Chino Valley Awarded $2.57 Million for Peavine Trail South Connection

A vision nearly two decades in the making is taking a major step toward reality.

The Town of Chino Valley has been awarded $2,569,072 through the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Transportation Alternatives Program for the Peavine Trail South Connection Project. With a Town match of just $155,289, the award represents a total project investment of $2,724,361 in Chino Valley and the region’s trail system.

The funding will support final design and construction of approximately two miles of trail needed to close a critical gap in the existing Peavine Trail system. The Town has budgeted $454,182 to complete the project design from 30 percent through final design, with construction projected at approximately $2.27 million.

The project includes several significant infrastructure components. A portion of the trail alignment is located within a Zone A, 100-year flood plain, requiring the construction of a concrete ford crossing at Granite Creek. The project will also require approximately 22,000 linear feet of game fencing, with fencing materials alone estimated at nearly $200,000.

Once complete, pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrian users will have a continuous regional trail connection between Chino Valley and Prescott, closing an important gap in the regional trail network.

“This is an exciting and historic step forward for Chino Valley,” said Mayor Tom Armstrong. “This project is the culmination of years of hard work by past and present Town employees, community stakeholders and regional partners who continued to believe in this vision. I also want to recognize Jessi Sorteberg for the tremendous amount of work and persistence she brought to securing this funding. Her efforts, along with the knowledge and commitment of the entire team, helped turn a long-standing vision into a real opportunity for our community. This connection will strengthen our regional ties while expanding recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.”

For nearly 20 years, the Town and its regional partners have envisioned a continuous Peavine Trail connection between Chino Valley and Prescott. The new funding represents one of the most significant milestones in bringing that vision closer to reality.

“Connecting Chino Valley’s Peavine Trail with Prescott’s trail system has been a long time coming, and although the trail is not yet connected, this funding moves us significantly closer,” said Cyndi Thomas, Director of Community Services for the Town of Chino Valley. “It has been an honor to work alongside Jessi Sorteberg and Steve Sullivan to advance this project. Jessi’s persistence, endurance and tremendous hard work were instrumental in securing more than $2.5 million in grant funding. This investment lays the groundwork for a safe and lasting regional trail connection, and I am incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished.”

Securing the funding required a collaborative effort involving multiple Town departments and years of planning, coordination and persistence.

“Securing more than $2.5 million in Transportation Alternatives funding is a tremendous win for Chino Valley, and this application was truly a team effort,” said Jessi Sorteberg, Executive Analyst for the Town of Chino Valley. “I’m grateful for the partnership of Community Services Director Cyndi Thomas and Public Works Assistant Director Steve Sullivan, whose knowledge and support helped us put forward a strong application. We knew this was an ambitious opportunity, but we also knew the potential impact for Chino Valley made it worth pursuing. I’m incredibly proud of what this team accomplished.”

Beyond creating a valuable recreational amenity for residents, the connection also represents an important opportunity for Chino Valley’s tourism and outdoor recreation efforts. A continuous regional trail has the potential to bring additional cyclists, equestrians, walkers and outdoor enthusiasts into Chino Valley while providing residents with greater access to the region’s extensive trail network.

“This long-overdue extension pairs especially well with the existing trail extension projects and, once completed, will open up lasting recreational, community, economic and environmental benefits,” said Councilmember John McCafferty, a longtime advocate for the Peavine Trail.

The grant provides a two-year project completion window, with final design and construction work still ahead.

While there is more work to be done, the funding award marks a major step forward for a project Chino Valley and its regional partners have worked toward for nearly two decades.