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Santa Fe County will start construction on the Romero Park (formerly known as Agua Fria Park), located off County Rd 62 in the historic Village of Agua Fria on Monday, April 6, 2015. During construction the park will be closed. Construction is expected to last approximately six months, with an anticipated completion date of October 2015. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Romero Park improvements will be constructed in two parts. The first is the civil improvements including grading, access improvements and hardscape features like sidewalks and paved areas. The second part is for the landscape improvements including shade structure, play area, site furnishings, planting and irrigation improvements. EMCO of Santa Fe will perform the civil work in the amount of $331,622.35 while Accent Landscape Contractors, INC. will perform the landscape work in the amount of $453,738.00.

Romero Park is an existing community park that is being updated. Phase I Park Improvements include a new community lawn, playground for 5-12 year old children, shade structure and family picnic area, new access drive and parking, connector trails and walkways, signage, landscaping, and irrigation. New park elements are organized around select existing park facilities to remain. Existing amenities to remain include a basketball court, baseball field, dog park, playground for children ages 3-5 year old, and a restroom/concession building.

The Romero Park design process involved extensive public outreach including a public input survey, focus group meetings with park user groups, and four public meetings . Design Office completed the design for the Phase I Improvements in August 2014. The construction cost for Phase I is $1,000,000. Construction contracts have been awarded to EMCO of Santa Fe for civil improvements and to Accent Landscape Contractor, Inc. for landscape improvements.

The park was originally developed in the 1970s under the Federal Land Water and Conservation Fund Program. Santa Fe County received a patent for the 70 acre park from the Bureau of Land Management under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act in 1971.

For more information on this project please contact Colleen Baker at 505- 992-9868 or CBaker@santafecountynm.gov.