Mayor Tim Keller stated in a recent tweet that Albuquerque is striving to create well-lit streets in the Wells Park neighborhood.
The investment will bring 52 new street lights to the neighborhood, which is one of Albuquerque's oldest areas.
"Today, we’re taking a big step forward in Wells Park with a $4 million investment in well-lit streets that are accessible for all, and our work continues from there" said Keller in a tweet on June 8. "The Wells Park Neighborhood Report is a model for the collaborative process of addressing community priorities."
Other Albuquerque city officials complained of the walkways in the Wells Park area and expressed hope that they would be improved by the city.
“So as you walk through the area there are areas where the sidewalks are either folding or buckling or there is no sidewalk or they’re cracked beyond repair. We hope to get as many of the 6,000 feet repaired as we possibly can,” said Pat Montoya, director of Municipal Development for Albuquerque .
The bulk of the investment will be used for making Wells Park's sidewalks ADA compliant, which is expected to cost $3 million. According to a KRQE report, this is in response to an accessibility survey that revealed that 28 intersections in Wells Park have "inadequate" lighting. Work on the lights is anticipated to be completed by the end of June.
Several projects are underway in Wells Park. The historical Albuquerque neighborhood is seeing new portable restrooms and handwashing stations at Coronado Park, a new Albuquerque Police Department bike patrol unit, strategic response to homeless encampments and more. A 2.2 acre property was also acquired by the city with $4 million earmarked for creating a new public park in the neighborhood.