People who live near a newly approved development in Tower Pond Park are concerned that it could bring more crime to the area.
Developers plan to use shipping containers to build a concession stand, bathrooms, and meeting rooms, according to KRQE. Residents of 86th Street in Albuquerque said they were not properly notified about the development, which will feature approximately 12 houses.
"My main concern is that there will be public bathrooms," resident Loretta Luna Romero told KRQE. "There will be drug use. There will be more crime than we already have."
City officials are meeting with residents at Tower Pond Park to hear their concerns and said they informed people who live within 100 feet of the proposed construction, KRQE reported. Officials from the city's Parks and Recreation Department said the development will be created in conjunction with West Gate Little League, which is housed at a southeast Albuquerque park.
"We are not wanting this to be an eyesore of any kind," David Flores, deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said. "We want this to be a properly designed and built facility that the neighborhood is going to be proud of."
An unnamed spokesperson for the Parks and Recreation Department said they will consult with residents before construction begins, according to KRQE. They plan to ensure that everyone around Tower Pond Park has input on the development. The project is expected to cost $3 million; construction is scheduled to begin in approximately two years.
The West Gate Little League will be responsible for cleaning and servicing the complex, which will be fully enclosed, gated, and locked, KRQE reported.