ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – There are plans for a new park in one of the oldest parts of Albuquerque and the city hopes it will be a transformational change on a stretch of central that hasn’t always had the best reputation. The city is planning to build a new park right next to the newer international district library on Central Ave near Louisiana Blvd. The parks director said there are plans to keep the area safe and secure.
Story continues below
“We deserve green space, we deserve parks, and we can’t do the thing because we’re worried someone is gonna mess it up,” said City Councilor Nichole Rogers. She is pushing reinvestment for her neighborhood and is among those excited about a new park in the heart of the International District. The city’s now revealed some of the first concepts for the park that will go in right next to the $16 million library. “It’s always been something the neighborhood has wanted, and it took the library 12 years or so it’s nice to us finish it off with a park,” said Rogers.
Right now, there are fences around the empty lot where the $3.5 million park will be built. A final design for the park has already been approved and will be ready to break ground later this year. “In addition to some athletic fields at the bottom we’re gonna have a sloped area around the edges where people can sit and enjoy, also a stage in one of the corners that’ll promote concerts and performances of all kinds and then a plaza area that will connect the park with the library,” said Dave Simon, Director of Parks and Recreation, city of Albuquerque.
There will also be a kids’ play area, and the city is letting neighbors decide between four design concepts. Councilor Rogers hopes the park and playground can help change the narrative in the international district. “I’m not at all blind to the challenges around the library but that doesn’t mean that enough reason for me to say no we don’t need the park, we need the park,” said Rogers. For security Parks and Rec said they’ll have fences around the park and they’re planning to lock things up overnight. “We have some security on site here already that can look after the park and of course, we’ll have plentiful safety and security lighting throughout the park,” said Simon.
The city is asking neighbors to vote on the play area designs by March 7th. The city said they hope to break ground on the project this summer ahead of the Route 66 centennial.