By Andrea Vasquez
The Village of Tijeras officially unveiled its new Pocket Park with a grand opening celebration on May 3.
The event featured remarks from Mayor Jake Bruton, music by local band Tripple-X and a heartfelt gesture as children, or “little villagers,” placed their handprints on the well house, as a tribute to the past, present and future of the community.
The history of Tijeras is one of persistence, collaboration and community participation and this event celebrated and showcased these qualities.
Pocket Park now sits on a site at 2 Camino Primera Agua that once lacked charm or purpose: a barren dirt lot that housed Well 3 and was surrounded by weeds, accessed only by a narrow road.
While necessary for water infrastructure, the space offered little visual appeal and included a ponding area that needed careful integration into any redevelopment plan.
The village had the vision and saw the potential for this green space that could also be of use for social gatherings in Tijeras.
This leap, according to Village Clerk Audrey Caufield, took “collaborative effort: our state legislators secured funding not only for the construction of Well 3, but also for the development of the surrounding land; Mayor Bruton worked tirelessly, lobbying both the state legislators and the governing body to secure the necessary funding; and the governing body ultimately voted to allocate the final $40,000 during the 2025 budget season, ensuring the project could move forward to completion.”
The result is a flourishing park, “a welcoming green space for residents of all ages to gather, relax, and connect. This park is more than just a beautification project; it stands as a symbol of partnership, thoughtful planning, and community investment,” Caufield said.