Nature Center marks 35 years with new look
Upgrades includes crane-viewing platform, artwork, landscaping
The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park just celebrated its 35th anniversary and officially dedicated its a new Sandhill Crane Viewing Platform, newly acquired artwork, and improved design and landscape of the overflow parking at the site.
“This park saw nearly 219,000 visitors last fiscal year and our partners help us to serve these visitors with great programs and support,” said Christy Tafoya, director of New Mexico State Parks.
“Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is the embodiment of partnership,” she said in a statement. “We are so thankful to our donors whose generous contributions made these projects happen.”
The public and private partnerships include Friends of Rio Grande Nature Center, Kapner Estate, and the Lumpkin Foundation, whose generosity funded the construction of several components there, and the newly acquired artwork was funded by Art in Public Places, according to park Superintendent Beth Dillingham.
Albuquerque maintains the prestigious Urban Bird Treaty City designation, making it part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s urban conservation treaty for migratory birds.
Members of the Albuquerque Urban Bird Coalition were on hand at the dedication Oct. 20 to highlight the migration of cranes into the park, which is located at 2901 Candelaria NW.
Albuquerque and surrounding areas remain important stopover sites for migratory birds as well as year-round avian residents, they said.