Funding from Washington Secured for Popular Taos Recreation Park

Located at 939 Salazar Road in an open rural area with impressive mountain views, the Filemon Sanchez Park in Taos has long been a local and regional favorite with regularly scheduled softball games, picnic, and walking space.

Now Taos officials are studying a master plan to upgrade the 10-acre park, situated around two miles to the southeast of the Taos Town Plaza.

New Mexico Democrat Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez has secured funding to improve the park, which was first opened in the summer of 1982.

In a letter to the House Appropriations Committee asking for $1 million in funding, Leger Fernandez remarked that the park for some time has been in a “state of disrepair.”

She also, noting the nearly 7,000-foot altitude of Taos, commented that “revitalization of the park at a high altitude would provide revenue to the Town of Taos by giving it the ability to host soccer, baseball, and softball tournaments with the teams around the region.”

The condition of the Filemon Sanchez Park has also been on the minds of town officials, especially after an agreement was forged last fall, transferring ownership of the park from the County of Taos to the city.

In a recent staff presentation before members of the Taos Town Council a master plan for refurbishing the park was discussed. That refurbishment, which could cost as much as $6 million, would most likely include the upgrading of recreation and soft ball areas, as well as general building facilities and parking lot work.

A proposal has also been aired to put on this November’s ballot in Taos a $7.5 million general obligation bond that would go toward bringing the park up to date.

​By Garry Boulard

No Responses

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.

Leave a Reply

Get stories like these right to your inbox. ​Sign up for our newsletter
Archives
Construction Reporter

Show Password Forgot Password?