Riding in to New Projects
September 10, 2022
The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department Director Dave Simon, State Senator Mimi Stewart, students from Hawthorne Elementary and members from the surrounding neighborhood celebrated the opening of a new multi-use trail along Copper Avenue NE. The new 0.75-mile trail runs along the north side of Copper NE, between Eubank Boulevard and Wyoming Boulevard.
The new Copper Trail has many features, including a regionally appropriate plant palette, new planting and mulches intended to help prevent erosion, a new irrigation system for better water distribution, new curb ramps and pavement to provide better turning edges, and bench seating along the trail.
“The Copper Trail joins our outstanding system of off-street trails that is a huge asset to our City,” said Dave Simon, Director of Parks and Recreation. “The Copper Trail will provide great benefits to the neighborhood and a safe route to schools and parks.”
Funding for the project came from State Senator Mimi Stewart, who contributes $300,000 in 2019 State Capital Outlay funds, and $542,000 from Parks and Recreation Department trails funds, which are supported by the City’s quarter-cent Transportation Infrastructure Tax.
“It was most beautiful to see how the neighborhood came together to make this all possible; seeing the collaboration between City of Albuquerque's Parks and Recreation Department, the members of the South Los Altos Neighborhood Association and the members of Hawthorne Elementary,” said Senator Stewart.
With the completion of this Copper Trail project, the Parks and Recreation Department also announced the start of another trail project: the 2nd Street/Alameda Drain Trail. This 2.75-mile trail segment runs along 2nd Street NW from Montano Blvd and then west to 4th Street along the Alameda Drain. Parks and Recreation has partnered with City Councilor Isaac Benton, Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to fund this project.
"The City of Albuquerque and all of our partners are committed to improve the quality of life for everyone and to encourage active transportation, healthy lifestyles and the enjoyment of everything Albuquerque has to offer," said City Councilor Isaac Benton.
The partners gathered earlier this week to celebrate ground breaking for Phase I of the City’s portion of the trail, which will cost approximately $3.6 million. Construction of Phase 1 will take approximately six months. Phase 2 will eventually connect the trail from 4th Street to Rio Grande Blvd NW along the Alameda Drain.
About CABQ Parks & Recreation: The City of Albuquerque’s Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for maintaining nearly 300 parks, 143 miles of multi-use trails, more than 29,000 acres of Major Public Open Space, four municipal golf courses, and numerous aquatics and recreation facilities throughout Albuquerque. Hundreds of employees across six divisions within the Department take pride in ensuring Albuquerque residents have great facilities to foster a vibrant and healthy community