Contributed Article
GILA COUNTY – On Wednesday, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego celebrated that their bipartisan legislation to transfer the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County was signed into law, paving the way for the development of a veterans retreat and community center to support the nearly 5,500 military veterans who call the county home.
The new law directs the U.S. Forest Service to transfer 232.9 acres of underutilized National Forest land near Young, Arizona, to Gila County. After the transfer, the site will become a dedicated space for veterans and their families to gather for retreats, meetings, and community events. The center will also serve as a mobile VA clinic site, expanding access to critical health care services for veterans in rural Arizona.
“The day is finally here. Veterans in rural Arizona deserve a place where they can gather and get the care they need closer to home,” said Kelly. “Now we’re officially on track to turn this site into a retreat and community center that will serve them and their families.”
“Caring for our men and women in uniform after their duty ends is a solemn national obligation, and this center makes good on that promise. This center will serve as a place to build community, connect, and will provide critical services to our vets that they have rightfully earned,” said Gallego. “Our veterans had our backs. I’ll make sure we have theirs, too.”
“We are very grateful to Senators Kelly and Gallego for their belief in this project from our very first meeting. This conveyance is a huge accomplishment for all of us involved, as I believe it is the first such project with state, county, and federal participation for our nation’s veterans. As a county, we are moving forward to finalize the necessary steps needed to complete the conveyance and continue providing a beautiful and peaceful respite for our nation’s heroes,” said Gila County District 3 Supervisor Woody Cline.
Read the full text of the legislation here.
