Sandia Park will soon have its own welcome signs after a local artist’s design featuring hummingbirds and mountain sunsets won a community contest, addressing residents’ concerns about being mislabeled as part of Edgewood along the popular Turquoise Trail.
East Mountains resident Lauren Monet Bruss won the “Project Here’s Your Sign” contest organized by the East Mountains Protection Action Coalition (EMPAC) in May. Her design was unveiled at a recent EMPAC community gathering attended by Bernalillo County Commission Chairman Eric Olivas, State Senator Ant Thornton and State Representative Stefani Lord.
The signage project emerged after Edgewood town signs were installed in Bernalillo County along New Mexico Highway 14, the 63-mile Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway that links Albuquerque and Santa Fe, according to EMPAC spokesperson Charlene Smith.
“After signage addressing the area as the Town of Edgewood was installed in Bernalillo County along New Mexico Highway 14 – the Turquoise Trail – remarks from residents living in the area sparked the idea to create a ‘Welcome to Sandia Park,'” Smith said.
The geographical confusion stems from Edgewood’s boundary expansions through annexations into Bernalillo and Torrance Counties, though the town is located 15 miles east of Sandia Park.
Bruss drew inspiration from her family’s daily routine, watching wildlife from their front porch.
“It came from my favorite spot—our front porch. My family and I often sit and watch and listen to the vibrant hummingbirds zoom around us with the New Mexico mountains and fiery sunsets as the backdrop,” she said. “That moment—active, vibrant, and uniquely East Mountains—became the heart of the design.”
Olivas, who represents District 5 including the East Mountains, said that signs announcing Sandia Park will be placed in appropriate areas within its boundaries.
The community gathering also served as a platform for officials to oppose the proposed Campbell Ranch development, with Lord stating she and her colleagues “are not going to stand around while lawyers and developers treat the East Mountains as their personal playground as a way to make money.”
The three government officials emphasized the importance of unity in continuing opposition to developments like Campbell Ranch, citing concerns about limited resources for public safety, road maintenance and declining water supply.
