Campus Park's second and final phase expected to be 'substantially complete' by April

RIO RANCHO — The second and final phase of Campus Park is expected to be substantially completed by mid-April, helping to bring to fruition a project years in the making to develop the up-and-coming area of City Center.

The temporarily shuttered park, located at 2516 King Boulevard Northeast, opened in July 2021 with amenities including walking paths, shaded picnic tables, a meditation maze and a performing arts space with elevated amphitheater seating during the project’s first phase. The second phase will have additional pathways and performance space, dedicated space for vendors, and areas with shade.

“We encourage the citizens of Rio Rancho to come out and enjoy the amenities of Campus Park when it reopens,” wrote Jaley Turpen, communications specialist for the city of Rio Rancho, in an email.

A grand opening event is scheduled for April 26 during the city’s 23rd annual Park ‘n the Park Car Show, she added.

However, progress on the park, with a city sign noting construction and a chain-linked fence around the perimeter, appeared nowhere near complete. Inside the fence was a dirt floor and construction equipment. When asked about the scheduled grand opening despite the project’s progress, Turpen told the Observer that any changes to the event will be posted to the city’s website and social media pages.

The creation of Campus Park is detailed in the city’s 2017-22 strategic plan, passed by the governing body, calling on city staff to “develop plans and identify funding sources in order to create a signature outdoor community gathering space in the City Center area.” City Center, perched in a still highly rural section of Rio Rancho, includes City Hall, the Rio Rancho Events Center, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences, Central New Mexico Community College, HP Inc., and the Broadmoor Senior Center, which opened the same year as Campus Park and is also undergoing a second phase addition.

City officials envisioned that in addition to city residents, Campus Park would be a destination for college students and higher education staff located in City Center and those who work there.

The second phase of City Park came with a price tag of $5.2 million, including revenue from the state’s gross receipt tax, higher education facilities gross receipt tax, the Legislature’s capital outlay allocations, and city park impact fees.

Campus Park Phase 2 was designed by Pland Collaborative and constructed by Compass Engineering & Construction Services, both of Albuquerque.