What's included in the $9.7 million Phil Chacon park renovation?

Soccer’s smaller, younger cousin is coming to a park near you.

Futsal, a variation of soccer played with a heavier ball with pared down teams — typically five on five — is one of the sports that will be represented in a sweeping $9.7 million renovation of Phil Chacon Park, which will include new playgrounds, a community garden, dog park and disc golf course, among other amenities. The park has been closed since last winter.

“Futsal is a highly favored game by soccer coaches,” said Parks and Recreation Director Dave Simon. “The small scale of the court and the fewer players demands higher technical mastery of the skills.”

On Monday, Mayor Tim Keller, newly minted City Councilor Nichole Rogers and state representative Janelle Anyanonu, D-Bernalillo, joined Simon to mark the upcoming renovation. Construction on the renovation of the East Central park starts Tuesday. It’s expected to last 18 months.

Diantha Swoboda said she’s lived in the area for more than 60 years. She witnessed the original construction of the park, and the deterioration it saw over the past years.

“It was a wonderful park,” Swoboda said. “It looks like it might be even better.”

About $6 million of the funding comes from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars and a $2 million community development block grant, a program administered by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department to improve neighborhoods, especially for low- and moderate-income residents.

The remaining funding comes from a matched fund from a water trust board and the city. Water conservation is an important part of the Phil Chacon renovation — Simon said more efficient irrigation coming to the park could save 10 million gallons of water per year.

“The community is already invested in this area,” Anyanonu said. “It’s nice to have that commitment met with an equal match in city commitment.”

Those familiar with the park, which is named after late Albuquerque Police Department Community Liason Officer Phil Chacon, might remember Swiss-cheese-like patches in the turf from prairie dogs.

Those holes are gone, but not to worry — the furry friends were humanely removed by nonprofit Prairie Dog Pals, Simon said, and moved to suitable habitats. To prevent the burrowers from returning, an underground concrete wall has been installed.