Parks and Recreation

By Thea Wilshire parks &recreation

Globe has shown a commitment to community recreation since the town’s earliest days. Today, Globe boasts the most parks per capita of any city in Arizona, with 14 City parks serving its 7,400 residents.

Many of Globe’s parks date from pre-automotive days. “Pocket parks,” scattered throughout the older sections of town, were created to allow equitable access for all residents before people had cars to get around. They offer a quaint accessibility that allows you to put the park on like a comfortable coat, wrapping yourself in all the resources that each affords. Look for Giorsetti, Ryan, Euclid/ Chiono, and Collins Parks, as well as the little botanical garden area below Besh ba Gowah. Most ROUND MOUNTAIN PARK | PHOTO BY LCGROSS of these older parks provide playground equipment and at least one picnic table, but not water fountains.

The Active Adult Center Park is located just outside the Globe Senior Center but is not reserved for seniors. Anyone can use the BBQs and shaded picnic tables. Outdoor senior fitness equipment is planned for this park. It makes for a great place to park your car, stretch and work out, then walk Globe’s historic downtown or the Stairizona Trail.

Globe also boasts three large park complexes, each with different purposes. Round Mountain Park offers miles of hiking trails (including steep hills for cardio fitness) in a setting replete with natural flora and fauna. The park offers four small picnic ramadas scattered throughout the site. Educational signage helps visitors learn about the area and stay safe, and restrooms are available at the entrance. It’s a great place to catch sight of wildflowers in the spring and to spot deer on the hillsides. Hikers who reach the summit of the mountain are rewarded with a marvelous view of the city and surrounding areas.

The Old Dominion Historic Mine Park is currently closed for safety remediation work by the mine that stewards this heritage site. When open, it offers 4.5 miles of trails, access to mining artifacts, educational signs about copper mining and the region, two large group pavilions with picnic tables, BBQs, two smaller ramadas, a mining-themed playground with a 100-foot zipline, a nine-hole disc golf course, and restrooms.

Last but not least is the Globe Community Center Park. This expansive 34-acre recreation area hosts our newly renovated pool and splash pad, as well as baseball and softball fields, T-ball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, shuffleboard, volleyball courts, a small skate park, a large playground, BBQs, restrooms, and the largest picnic pavilion in the region.

Globe also has several special-purpose parks. The K9 Mine Bark Park is for dogs and their owners. It has shade ramadas, a walking track, doggie waste stations, water for animals and people, and both general-use and specialuse fenced areas. The patrons of the dog park invested in art and signage, features not usually found at a dog park.

Besh ba Gowah is one of the few City-run archeological parks in the state, and the largest tourist attraction in Globe. This park is built on the site of a 900-year-old Salado Indian pueblo. The visitor’s center offers a 12-minute video explaining the history of the area, a small museum of artifacts discovered at the site, and a gift shop. Visitors can explore the ruins and the ethnobotanical garden, use the picnic tables, and watch the plethora of birds, including many hummingbirds, attracted to the site.

The Noftsger Hill Sports Complex offers softball and baseball fields, restrooms, and a concession area. Veterans Park (AKA the Train Park) recently had new playground equipment installed. It also provides picnic tables, BBQs, restrooms, and a historic train engine. Directly in front of Globe’s Municipal Building, this park steps in to serve as a town square in the absence of one in Globe. It’s used for community gatherings like the Saturday Farmers Market, concerts, the annual State-of-the-City address, and other special events.

Most of Globe’s City parks, including these gems, are described in detail with pictures and maps on the city’s website: https://www.globeaz.gov/ parks-and-recreation.

A new addition to City-run outdoor recreation resources in Globe is the Stairizona Trail. Utilizing seven historic cement staircases and three pedestrian bridges spread throughout our older neighborhoods, the Stairizona Trail is currently being developed. It will be packed full of art - 28 installations are planned - and afford great views of town. The trail will stop at historic sites like the “G” and the historic cemetery. The trail will cover three routes, offering 1.4-mile, 2.5-mile, and 4+-mile options.

Miami has two parks: the narrow park along the highway at 211 Live Oak offering picnic tables and a playground, and Miami Memorial Park at 608 Sullivan St. The Memorial Park has ramadas, picnic tables, BBQs, a playground, restrooms, and an outdoor movie venue. It serves as the hub of the Miami community and the site for concerts, art fairs, and large events.

Globe and Miami’s libraries offer many community resources, including free access to computers and printers, job support, and meeting spaces, as well as a variety of creative programming for all ages, from infants to elders. Globe even has a Tool Lending Library, where residents can check out power tools, ladders, and more for free. The Miami Library hosts the Miami Sports Hall of Fame.

K9 MINE BARK PARK | PHOTO BY THEA WILSHIRE