Roosevelt Park, Albuquerque

Roosevelt Park, an iconic gathering place in Albuquerque, has undergone remarkable transformations since its inception between 1933 and 1935. Sprawling across a 14-acre expanse south of Coal Avenue between Spruce and Maple Streets, the park is a listed New Mexico State Cultural Property, a National Historic Place, and an Albuquerque Historic Landmark. The park boasts a lush, undulating terrain, home to over 2,000 trees and shrubs, including towering Siberian elm trees that can grow up to 80 feet in height, as well as juniper, blue spruce, and catalpa trees scattered throughout.

The concept of constructing a park in the then-named East Mesa, where Albuquerque was rapidly growing east of Downtown, was encouraged by Clyde Tingley, the City Commission Chairman at the time, and an avid promoter of parks and other civic amenities. The selected site was a sandy arroyo that had been a landfill previously. The park was built by local laborers employed under the federal programs initiated as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, using shovels and wheelbarrows to reshape the arroyo. C. Edmund "Bud" Hollied, a landscape architect, designed an undulating, rural landscape filled with Siberian elms and other plants suitable for the dry climate. The park was originally called Terrace Park, but it was renamed in honor of Roosevelt in 1934.

In 2006-2007, a renovation project was undertaken, which included tree pruning, replacing the irrigation system, installing a playground and jogging path, and landscaping work. The refurbishment enhanced the park's appeal and helped rekindle its popularity. The park has been an epicenter of activism and demonstrations, including a large protest against police brutality in 2014. Despite its association with protests, Roosevelt Park continues to be an essential cultural property and a historical landmark in Albuquerque. The park's rich history and breathtaking landscape make it a must-visit attraction for anyone traveling to Albuquerque.