City Celebrates More Funding for Open Space

Mayor Tim Keller, the City of Albuquerque’s Parks and Recreation Department (PRD), elected officials and community partners today celebrated a boost for the City’s Open Space program. Mayor Keller signed O-23-83, an update to a City ordinance that reserves and makes permanent 3% of the General Obligation bond program capacity to acquire more open space land. The legislation will provide the Open Space Division with $6 million dollars which becomes available in 2025.

“We’re planting seeds for open space growth and investing in a greener, healthier landscape,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Conserving our city’s natural environment is a gift we share with our families today and for generations to come.”

“I think that those of us who were born and raised here in Albuquerque sometimes take for granted the easy access we have to natural spaces right outside our back door,” said City Councilor Renée Grout. “Open Space land acquisitions are something we should never take for granted.

The City currently owns and maintains over 30,000 acres of open space land. This new funding will be used to improve and restore existing facilities on open space land as well as acquire new properties. The City’s two recent purchases of the Tijeras Biozone and the Diamond Rock Property will benefit from the new funding opportunity.  Funding will also be used to purchase new properties; creating equitable access throughout the City.

“The City of Albuquerque has one of the best Open Space programs in the country and we plan to keep it that way,” said Parks and Recreation Director Dave Simon. “The expansion of acquired properties means the expansion of programming and recreation opportunities for the community.”