Place

Ed Barsis Park at Four Hills Village

Running Water Circle SE Albequerque, NM 87123

Started July 2014, completed June 2015


About

Located in a part of Albuquerque, NM that previously lacked public parks, the Ed Barsis neighborhood park is an inviting ecosystem of play that provides children and adults with limitless sense of connection and exploration.

Categories PlaceBotanic & ArboretumParks & Play SpacesRecreation

Project Details

Overview

This project is a neighborhood park that is approximately 1 acre. It is in a part of town that did not have any public parks and was designed to be a different kind of space. The distinct feature of the park is that the entire space is designed to be a complex ecosystem of play that fosters a limitless sense of connection and exploration. Dense tree plantings, natural boulder edgers, loose materials, such as small stones to decorate, and changes in elevation invite children to creatively go beyond the designated paths and playground equipment.

The City of Albuquerque led the effort to rethink what a park looks like and how it functions, eagerly encouraging a different approach to design. The neighborhood demographics were changing as young families were moving into older houses, so residents embraced a new approach that has become the center of community activity. Children are challenged to find new discoveries in a place that encourages engagement with nature.

The project won a New Mexico ASLA design award in 2018.

Construction Details

Design Firm
Pland Collaborative

Project Managers
Greg Miller

General Contractor
City of Albuquerque

Start Date
July 2014

End Date
June 2015

Funders & Supporters:

  • Owner - City of Albuquerque
  • David Flores Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Department
  • Laurie Firor Division Manager Parks and Recreation Department
  • Dave Simon, Director Parks and Recreation Department

Recent Case Studies

Four sticks are bound together by twine, creating a frame around pink-colored leaves and pink paper hearts that say “I LOVE YOU MOM” in a child’s handwriting.

Program

Bearfoot Occupational Therapy

Bearfoot Occupational Therapy provides nature-based pediatric occupational therapy that combines expert guidance with transformational sessions to unlock the best version of a child's most authentic self. 

A large group of participants line up for a photo at the edge of a hill. They are all dressed in biking gear and have their arms thrown up in the air as a sign of triumph; some also have bikes by their sides. The background is a beautiful shot of a vast canyon, with rolling green hills that disappear far into the horizon. The clear sky overhead is lit up by a bright sun.

Program

The Cycle Effect - Building Belonging on Bikes

The Cycle Effect uses mountain biking as a catalyst to mentor riders and foster belonging, physical wellbeing, mental health, community engagement, leadership skills, and fun outside. The Cycle Effect provides bikes, gear, transportation, bilingual coaching, and low-cost programming to eliminate barriers to entry for an otherwise exclusive sport.

A young child is sitting on top of a horse with the support of three women. One woman is holding the reins, smiling warmly at the camera. The other two women stand beside the horse, helping the child in the saddle. The horse is brown with a white stripe down its muzzle.

Program

Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm

Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm is a multidimensional ADA accessible farm in Northern Colorado designed to provide excellence in occupational therapy and music therapy to children and adults with disabilities. We currently offer occupational therapy utilizing equine movement, farm-based therapy, and adaptive gardening with the opportunity to provide co-treatments with music therapy.