Bernalillo County has received a grant of $256,962 from the state's Outdoor Recreation Division to enhance access to the Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge. The funding is part of the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant initiative, specifically earmarked for "shovel-ready" conservation projects across the state.
The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 2012, is dedicated to restoring 570 acres of farmland in Albuquerque's South Valley to its natural state. This marks it as the first urban wildlife refuge in the Southwest. Bernalillo County, working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will use these funds for the "Bosque Bridges" project. The goal of this project is to connect the Paseo del Bosque bike path (which will soon become part of the Rio Grande Trail route) with the perimeter trail of Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge, thereby improving access for residents of South Valley. The completion of these bridges will establish a link between the refuge and existing trail system in bosque, according to a press release by Bernalillo County.
District 2 Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada said, "Thanks to this grant, we’ll be able to link up the Valle de Oro Urban Wildlife Refuge with the rest of bosque. It’s an important project that will not only make it easier for community members to access these open spaces but also builds on our longstanding relationship with them over years we’ve been working on this project together," according to a press release by Bernalillo County.
According to information provided on their About webpage, New Mexico's Outdoor Recreation Division aims to contribute significantly towards economic development, conservation, equity, education and public health. Success hinges on close collaboration with businesses, nonprofits and state and federal partners within New Mexico. The division is committed to ensuring that all residents of New Mexico enjoy benefits associated with sustainable outdoor recreation including public health improvements, environmental conservation and economic benefits.