and that of the 75 people who attended the September meeting, about 85% were in favor of Option C.
“I hiked all those trails (options), and I will tell you this: Option C has the most amazing views. It’s the longest trail. It’s the most recommended by hikers and bikers,” he said. “I strongly support Option C. The views are amazing and it connects all the trails, and connects Paloma Park to West and Eastwing. I look forward to hiking this trail hopefully in the near future.”
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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