ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The City of Albuquerque is getting some help to improve a park plagued with problems in the past. The city is set to receive a $1,350,000 grant from the federal government for Mesa Verde Park located in the International District.
The city will be matching the received funds one-to-one, investing a total of $2.6 million into this project. In the past, neighbors said they witnessed homeless camps, graffiti, needles, and broken playground equipment in the park.
Mayor Tim Keller said the park has never seen a rehabilitation project in its 40-year history, and it is finally due for one. “As the former state senator in this area, I always wanted to renovate this park and I could never get it done because of funding and lack of city and other support. Now, we’ve got the city totally on board of course. But with the federal government’s funding help, we are finally going to be able to do this,” said Keller.
Plans for the park include a futsal court and pickleball courts; a new playground and nature play area; shade structures; a dog park; expanding the existing pollinator garden; a loop path that connects the art sculptures in the park; more trees; and replacement of the park’s 40-year-old irrigation system.
Once the project is initiated, the city anticipates it will take about 20 months to complete.
