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Spring fever has broken out at the new Phil Chacon Park
Park opening is just in time for dog walkers, families and sports enthusiasts
This commentary was submitted to City Desk ABQ. You can submit your own: editor@nm.news
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s almost here. Just like the whole Trumbull and Elder neighborhoods, I’m anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the Phil Chacon Park May 3. I’m looking forward to the shaded walkways, the benches and all the places to gather.
My 15-year-old dog, Kinsie, is looking forward to the free-roam dog park, too. She’s the fourth dog I’ve had who’s sniffed around in this park. In the past year we’ve been fighting the traffic on Southern Blvd. for our walks.
The park has been closed since 2022 as the city has completely rebuilt it with a little something for everyone, especially families. I’ve been peeking through the fence, and I’m amazed at what they’ve done. I would have been happy with just fixing the turf and making a few renovations, but this is a total rebuild.
They’ve removed all the graffiti, redone the playing fields, watered the trees and planted tons of new ones. I’ve been flipping through all the photos I’ve taken on my phone. It’s almost a historic document and it shows all the improvements.
I’ve lived in the area around the park since 1963 and still live in the same house my mother did right next to the fence of Kirtland Air Force Base. The park, which is located to the east of Van Buren Middle School, was built in 1997 on land partially donated by the base.
Rugby teams played there on one of the playing fields until the prairie dog holes got so bad.
Then came the homeless, who camped out on the wide-open spaces, sometimes even bringing furniture to set up a living room. Used syringes were a frequent sight and maintenance of the park became difficult. The low point came around December 2022, when the park was closed.
The park is surrounded by some older single-family homes, but mostly lots of apartment buildings, located off Louisiana. The city did a good job of getting input from the Trumbull and the Elder neighborhoods and the park will include a lot of the stuff we wanted—and more.
It will be great for the families with small children in apartments with no yard. Now there will be a pleasant place to go for a picnic and a variety of play opportunities, not just your standard playground. There is a nature play area where kids can play in a more natural environment with boulders and tree stumps to climb on. There is space for a community garden in which trees have already been planted.
There’s a permanent fence around the park, which we’re hoping will discourage misuse. It’s going to be a busy place, and that will help too. Features like a disc golf area, a futsal court and pump tracks for bikes will draw their own clubs and crowds. We’re hoping for entertainment events at the performance area, too, with shows that reflect our international community.
During the many months of construction, I have spoken with several of the workers and a few supervisors to express our neighborhood’s gratitude for all of the work they have done to give us such a beautiful community area. Hats off to the City Parks and Recreation Department and Accent Landscaping for making it all possible.
Nonprofit journalism like this depends on readers like you. This story is supported by City Desk ABQ, a nonprofit newsroom project of Citizen Media Group.
Become a supporter to keep City Desk free and support nonprofit, independent journalists covering politics and policy f0r New Mexico newsrooms.
Spring fever has broken out at the new Phil Chacon Park
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By Diantha Swoboda
This commentary was submitted to City Desk ABQ.
You can submit your own: editor@nm.news
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s almost here. Just like the whole Trumbull and Elder neighborhoods, I’m anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the Phil Chacon Park May 3. I’m looking forward to the shaded walkways, the benches and all the places to gather.
My 15-year-old dog, Kinsie, is looking forward to the free-roam dog park, too. She’s the fourth dog I’ve had who’s sniffed around in this park. In the past year we’ve been fighting the traffic on Southern Blvd. for our walks.
The park has been closed since 2022 as the city has completely rebuilt it with a little something for everyone, especially families. I’ve been peeking through the fence, and I’m amazed at what they’ve done. I would have been happy with just fixing the turf and making a few renovations, but this is a total rebuild.
They’ve removed all the graffiti, redone the playing fields, watered the trees and planted tons of new ones. I’ve been flipping through all the photos I’ve taken on my phone. It’s almost a historic document and it shows all the improvements.
I’ve lived in the area around the park since 1963 and still live in the same house my mother did right next to the fence of Kirtland Air Force Base. The park, which is located to the east of Van Buren Middle School, was built in 1997 on land partially donated by the base.
Rugby teams played there on one of the playing fields until the prairie dog holes got so bad.
Then came the homeless, who camped out on the wide-open spaces, sometimes even bringing furniture to set up a living room. Used syringes were a frequent sight and maintenance of the park became difficult. The low point came around December 2022, when the park was closed.
The park is surrounded by some older single-family homes, but mostly lots of apartment buildings, located off Louisiana. The city did a good job of getting input from the Trumbull and the Elder neighborhoods and the park will include a lot of the stuff we wanted—and more.
It will be great for the families with small children in apartments with no yard. Now there will be a pleasant place to go for a picnic and a variety of play opportunities, not just your standard playground. There is a nature play area where kids can play in a more natural environment with boulders and tree stumps to climb on. There is space for a community garden in which trees have already been planted.
There’s a permanent fence around the park, which we’re hoping will discourage misuse. It’s going to be a busy place, and that will help too. Features like a disc golf area, a futsal court and pump tracks for bikes will draw their own clubs and crowds. We’re hoping for entertainment events at the performance area, too, with shows that reflect our international community.
During the many months of construction, I have spoken with several of the workers and a few supervisors to express our neighborhood’s gratitude for all of the work they have done to give us such a beautiful community area. Hats off to the City Parks and Recreation Department and Accent Landscaping for making it all possible.
Diantha Swoboda is an Albuquerque resident.
Supported by City Desk ABQ
Nonprofit journalism like this depends on readers like you. This story is supported by City Desk ABQ, a nonprofit newsroom project of Citizen Media Group.
Learn more about City Desk ABQBecome a supporter to keep City Desk free and support nonprofit, independent journalists covering politics and policy f0r New Mexico newsrooms.