Tsaile trail project to receive funding

By Sararesa Begay
Diné Bureau

FORT DEFIANCE — Perseverance paid off for Tom M. White Jr., Apache County District II Supervisor, and his colleagues.

White, who has been a county supervisor for more than 12 years and a Northern Arizona Council of Governments chairman, said he was notified last month that the county and Tsaile Health Center, Health Promotions Program's Arizona Transportation Enhancement application for the Tsaile Dighadilyeed Multi-use Trail was selected to be funded $471,500 by the Arizona Department of Transportation. "Diaghadilyeed" means "run in the morning for your wellness" in Navajo.

He said he and his staff members had submitted three previous transportation enhancement applications, and weren't awarded funding.

"This is the first time a large amount of money is coming to the Navajo Nation and Apache County," White said. "I'm very glad we were very persistent. Martha Yazzie, the Tsaile Healther Center of the health promotions coordinator, was very instrumental with this project."

White, a former council delegate for the Fort Defiance Chapter, said he and his colleagues observed the signing of the ADOT approval document on Jan. 18 by Victor M. Mendez, ADOT Director, during 9th Annual Arizona Rural Transportation Summit, Jan. 17-19, and hosted by the Central Arizona Association of Governments in Casa Grande.

The 3-mile multiuse path is planned to be 10 feet wide, and will be added to an existing 1/4 trail project developed on the Din College land base within the Tsaile/Wheatfields Chapter boundary that is Apache County II.

"People use it to walk to the Tsaile clinic and some people used it as a fitness trail," White said, adding that it'll be gravel topped. "It took the collaboration of the Indian Health Service clinic, Diné College, Tsaile-Wheatfields Chapter and the Apache County District II."

The trail will serve as a public pedestrian transportation improvement that will link the tribal college, public schools, Headstart/daycare programs, IHS clinic, local businesses, post office, outdoor sports field, residential areas and a recreational area surround by Tsaile Lake, according to the project application.

The multiuse path will provide pedestrians and bicycle usage year round during favorable weather conditions as the construction materials will provide for a solid and safe route that will meet the American Disabilities Act accessibility standards.

The path that is located along the entrance road to Diné College and Navajo Route 65 will minimally affect the natural integrity and beauty of indigenous plants, herb and trees.

The pathway will begin west at the end of an 1/4 mile existing trail that was created about three years ago, according to White. The path will continue southwest between the existing humane society, turning south between the demonstration farm field and a community rodeo ground and continue south towards the Tsaile Lake. The pathway will turn northeast toward the east entrance road to Diné College, and continue across the east entrance road and on north, encircling the outward perimeters of the residential areas, schools, college, post office and outdoor sport field and then westward towards the beginning of the existing 1/4 mile trail adjacent to the health center.

White added that he wants the Navajo people that "as the chair of NACOG, we need more participation" during the NACOG meetings especially from the chapter officials and leadership. "Because there are funding (opportunties) through grants," he explained. "Come to the meetings. There's federal monies for local projects."

White said that numerous reservations roads especially the roads around the Navajo Nation Council Chambers and the president's office "look terrible," and these are ideal road projects that may get funding for improvement.

"I'd like to extend the invitation to the chapter leadership to attend," White said.

Information: (928)729-2141.

Sararesa Begay can be reached at venisondine@hotmail.com or by calling 505-371-5443