Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Open Space topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bernalillo County approves $2.42M purchase of 301 Sherk Lane for Mountain View park and open space
Summary
The Board authorized the county manager to execute a purchase agreement for roughly 43 acres at 301 Sherk Lane to create a restorative-justice park and preserve farmland; staff said 4.5 acres are planned for a neighborhood park adjacent to Mountain View Elementary and most acreage will remain agricultural.
Bernalillo County commissioners voted May 12 to authorize the county manager to execute a purchase agreement for approximately 43 acres at 301 Sherk Lane Southwest for $2.42 million to create the Mountain View Restorative Justice Park and preserve open space.
Sarah Love, a real-property agent with the county, told commissioners the parcel includes a barn and is zoned A-1; park development will require conditional-use approval after closing. John Barney, the county's parks planning manager, said the county intends to preserve most of the acreage for agriculture while setting aside about 4.5 acres for a neighborhood park adjacent to Mountain View Elementary School.
"This is preserving agricultural lands for our future food system," Barney said, adding the neighborhood park parcel will be designed to connect to the elementary school via a trail along the diversion ditch.
Barney framed the acquisition as part of restorative-justice work: staff have used broad community engagement, including student input at Mountain View Elementary, and plan interpretive elements to recognize the neighborhood's history and past environmental impacts.
The purchase will be funded primarily with open-space mill-levy dollars allocated through earlier action (AR 2024-34) and a portion of general funds to cover the neighborhood park acreage. Commissioners emphasized continued, intensive community engagement during design.
Several Mountain View residents spoke during public comment both for and against acquiring the property. Opponents expressed concerns about crime, homelessness and the impact on property values; supporters said the community lacks green space near the school and urged development focused on accessibility, permaculture and youth programming.
The commission voted 4–0 to authorize the manager to execute the purchase agreement; staff said conditional-use and site-planning steps will follow and they expect to complete neighborhood-park design in 2026 and begin construction in 2027, contingent on closing.
