The ongoing allure of soccer throughout New Mexico was on particular display during the most recent session of the New Mexico State Legislature as lawmakers voted to approve funding for a new soccer facility in Santa Fe.
A capital outlay appropriation of $3.4 million was passed and subsequently signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for the expansion of the Municipal Recreation Complex Soccer Valley facility.
The facility, which opened in 1988, has long been well-used, but in recent years has experienced an explosion in attendance among youth sports teams playing what is arguably one of the state’s most popular sports.
The $3.4 million was part of just over $135 million in capital outlay funding approved for around one hundred projects within the borders of Santa Fe County.
Additional big-ticket items include $5 million for the restoration of the Bataan Memorial Building, located at 400 Don Gaspar Avenue; another $5 million for improvements to the Center for Contemporary Arts, at 1050 Old Pecos Trail; and $4.5 million for the building of a new access road to the Santa Fe Regional Airport.
Some $2.2 million is targeting the renovation of the Department of Public Safety’s Training Center at 4491 Cerrillos Road, also in Santa Fe.
Exactly $2 million has been approved for renovation work to the facilities of the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department at 1120 Paseo Del Peralta; with $1.6 million going for the construction of Santa Fe Paseo Real Wastewater Treatment facility.
Governor Lujan Grisham this year vetoed only two capital outlay appropriations approved by lawmakers for Santa Fe County: $80,000 for road and walkway at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden; and $175,000 for facility work at the Santa Fe Indigenous Center.
By Garry Boulard
