The City of Albuquerque broke ground on April 13 for the Santa Barbara Martineztown Community Garden, launching a project aimed at expanding access to fresh foods and fostering neighborhood connections.
The new community garden will be located on land owned by Albuquerque Public Schools, just north of Santa Barbara Park and next to Albuquerque High School. The initiative is part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s efforts under a long-term lease with APS to transform an underused space into a place where residents can grow food, spend time outdoors, and build community ties.
Mayor Tim Keller joined APS Director of Real Estate Serina Gallegos, President of the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association Loretta Naranjo Lopez, Director of Parks and Recreation David Simon, community members, and project partners at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This is the kind of project that starts small, with seeds and soil, but grows into something much bigger for the neighborhood,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’re creating a place where families can grow their own food, kids can learn where food comes from, and neighbors can build something meaningful together.”
Phase 1 will include planting boxes, fruit trees, irrigation systems, ADA-accessible pathways and parking spaces, shaded seating areas with picnic tables, and fencing for safety. Construction begins April 20 with completion expected by late June. Phase 2 is planned but depends on additional funding; it would add more orchard space as well as expanded gathering areas.
Funding comes from $320,000 in state capital outlay provided over several years by State Representative Javier Martinez along with former State Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino and the late State Senator Bill O’Neill. “The Santa Barbara Martineztown neighborhood has faced more than its fair share of challenges and adversity over the years… Today… is rebuilding once more – preserving its rich history while also investing in new projects like opening the multi-gen center… revitalizing the neighborhood park… now building this community garden that will make life better for generations to come,” said New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque).
Gallegos said: “APS is excited to have another great joint collaboration with the City… It’s in the great Santa Barbara Martineztown strong community…” Simon added: “A strong partnership among APS Parks and the community has brought this project …to life…. We are excited to see people literally dig in here…”
The city has played an important role as a cultural landmark through venues such as KiMo Theatre which fostered gatherings over decades according to its history page. The city maintains historic sites like KiMo Theatre featuring Pueblo Deco architecture as detailed on its official history page. Albuquerque’s government establishes goals through council duties including budget approval as described online, operating under a structure where members elect leaders annually according to council history. The KiMo Theatre itself blends Pueblo Art Deco styles built in 1927 as an entertainment hub as noted officially.
Albuquerque’s influence extends across nine districts shaped by historical developments such as railroads according to city timelines.
The launch of this garden reflects ongoing commitments by local officials toward accessible green spaces driven by sustainability practices.
