Los Alamos Reporter

County Community Services Director Highlights Key Projects And Expanded Programming For Summer

BY CORY STYRON
Community Services Department Director
Los Alamos County

With spring right around the corner, staff in the divisions comprising the Community Services Department (CSD) are working hard to improve and expand programming in time for the busy outdoor season. We’d like to highlight some of the key projects and expanded programming we have for the summer, from increased hours to several facility renovations, and the many opportunities for the community to participate in the planning process. 

If you have any questions, contact me at cory.styron@lacnm.us or any of the staff contacts.  Further information on these and other projects can be found online at the Los Alamos County Projects page.

This summer’s projects will impact several CSD divisions, including:

  • Library;
  • Recreation, including Ice Rink, Aquatics, and Golf;
  • Parks & Open Space; and
  • Social Services, including services for teens, seniors, and families.

Library Manager Gwen Kalavaza and her team are working to develop some new programs as well as maintain the community’s favorite programs and events. The Los Alamos Community Seed Library is in its second year and is now available at both the White Rock Branch and Mesa Public libraries. You can check out seeds and return them in the Fall after the growing season ends. Also explore the Library of Things – a collection of non-traditional library items. Check back often as this collection is growing! Visit losalamoslibrary.org and its calendar page at lacnm.com/LibraryCalendar to learn more. 

An outdoor classroom and event space project is under consideration to add much-needed capacity at the Mesa Public Library. The project scope includes a small classroom and stage area with a canopy roof for approximately 50 or more people, to be located between Mesa Public Library and Betty Ehart Senior Center and shared between the two facilities. Listening sessions for the pre-design stages will be held in April 2024.  

Recreation Superintendent Katherine Hudspeth and her team are gearing up for a busy spring and summer event season. Our three main recreational assets in the County are the Los Alamos Golf Course, Los Alamos County Ice Rink, and the Aquatic Center. Check the schedule in the Spring 2024 Activity Guide, available in print at the County’s recreation facilities, the Chamber of Commerce office, the Municipal Building, and select Los Alamos National Laboratory facilities. The Activity Guide is also online. Call our staff at 505.662.8170 if you need assistance. 

The Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center has expanded the number of swim lessons available this year to better meet the needs of learners of different levels and abilities. Registration for group and individual lessons are now available online and at the Aquatic Center website. The Aquatic Center has been making progress in overcoming the lifeguard shortage and will be offering swim lessons provided by lifeguard staff, beginning in April. Additionally, discussions have begun regarding increasing the facility hours on Saturday and Sunday by two additional hours. 

The equestrian community’s input received during fall of 2023 has resulted in new programs and offerings. In coordination with the Los Alamos Pony Club, the Recreation Division is planning five (5) horse play days (Gymkhana) throughout the summer of 2024. 

The Rodeo Royalty Court will be happening once again this year. The name has changed from Queen’s Court to Northern New Mexico Royalty Court, to allow for more participation and inclusivity. Please get the word out that ladies and gentlemen from all over Northern New Mexico, ages 6 and up, are invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Northern New Mexico Fair and Rodeo Court Competition. Entry registration is now through 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The registration entry form is available online. Entry registration forms for the Rodeo Court Competition may be turned in at the Aquatic Center or emailed to lacrec@lacnm.us.

Community members can participate in making the Northern New Mexico Royalty Court event the best it can be by volunteering for event planning and execution. The Royalty Court Committee is taking applications for new committee memberships online now through the end of March. Interviews will be conducted in April.

The permanent chiller replacement at the Ice Rink is being evaluated this summer by recreation staff along with Capital Projects and Facilities staff. This includes an assessment of the slab and refrigeration lines and will determine many of the required factors needed to properly address a future shade structure. The temporary chiller worked well last winter and will be used again next year due to the manufacturing lead time for permanent equipment. Although the Ice Rink is closed for the winter season, the facility will host Roller Skate Nights and Roller Derby events throughout the summer.

The Parks & Open Spaces Division, led by Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker, oversees and maintains 45 parks and over 120 miles of developed trails, with a total of 6,175 acres of parks and open space throughout the county. Many of these parks are included in the Plan to renovate county tennis and basketball courts and sports fields over the next three years; several of these renovations are well overdue. In addition, Open Space Specialist, Eric Peterson is currently looking for volunteers to assist him in restoring trails throughout the county. www.volunteerlosalamos.org

Field renovations will begin this summer at Hope Field, Bomber Field, and Dara Jones Soccer. These fields will be closed from mid-May until September or October. The field renovation project process is intensive – requiring stripping the fields, laser-leveling and re-grading the infield and outfield, adjusting irrigation heads, and finally installing new turf. After the sod is installed, each field will require six to eight weeks of closure for the sod to become well-established with a good root zone able to accommodate league play and event foot traffic for many years. 

Court renovations are scheduled to start this summer with the demolition and replacement of the basketball court at East Park, and the tennis courts at North Mesa. Public comment on the designs for the courts will begin in Spring 2024. Keep an eye out for notices to the media and information on the county project pages located at losalamosnm.us/county-projects under the “Parks & Open Space Projects” button. Playground improvements are moving ahead at the Piñon  Park and 37th St. Playgrounds. 

White Rock Skate Park renovations are underway. Modular elements will be replaced by American Ramp Company (ARC), which is widely known across the country for skatepark design and construction. ARC sought resident feedback through an online survey and a public meet and greet held March 9. ARC representatives are evaluating this feedback and will provide the next steps to county staff. The modular park in White Rock and the concrete park in Los Alamos provide a wide variety of experiences for the skating community. 

The Trails and Open Space Management Plan is underway to update and consolidate the 2009 and 2022 Trail Management Planning Documents; 2013 Community Trail Plan; 2015 Open Space Management Plan; 2022 Trailhead Assessment; 2022 Americans with Disabilities Act Audit and Transition Plan; 2023 Canyon Restoration Feasibility Assessment; and the 2023 Community Services Department (“CSD”) Integrated Master Plan. The planning process will have several opportunities for community input and discussion. Stay tuned for announcements to the media. 

Social Services director Jessica Strong leads a team that seeks to connect resources to those who may need assistance. She, her staff, and area partners are working towards tying our community and regional partners into a closed-loop referral system to better serve those who are facing life challenges. In addition, the Los Alamos County Health Council (LACHC) is working to complete the Comprehensive Health Plan (CHP). We want to thank the community members who have participated so far. Please be on the lookout for a postcard mailed later this spring inviting you to take our community-wide health survey. You can reach the Social Services team at 505.662.8068 for information on financial and housing resources and referrals to additional services.  

Discover all the ways your quality of life is enhanced by the divisions above and find new ways to get to know Los Alamos County and CSD more this summer. Try something new! Visit a facility you have not been to before, attend the Friday night Summer Concert Series, hike a new-to-you trail with friends, or have a picnic in the park. Ask Social Services for help, refer a friend, or donate to a local food bank! The Los Alamos community is full of life and thriving, and CSD will continue our mission to keep our quality of life high.

On a final note, keeping our community clean is everyone’s responsibility. Please help us keep our community clean by picking up after your pets. Pet waste is required to be picked up in parks, athletic fields, and within 100 feet of a trailhead or trail link. Let’s all do our part in keeping our parks, trails, and open space areas clean as we enjoy our natural surroundings. 

Follow your dreams and passions!