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Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation Commission reviews project timelines, staffing shortfalls and aquatics readiness
Summary
Commissioners approved the minutes and heard updates on park construction timelines (Little League lights, Campus Park, skatepark), a pending trail grant, staffing shortages and aquatics preparations ahead of summer operations.
The Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation Commission approved the minutes and received project and operations updates at its meeting (date provided in agenda materials but not specified in the transcript).
Parks staff said several construction and renovation projects are scheduled to complete this spring and summer. "We're hoping that by May 3, the Little League lights at the Rio Rancho Sports Complex will be fully operational," Parks staff Diane said, adding the lights are working but not yet programmable pending manufacturer testing. Campus Park work was reported as progressing with a target to be largely complete by May 23 so the park could be fully available for Fourth of July programming. Diane also said the Star Heights skatepark equipment (a Community Development Block Grant project) has been removed and new equipment is expected to ship in May.
The commission heard additional project timelines: procurement and installation plans for playground replacements at Vista Sandia and Western Winds, a design effort for rehabilitation or replacement of the Haines Park south parking lot, a grant application to design improvements for the Enchanted Hills neighborhood trail that follows the Encantado channel, and the start next Monday of Broadmoor Senior Center phase 2 construction with completion expected in early 2026.
Charles Fernandez, speaking from Zoom during the parks and facilities update, described current operational pressures: "We're 5 staff short right now, so we're pretty shorthanded during a time that we're pretty busy," he said, and added crews are focused on spring start-up tasks such as weed control, soil sampling and playground wood‑chip deliveries.
On aquatics, Deputy Director Noah reported completed lifeguard certification April 10–13 with 25 participants and said pools are being readied for the summer season. He said routine maintenance and equipment upgrades are finished or underway, including a new sand filter at Rainbow and a new slide and pool heater at Haines. Noah said pools are scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend and that summer camps begin June 2 at five sites (Cabazon, Star Heights, The Hub, Savannah Grande and Haines).
Connie Peterson, director of parks and recreation, told commissioners that online and in-person summer registration on April 7 generated more than $150,000 in revenue for camp registrations and swimming lessons, and that most camp locations filled within about an hour.
The commission took one formal vote on the meeting's minutes. A commissioner moved to accept the minutes with a notation change adding that Chairperson Marsh adjourned the prior meeting at 18:28; another commissioner seconded the motion and commissioners present approved the minutes.
Looking ahead, staff said they will continue procurement and construction work across the listed parks projects and will bring design timelines and grant-application updates to future meetings.
