National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Community Assistance Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program New Mexico News A mesa at San Ildefonso Pueblo Photo Credit: MARELBU courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 2020 PROJECTS The National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program supports nonprofit organizations, community groups, tribes, and local, state, and federal government agencies. We help partners work together to create parks, develop trails and greenways, protect rivers and natural areas, and increase access to recreation opportunities. We help you engage a wide range of 5 2 community partners and also work to connect you to National Park Service (NPS) managed areas. 1 The RTCA program in New Mexico offers a wide range of services that can be tailored to meet the needs of an individual project. The NPS staff members are trained facilitators who 3 encourage project leaders to build collaborative partnerships among governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. We help communities and groups define their vision, goals, and objectives; analyze issues and opportunities; and develop 4 strategic action plans and time lines for projects. We do not 6 provide financial assistance, but can help project partners identify 7 and secure sources of funding and technical support. Find out more about how the National Park Service is supporting projects in New Mexico on the next page. CURRENT PROJECTS 1. Tucumcari Five Mile Park 2. Crownpoint Pathways 3. Rio Grande Trail - Socorro Valley Segment 4. Truth or Consequences Trails & River Access 5. San Ildefonso Pueblo Trails 6. Western New Mexico Internship Collaborative 7. NPS Visitation and Tourism Strategy in New Mexico View of the Rio Grande Trail - Socorro Valley Segment area. Photo Credit: National Park Service Current Projects 1. T ucumcari Five Mile Park 5. San Ildefonso Pueblo Trails 7. NPS Visitation and Tourism Project Partner: Greater Tucumcari Project Partner: San Ildefonso Strategy in New Mexico Economic Development Pueblo Project Partner: Superintendents in Corporation New Mexico Project Goal Project Goal Develop a research funding Project Goal Revitalize Five Mile Park as an proposal (RFP) with the Pueblo Park superintendents will important outdoor recreation to hire a signing consultant determine which parks are under resource for local residents and using a $20,000 grant from the and over utilized and ways the Route 66 travelers. Department of Energy, Legacy parks can help local, state, and Management Program. The RFP federal partners in identifying and 2. Cr ownpoint Pathways will be based on the pueblos draft highlighting local recreation assets Project Partner: Navajo Technical Recreation Plan. with the goal of encouraging University the traveling public to stay an additional day to help stimulate Project Goal 6. Western New Mexico University Internship local economies. Provide safe pedestrian Collaborative connectivity between Navajo Project Partner: Western New education centers, and incorporate Mexico University educational enrichment activities for tribal students and Crownpoint Project Goal community members. The University will collaborate to build meaningful interagency 3. Rio Grande Trail - Socorro youth leadership and educational Valley Segment programming through academic, Project Partner: Save Our Bosque volunteer, and internship Task Force experiences in natural and cultural resources. This will provide youth Project Goal with career laddering experiences Complete a 25 mile section of the from high school through Rio Grande Trail from San Acaia college and create enthusiasm in to San Antonio, NM. Identify final promoting the next generation of trail alignments, design guidelines public land leaders, stewards, and and management and stewardship advocates. strategies 4. T ruth or Consequences Bike rider in Socorro, New Mexico. Trails & River Access Photo Credit: Save our Bosque Task Force Project Partner: City of Truth or Consequences Project Goal Develop a 3 segment of the Rio Grande Trail connecting the City of Truth or Consequences to the Village of Williamsburg. River access areas will be improved to create a 7 mile water trail on the Rio Grande. Western New Mexico University students participating in a wilderness backpack trip. Photo Credit: Kathy Whiteman Recent Successes Española Walkability Audit The City is known as the Lowrider Capitol of the World which is reflected in the car-centric land use patterns. Until recently, residents didn’t think safe and connected sidewalks and pathways was a possibility. That changed after the City partnered with the National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program and University of New Mexico, Prevention Research Center to conduct a walkability audit. Over fifty people participated in a walkability audit and provided feedback about pedestrian safety along five main corridors located near the City’s main plaza. The results of the audit showed much of the infrastructure around the City deteriorating and poorly designed by State and local governments. This was evident by the lack of sidewalks and missing safety features like crosswalks. With the results of the walkability findings, short and long term pathway goals were prioritized and included in a Pathway Action Plan. As a result of the walkability audit, the City obtained grant funding from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to complete a Transition Plan. Following completion of this plan, the City will apply for funding to make necessary safety and pathway improvements. Pueblo de San Ildefonso Recreation Plan The Pueblo with help from the NPS RTCA and the New Mexico Healthy Kids Programs completed a draft Recreation Plan that included 12 miles of trails. The plan identified areas that residents could experience the outdoors for physical and spiritual well- being. To gather ideas for recreation amenities and trails, a survey was distributed to residents and available on-line. Over 10 % of the population (65 residents) responded to the survey. In addition to the survey, over fifteen youth council members provided their ideas and a trail committee met in person twice a month for over a year. Based on the plan and needs for signing, the Pueblo was awarded $20,000 from the Department of Energy, Legacy Management Program. This award was for sign design, fabrication, and installation. In addition to this grant, the Pueblo was awarded $43,000 from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corp. This funding is for youth crew employment. The crew will work half the summer at Bandelier National Monument and the other half at the Pueblo implementing elements of the Recreation Plan. Environmental education through elder teaching and other methods will be incorporated into the crew schedule. We’re Here For You Could your project benefit from NPS Staff Assistance? Contact us to find out. Attila Bality 505.346.2871x213 [email protected] Photo Above: Alison Gillette, Espanola City Planner, presenting at the Walkability Audit. Marcy DeMillion Photo Credit: Ashley Cummings. 505-819-1476 Photo Below: Kids fishing at the Pueblo de San Ildefonso. Photo Credit: Martha Cook [email protected] Find more information about the program and application process, visit www.nps.gov/rtca.