Amy Biehl High School and Lew Wallace Elementary Join for Downtown Beautification
Albuquerque, NM – Councilor Baca and Albuquerque Public School officials cut the ribbon on a new Downtown art trail, featuring artwork made by students at Amy Biehl High School and Lew Wallace Elementary School.
Downtown areas are the beating hearts of cities across the U.S., and local governments are actively revitalizing them. Collaboration and partnerships are key to activating these spaces and strengthening community connections – and students are leading the charge, making a positive impact through student-driven community enhancement projects.
“Volunteering in our downtown community connects us with the heart of our city, where each student can make a lasting impact," said Tanya Silva, Fine Arts Educator. "Through efforts like the APS Creative Campus Collective, we see firsthand how our time and talents can fuel a thriving, vibrant arts scene that benefits everyone. Together, we’re not just supporting a location; we’re building a legacy of creativity, community, and growth."
"Supporting Creative Campus initiatives is essential to fostering innovation, expression, and community,” said Melanie Telles, Principal, Lew Wallace Elementary. “Arts are at the heart of a vibrant, forward-thinking education.”
“Creating a collaborative legacy and exciting art projects with APS Campus Creative and Amy Biehl HS youth will bring a new vitality to the city core," said ABHS Executive Director Stephanie Becker. "These students will be long-term stakeholders in our downtown efforts.”
Albuquerque District 2 City Councilor Joaquín Baca, Albuquerque Public Schools, and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency have raised the potential of this partnership, fostering beautification and bolstering community ownership. Students from Lew Wallace Elementary and Amy Biehl High School designed vibrant artwork for trash can wraps along Central Avenue and developed a trail connecting the two schools.
A thriving downtown fosters a sense of community, attracts investment, and strengthens a city's identity. One of the City of Albuquerque's main goals is to reshape the public's perception of Downtown by enhancing safety and aesthetics.
This art project by Amy Biehl High School and Lew Wallace Elementary enhances the pedestrian experience, transforming utilitarian spaces into sources of joy. The new trail will guide residents to local businesses, schools, and services while creating a more connected feeling within the neighborhood.
"Community investment improves neighborhoods," said District 2 City Councilor Joaquín Baca. "We often speak in terms of economic investments, but the cultural investment made here with the artwork from these students is just as important for our future."