Breaking Ground for WMAT Youth Courts

The East Fork community showed up early. Kids chasing each other near the court. Parents chatting under the trees. Council members greeting families one by one. You could feel the sense of community, pride, and joy before the first shovel touched the ground. Click here to watch a YouTube spotlighting the “New Courts for WMAT Youth | Groundbreaking Celebration.“

On November 14, we joined the White Mountain Apache Tribe to celebrate the start of a project that came straight from community voices. WMAT leaders asked for more spaces where kids could safely play outside. We listened. Together we built a plan to rehabilitate three basketball courts. One in East Fork and two in Cibecue.

These courts may not look like much on a map, but anyone who has lived there knows they mean freedom, connection, and a place to let the troubles of the day fall away. For many youth on the reservation, outdoor play options can be limited. This project gives them room to move, play and grow.

Councilwoman Tenijieth led the groundbreaking with pride. Families lined the edges of the old, dilapidated basketball court as WMAT Council members shared remarks about why this project matters and how it came to life. Their message was clear. This is for the kids. This is for the present, and for the future.

The WMA tribal council chose Ironside Engineering to lead the design and civil engineering and chose Native Nation Builders as the contractor that will construct all three courts. Work started early in December with completion expected in Spring 2026. Fresh pavement. New hoops. Healthy activity. Sweat and smiles. Spaces built with intention and respect for the local community.

Supporting Local Jobs and Businesses
This project is more than new courts; it’s an investment in the local economy. By providing funding and hiring local suppliers and Native-owned contractors, we help keep dollars in the community and create jobs for local families. Every truckload of material and every hour of labor strengthens the economic fabric of the region.

Impact for Native Communities
Partnering with WMAT means more than building basketball courts. The partnership reflects a commitment to cultural respect and long-term relationships. These courts will serve Apache youth for generations, offering safe spaces to play and connect. They also represent shared progress, projects that honor tribal priorities and deliver tangible benefits.

Partnerships like this one are built on much stronger stuff than asphalt. They are built on trust. We care about the communities around us, and we know that commitment only works when we follow through. WMAT has been a steady partner with us on cultural heritage preservation, land stewardship, education, and events that bring people together. This project adds another chapter to that shared work.

The best part: the kids. Their eyes on the court. Their palpable excitement when they learned that soon they would be playing on a brand-new court. Their energy made the whole morning feel bigger than a ceremony. It made the morning feel like the hope of endless possibilities. An energy that only the young can create. We are grateful to WMAT leadership and the families who welcomed us in. These courts will serve the next generation and the next after that. And we cannot wait to see the smiles at the first game tip off.