Parks and police helicopters are just two of the Albuquerque projects getting state dollars

Housing, parks and police helicopters are just a few of the big-ticket items in Albuquerque getting state funding.

The Legislature approved millions in capital outlay dollars for Albuquerque projects this session.

Balloon Fiesta Park will get $15.7 million for infrastructure improvements. The city’s wish list for Balloon Fiesta Park upgrades includes restrooms, water, sewer and electrical upgrades, road, parking lot and walkway improvements and more parking and protection for balloon landing sites, but exactly which upgrades will be done with the state funding is undecided. The $15 million will not cover all of the projects on the wish list, said David Flores, deputy director of Parks and Recreation.

More parking and buying more land to ensure balloons have space for landing are high on the wish list, said Emily Moore, Parks and Recreation marketing and communications coordinator.

Designs for the park improvements will have to consider the planned United soccer stadium on the land, Flores said.

“But these would be independent and would have benefit long term for the park. We’ve had various plans for electrical upgrades for many years and sewer needs are there now, and of course, restrooms are needed now,” Flores said.

Aside from the hot air balloons, food is one of the biggest components of Balloon Fiesta, and upgrading electrical capabilities at the park would make it easier for food vendors to operate, according to Flores.

While Balloon Fiesta Park has received substantial amounts in capital outlay funding in years past, this year’s capital outlay funding is more sizable than Flores has seen.

“I personally have been here for 28 years, and I don’t think I would have ever seen the day when they come in with this sort of money for infrastructure. ... Usually you’re trying to build the bigger, flashier things, but to have something invested in for years to come with infrastructure is just very prudent and responsible,” Flores said.

PARKS AND RECREATION: The city will also get money to put toward rail yards renovations ($10.1 million) for the film academy, funding for Albuquerque Museum Education Center construction ($1.6 million), Cibola Loop Multigenerational Center ($1.2 million), North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center construction ($1 million), Rio Grande State Park improvements ($1.6 million), $11.4 million for park improvements and construction throughout the city, and $2.1 million for library renovations.

HOUSING: The city will also get $1.6 million for Housing Navigation Center construction and $2.2 million for affordable housing construction.

“We appreciate the important progress that was made, but it’s clear that there is still a lot of work to be done,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement. “As the largest city in the state, we serve and care for people from all around New Mexico, which is why we need the state to step up and take care of the critical parts of the criminal justice and behavioral health systems for which they are responsible.”

PUBLIC SAFETY: The Albuquerque Police Department will get a new helicopter for $3 million. Other public safety-focused dollars include money for Southwest Public Safety Center construction ($1.7 million), fire station renovation and construction ($3.9 million), road projects and infrastructure in the city ($3.8 million), and the Paseo del Norte and Unser expansion ($2.8 million).

Bernalillo County Commissioner Walt Benson shared his support for the Paseo/Unser project, which will expand Paseo del Norte to four lanes for a section of the road, before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the capital outlay bill into law.

“We will make sure the city has any support it might need from the county as this project gets underway,” Benson said in a statement.