Town presents multi-phase plan for Salazar & Chamisa property with skatepark, pump track, dog park and trails; Trails Plus and LWCF grants targeted

Grants staff presented community engagement outcomes and a conceptual multi‑phase site plan for the Town‑owned parcel at the northwest corner of Salazar and Chamisa Roads, describing broad public support for a combined skate park and asphalt pump track, an off‑leash dog park, walking trails that preserve existing topography, picnic and shade areas, and phased parking and restroom infrastructure.

Staff said two grant sources are targeted this cycle: the Trails Plus grant application (New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division), due at the end of the month, and a Land and Water Conservation Fund (State Parks) application due early January 2027. The recommended first phase concentrates on the southern parking lot and the skate/pump‑track area so the town can demonstrate progress and leverage additional funding for trails, restrooms and ancillary amenities in later phases.

Stakeholder engagement included two meetings with roughly 36 attendees and representation across age groups; staff reported strong youth interest in the pump track/skate park combination and vocal support for a dog park. Design considerations include minimizing trail/bike/pedestrian intersections to reduce collision risk and providing ADA‑accessible routes where feasible. Staff flagged the need to coordinate lighting, staffing and after‑hours access policies with police and parks administration if the facility is open beyond regular hours.

Council and staff discussed repairing the existing town skate park versus building a new above‑ground facility; staff said the existing slab is degraded and resurfacing is not feasible, so options include removing the slab and installing above‑ground modular features or building a new facility elsewhere. Staff will continue stakeholder outreach, finalize grant applications, and return with design and budgeting updates.