Slipping and sliding down the new Juan Tabo Hills Park slide

Visitors have a new way to get down the hill at Juan Tabo Hills Park.

The park earlier this month introduced the 50-foot-high, 100-foot-long slide — the longest slide in New Mexico — as the second of three phases to renovate the park. It’s one of two slides that will be built at the park.

Phase 2 of Juan Tabo Hills Park included extensive site work on a steep embankment slope, construction and installation of two 100-foot custom slides, construction of a 94-step concrete staircase with railings and landscaping. The cost was approximately $572,000, with half of the money coming from the state and the other half from city funds, according to Parks and Recreation Director Dave Simon.

Simon said in a statement that the park at 11900 Monachos SE, just east of Juan Tabo, was chosen for renovation due to its proximity to a developing portion of the city. He also said the park was designed to take advantage of the natural topography in the area, including using the hill for the two slides.

“The staircase to the top of the slides also provides a fitness element that has proven popular elsewhere ... and affords nice views of the surrounding area,” he said.

Designed for children ages 5 to 12, the park offers children the option of going down a slide to get to the bottom of the park instead of taking the stairs. The second slide, with its yellow chute, is expected to be ready in a few months, after the manufacturer works out design issues.

The slide, which was originally set to unveil in summer 2023, faced a delay of more than six months after being vandalized during construction.

Since its official opening, the slide has elicited concern from parents about the safety measures for children. In a video shared on social media that has since been deleted, mother Leslie Sullivan is recording her 3-year old son, Oliver, enjoy the ride down the slide. As he builds speed and hits a sharper corner of the slide, Oliver tumbles off the slide, nearly falling off a wall separating the area from the ground. A boy nearby saw what was happening and was able to catch the child before he slammed into the pavement. Oliver had no injuries from the tumble.

In the post, Sullivan said she wanted to share the video to let parents know her child’s experience. Sullivan said she called 311, where they told her there was signage to warn parents the slide was not built for children of Oliver’s age.

Parents on social media were quick to defend the park slide, saying Sullivan should have read the warnings better before sending her child on the slide. Parents on social media app Reddit shared their excitement for the slide, stating they wished the slide was safe for adults to enjoy.

“The equipment is intended for children ages 5-12,” Simon said. “This information and all rules are posted on multiple signs at the top and bottom of the slides. We encourage adults to follow the age limit and slide rules to help protect children.”