Making a big splash: Officials celebrate expansion of Westgate Community Center

The sound of splashing water and children’s laughter echoed throughout the courtyard at the Westgate Community Center in Southwest Albuquerque on Thursday as dozens of kids played in the center’s newly opened splash pad.

As the geysers shot water into the air, the kids took that as the signal to run full speed ahead, throw their arms and legs through the water, and invite their friends to stand with them.

Once the spraying stopped, they all gathered around the geyser, eagerly waiting for the next explosion.

The splash pad is one of several new additions to the Westgate Community Center as part of the second phase of expansion. The center also added multipurpose rooms for activities and meal service, two classrooms for its early childhood education program and kitchen space.

All of the new spaces and features will help the center better serve those in the community, according to center supervisor Dominic Saavendra.

“The expansion shows that there’s more for our youth, teen and older population to do at our center,” he said.

Saavendra, whose own family uses the center on a regular basis, was excited to finally see the splash pad in action and the kids enrolled in the center’s summer program taking full advantage of it.

“It’s everything to see them enjoying themselves,” he said. “I have kids, and they’re a part of this program, and it’s rewarding to see them having fun.”

Saavendra wasn’t the only one celebrating the center’s new expansion, as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Tim Keller and several other city officials joined the community on Thursday to celebrate the completion of phase two.

Lujan Grisham, who once worked at a senior center , praised the city’s leadership and determination to get the second phase funded and completed. Between the state and city, they were able to fund the $9.4 million it took to complete the project.

After the speaking portion of the celebration concluded, Lujan Grisham and Keller invited dozens of kids enrolled in the center’s summer program to join them for the official ribbon cutting, opening the splash pad.

The governor took a dip in the new splash pad and was quickly joined by several of the center’s summer program kids.

“There isn’t anything better,” she said. “Every kid I’ve talked to is excited about the center, and that’s exactly the impression you want.”