North Mesa master plan proposes bike park, pavilion and phased $12.9M build-out; council to consider adoption in two weeks

Consultants from Site Southwest presented the nearly final North Mesa Recreation Master Plan to Los Alamos County Council on Jan. 13, 2026, describing a community-driven concept for roughly 26 acres of parkland that balances active recreation, community gardens and open space.

Bob Oberdorfer said community engagement included four public meetings with about 250 participants and an online survey that produced 190 responses; consultants reported a 75% preference for the chosen concept. "From those two concept designs ... there was an overwhelming majority vote — specifically, 75% of residents preferred one scenario design over the other," Oberdorfer said.

The plan’s near‑final concept includes defined parking, picnic shelters, reconfigured and ADA‑accessible paths, a renovated dog park, a proposed 3–5 acre bike park, a "ninja" fitness area, a native nature play area, a community garden with raised beds and an educational gathering space, sand‑volleyball courts, and a multiuse pavilion sized for roller‑derby and indoor sports. Consultants presented phased priorities: phase 1 the bike park (estimated $2.0–3.5M), phase 2 west‑side paths and parking (~$2.0M), phase 3 volleyball and dog‑park improvements (~$1.3M), phase 4 community‑garden improvements (~$800K), and phase 5 a pavilion (~$4.0M). The team noted a 15% contingency in estimates and permitting requirements for acre‑scale work.

Councilors asked detailed questions about siting, parking surfacing, ADA access, and maintenance costs; consultants said exact footprints and design details would be finalized in the design phase and vendor discussions. Several speakers from the public spoke both for and against the selected concept. Conservation‑minded speaker Jody Benson said, "Open space has an intrinsic value as undisturbed nature," warning that the plan would replace natural areas with active uses. Supporters — including representatives of the local roller‑derby team and bike club — said a bike park and pavilion would benefit youth, attract events and build local capacity.

Consultants and staff confirmed that community garden plots would remain in their current location after stakeholder feedback and that the plan would return to council for formal action in about two weeks. No funding decision was made at the work session.