The City of Albuquerque has sky-high plans for Balloon Fiesta Park as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, KRQE reported.
The city is requesting $17 million from the state to add archways on both ends of Main Street, add a promenade on Vendors Row, improve parking lots, and add more permanent buildings, the station said.
“Mayor Keller has proposed a 50 for 50 initiative to honor and improve the Balloon Fiesta with the $50 million investment on the eve of its 50th anniversary,” Dave Simon, director of Parks and Recreation, said to KRQE. “We have a comprehensive plan to improve every aspect of the Balloon Fiesta Park, starting with the one thing I know everybody wants, which is more permanent restrooms."
The state has approved funding for an exit from the frontage road to south I-25 near Balloon Fiesta Parkway to help clear traffic after events, and the plan is awaiting federal approval, KRQE said.
If the additional $17 million is approved, construction could start later this year.
A major selling point for the state funding is that the Balloon Fiesta, which will be held October 1-9 this year, is one of the state's major tourist attractions, KRQE said.
"The Balloon Fiesta is the premier international ballooning event, powered by the typically perfect October climate and a phenomenon called the 'Albuquerque Box,'" the Fiesta said on its website. The Albuquerque Box results from a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape; the Box allows balloonists to control and even retrace their adventures. That is great for spectators and pilots because they can possibly take off and land from the same location, the Fiesta said.
