City highlights Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful classes, seedling giveaway and student cleanup contest

City staff told commissioners that Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful programming this spring included classes on backyard refuges and adapting gardens to climate change, a large seedling giveaway for residents and a school clean-campus contest.

Diane, projects division manager, said the backyard refuge program concluded with a climate-adaptation session and that two landscape specialists led the final class; she said limited seating for the session was 10 and the class was well received. She described the sessions as largely question-and-answer, helping residents identify next steps for their yards.

Staff reported a drive-through seedling giveaway that distributed just under 1,000 seedlings to Rio Rancho residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Diane also described the Clean Campus contest; Maggie Cordova Elementary School won first place and received up to $500 in materials and improvements, including recycling containers and cleanup supplies. Diane said staff is exploring sustainable pollinator-support items for the school but noted maintenance challenges during summer break.

The programs were funded in part through grant or subcontracted funds intended to support youth groups and community cleanups. Staff said they plan to post hyperlinks on the city website to county and cooperative-extension resources to help residents find additional guidance.