Pitch perfect: Los Altos park officially reopens after $15 million renovation

Jul. 21—Play ball! The more than $15 million renovation of Los Altos Park officially slid into second base with the completion of the first phase of construction. Renovations, which included a fifth softball field — making the park the largest softball complex in the city — started in the summer of 2021. City and state officials marked the reopening of the park at 10100 Lomas NE with fireworks and a ceremonial pitch on Thursday. The team included City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn and Renee Grout, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, state Reps. Liz Thomson and Debra Sariñana, as well as Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, and Director of Parks and Recreation Dave Simon. "We all have rounded these bases. We all have cheered in these stands," Keller said. "And we're so excited because now another generation, and another generation after that, is going to be able to do the same thing right here at Los Altos." Simon said the 60-year-old park had long been in need of an update, citing aging lighting, irrigation systems and facilities. For a while, the park didn't have operational bathrooms, Simon said, and relied on portable toilets. Now, a new building in the park will serve as a community space with permanent restrooms. All five softball fields were also brought up to regulation size. "These fields are now 300 feet, which means I may never hit a home run again," said Simon, a softball player himself, who was sporting a Hebrew National jersey. Many speakers at the event praised former city councilor Diane Gibson, who championed the project. Gibson previously expressed concerns about the permission of alcohol on the premises, and proposed legislation to limit alcohol consumption at the park. The legislation ultimately wasn't adopted. Los Altos is one of about eight parks in the city that permit alcohol consumption, Simon said. The city maintains and manages approximately 290 parks. Like Los Altos, most of the other parks that allow drinking are athletic complexes. Simon said he thinks some of the concerns about alcohol will be alleviated due to increased security at the park and the cutback on vacant space. The infamously poor lighting has been upgraded, a perimeter fence was added, and there are two security offices incorporated throughout park buildings. Metro security will staff the area. Cameras around the area connect to the Real Time Crime Center. The road, which previously cut through the center of the park, was replaced with a grassy promenade. Simon said that the previous design of the park was unsafe for cars and pedestrians. Now, parking lots frame Los Altos with a road circling the park. Alcohol will be for sale at games and special events. But the concessions area has yet to open. Phase 2 of the renovation includes adding a BMX track, improving the playground, which was removed during renovations, building a horseshoe pit and relocating the dog park. The park has remained closed since the start of construction two years ago. Simon hopes the park will attract more softball tournaments, and bring back the number of sporting events to pre-pandemic levels. Events will start gradually, Simon said, but he expects the park will be ready for the Fall League. "I'm just waiting for that first home run," Simon said.