Exactly $500,000 in funding has been secured for a project that will see the building of a new shelter and various amenities at the Chaparral Park in the southeast New Mexico city of Lovington.
The funding is coming through the Outdoor Recreation Division of the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
The 80-acre park, located at 1005 S. Commercial Street on the southeast side of the city, has long been known for its 20-acre lake as well as softball, basketball, and volleyball facilities. But city leaders for some time have wanted to replace an aging shelter in the park with a larger facility.
According to a press release issued by the City of Lovington, what is being called the Chaparral Park Revitalization project will see the upgrading of “aging and dilapidated park amenities” in an effort to enhance a “gathering place for the hard-working families in Lea County.”
The Outdoor Recreation Division grant for the Chaparral Park work is one of thirteen projects statewide receiving a total of nearly $2 million in funding for outdoor recreation facility work.
In a statement, Karina Armijo, director of the Division, said the grant awards are not “just an investment in infrastructure,” but rather “an investment in community well-being, economic development, and the preservation of our natural heritage for future generations.”
By Garry Boulard
Image: Courtesy of the City of Lovington
