City Leaders Cut the Ribbon at Westgate Community Center
January 11, 2022
Today, Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Klarissa Peña, joined City Councilor Louie Sanchez, State Senator Linda Lopez, Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, and the Department of Family and Community Services, to officially cut the ribbon and open the newly built Westgate Community Center at 10001 De Vargas Road SW near the corner of 98th and De Vargas SW.
“This is just the first phase of a critical project that brings needed resources to folks of all ages in this neighborhood,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Everyone in our city should have access to spaces and tools that help them to be healthy, successful, and supported. We look forward to the immediate impact that this center will have and to continuing the work on phase two.”
The Westgate Community Center is a new 15,750 square foot community center that includes 2 activity rooms, a fitness room, game room, computer lab, community living lobby, and reception and administration area. The 13-acre site also received new parking, landscaping, a playground, a shaded plaza, and storm water detention ponds.
“Today is exciting for the Southwest community, as their new community center is now open and serving them,” said Councilor Peña. “We’ll continue working on the next phases of this project, which will bring park space, a gym, and early head start services to this facility, but today is a great celebration of community’s work to get this center built.”
You can view a virtual tour of Westgate Community Center here:
Future phases will include multi-purpose playing fields, additional meeting rooms, 2 head start classrooms, a gymnasium with a regulation sized hardwood basketball court and bleachers. Once all phases are completed, the Westgate Community Center will be approximately 34,000 square feet.
The look and feel of the new community center came directly from the community and was fully supported after several community meetings. The exterior building design evokes the mesa above the Rio Grande Valley in the multicolored horizontal metal panels and the incorporation of basalt accents alluding to the nearby volcanoes. A large entry canopy shades and protects the building entrance while serving as a prominent visual icon.
Today’s ribbon cutting ceremony was live streamed on Facebook and is available to view at: https://www.facebook.com/OneABQMedia/.
The project cost $9.7 million and was paid for by GO Bond Funding and State Capital Outlay. Planning for this project began in 2009. Lee Gamelsky Architects P.C. designed the project and Bradbury-Stamm was the construction firm.