by 
Those born and raised in the Globe Miami area are more than familiar with the Old Dominion Mine. Historically the mine kept locals working and became the driving force for developing the area. From 1880 to 1930 the money made at the Old D built homes and created a community. Today, after years of reclamation, the site has transformed into a one-of-a-kind educational park for local recreation.
After over a decade of volunteer work and public-private partnership, the Old Dominion Mine Park has been transformed, promoting fitness, and serving as a tourist destination. “We now have nine different trails,” said Dr. Thea Wilshire who heads the Old Dominion Mine Park committee. “There is some interesting information out there now.” Since its dedication in February of 2011 the park has expanded, cleaned up, and traced the roots of the Old D and mining in Gila County. “We’ve had a great response,” said Wilshire. “It’s very encouraging to hear people talking and being excited about the park.”
There is no entrance fee and the park is conveniently open from dawn to dusk for walkers and history buffs alike. It’s located just off of Highway 60 in Globe. The main entrance is on Murphy Street which is just up the hill from DeMarco’s Italian Restaurant. There is also a back entrance that is accessible behind the ball fields on Noftsger Hill.
The park is huge and there are hundreds of signs detailing the area and it’s historical impact on the community. “We’ve recently built a foot bridge and set up a new series of signs called the Copper Glossary,” said Wilshire. “Visitors can learn copper terminology while exercising.” Historic artifacts can be spotted around the entire scope of the site. There are several in an area referred to as the bone yard. “We found so many artifacts on site but several of them are on loan from the Gila County Historical Society,” said Wilshire. The historical society sponsors the park committee and acts as the fiscal agent for the park.
Exciting changes are taking place at the park due to a dedicated group of volunteers. Last Saturday marked the fifth volunteer day. The Old Dominion Mine Park committee promotes a volunteer day every six months. “We’ve had anywhere from 18 to 30 people that show and work hard for four hours on a Saturday,” said Wilshire. “After each volunteer day we notice a big surge in features and amenities.” During the last volunteer day trails were cleaned and more signage added. According to Wilshire BHP has put quite a bit of extra money into making the park safe and accessible. Other notable donations have been made by Freeport McMoRan, Capstone, and Gila County. The City of Globe takes care of park maintenance.
In the future guests will be able to enjoy several amenities that are still in the works. The park committee is diligently working on park improvements, trail expansions, and acquiring historical artifacts for display. The next big project will be the building of a mining themed children’s playground. According to Wilshire it will be like no other playground anywhere. “It’s a very big project and we’ve got almost all of the funds raised thanks to donations from local businesses as well as donations of work,” said Wilshire. “I think it will be not only the county’s only accessible playground but the only mining themed playground in the country.” The committee plans to build a playground that includes a wheelchair swing and a merry-go-round that is wheelchair accessible. The unique playground equipment will include a 14 ft. climber, traditional swing sets, and a sand box digging area with excavators that children can operate. “With every stake holder meeting the plans continue to change,” noted Wilshire. “We are continually adding things. I’d like to see a 100 ft. zip line.”
The design group has done their research before putting together blueprints. “We’ve surveyed kids, parents, and studied playgrounds and city parks,” said Wilshire. “I’ve had six different meetings trying to get ideas and things have changed a lot since our original idea.” The playground will be located between the two large pavilions forming a triangle. “We are looking at about 150 by 175 ft. worth of playground space,” noted Wilshire.
Other ideas for the future of the Old D Mine Park include the possibility of holding events in its open spaces. “I’d like to see music festivals or other community events held there,” said Wilshire. “Lately we’ve seen such a huge increase of people hiking, biking, walking dogs and flying kites. I’ve encountered people that are visiting Globe just to see the Old Dominion. I have to say it makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.”
Andrea Justice started working for the Copper Area News in Feb. 2013. She is the primary reporter and photographer for Copper Futures, a special edition highlighting exceptional students and athletes from Globe, Miami, and San Carlos. Andrea works as a copy editor for several of the publications produced by Copper Area News. She is the former managing editor of the Arizona Silver Belt and San Carlos Apache Moccasin, and has over 10 years of experience working in a newsroom. She has received awards for photojournalism and design from the Arizona Newspaper Association. Andrea has strong ties to the Globe, Miami and San Carlos communities. She is a Globe High School and Eastern Arizona College graduate. She lives in Globe with her husband, Justin, and their three children, Brandon, Isiah, and Ryliegh.
by by