Around 25 miles of new walking and biking trails may be developed on the west side of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, according to a proposal being discussed by city officials.
Officially called the West Mesa Trails Plan, the proposal is designed to connect trails already in existence spanning the West Mesa, creating a single network.
By design, the current and future trails slice through up to 3,800 acres of desert landscape, terrain that includes everything from parks to arroyos to ancient volcanic features.
Once completed, a cohesive trail network could be used by not just by walkers and casual bikers, but also horseback riders and mountain bikers.
The city has already conducted one public input meeting on the proposal in April, with plans for the next meeting scheduled for June 23 at the Don Newton-Taylor Ranch Community Center.
Besides the health benefits to be gained by the use of a comprehensive trail, city officials have also noted that such a trail could provide connectivity not only between existing subdivisions, but also future ones in a part of the city that has seen its population more than double in the last two decades to its current more than 200,000.
The proposal is being done in conjunction with Bernalillo County as well as the National Park Service.
By Garry Boulard
