Making Room for More Fun at Loma Linda Community Center
Today Mayor Keller, the Department of Municipal Development, and Youth & Family services broke ground on the renovation of Loma Linda Community Center in Southeast Albuquerque. The improvements reflect Loma Linda’s unique identity as a home away from home for children, especially those with special needs. The City designed the new community center with a children-first approach that includes softened-materials like padded walls, spaces for respite and repose, new sound-dampening materials and a color palette designed to invoke the calmness of nature. The renovation also includes a new multipurpose gym with basketball and pickleball courts, as well as a stage for community events and new play area. Loma Linda is home to the City’s Therapeutic Recreation program which serves kids and adults with and without disabilities.
“The improvements we’re making at Loma Linda Community Center show that we’re dedicated to creating inclusive family spaces that encourage everyone to have fun and explore new possibilities,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Our Community Centers are critical to help kids and adults make friends and find community.”
The new and improved Loma Linda Community Center will include:
- A new gym with pickleball, basketball and volleyball courts
- A stage for performances
- Padded areas for safety
- Special rooms for quiet time for kids and adults
- An outdoor amphitheater
- A new calming color palette
- Special sound-deadening materials to keep the space quiet
The $9 million project was primarily funded through to general obligation bonds passed by voters in 2017, 2019 and 2021, in addition to over $500,000 in City Council set-aside funds from Councilor Davis.
“We want to thank voters for approving these funds for this new Community Center. General Obligation bond funds help us build fabulous new centers like Loma Linda that make Albuquerque the best place for families,” said Jennifer Turner, Deputy Director of the Department of Municipal Development.
Therapeutic Recreation programs are temporarily operating out of Heights Community Center while Loma Linda is under construction.
