Elena Gallegos open space study is flawed

WHENEVER THERE are acres of open space near a city, some dodo says, “Open space? I have an innovative idea! Let’s put a building on it!”

According to the city of Albuquerque 1999 Open Space Plan, “Open space is relatively undeveloped city- or countyowned land dedicated to conservation, preservation, outdoor education and low impact recreation.” It is named the Open Space program — not Nature Center, not Education Center, nor Recreation Center program. It preserves undeveloped open lands for their natural beauty.

The Elena Gallegos Open Space Education Center Feasibility Study is biased and indicates incorrectly there are precedents for education centers on city-owned open space properties.

The city has never built an education center on its open space property. The study offers examples of facilities built by federal — Valle del Oro, state — Rio Grande Nature Center and county — Bachechi, governments.

The Westside Open Space Visitor Center is the single precedent for the city operating a center on Open Space land. That building was included in the land acquisition. I was on the mayor’s staff at the time. When the city acquired the land, there was a lovely, large, well-maintained building there. If there had not been a preexisting, excellent building, it is likely none would have been built, consistent with other city of Albuquerque open spaces.

The proposed Elena Gallegos Center will be the precedent to allow the city to build centers on other city open space.

New city councilors typically ask, “What do other districts have that my district does not?” Then they seek funds to build that structure. Los Poblanos? West Mesa? Once the precedent is there, city councilors will feel compelled to seek similar buildings in all other open spaces, gutting the core purpose of the Open Space program.

DAVID SOHERR-HADWIGER

Albuquerque