Juan Tabo Hills Park

Juan Tabo Hills Park is a 9-acre public park located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nestled in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, the park offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty and modern recreational facilities.

The park's design takes advantage of the natural topography, incorporating rolling hills and native vegetation to create a dynamic setting. This approach not only preserves the local ecosystem but also provides visitors with an immersive experience of the area's natural landscape.

One of the park's most distinctive features is its innovative playground design. The play area is arranged in a series of nodes set into terraces built into the lower part of the hill. This layout encourages children to explore and challenge themselves while experiencing nature. The playground equipment includes a variety of climbers, swings, spinners, slides, and activity panels. Natural materials such as petrified wood climbers and stone steps are also incorporated, allowing children to interact with different textures and materials.

The park includes several gathering spaces for community use. A central plaza with a shade structure and tables is located in the lower part of the park, suitable for small gatherings and parties. Another large shade-sail structure creates a comfortable seating area in the middle of the play area nodes.

Juan Tabo Hills Park also features walking paths, including a 6-foot wide asphalt walking/jogging path around the perimeter. The park's design incorporates water conservation measures, with limited turf grass areas and native plants that create habitats for pollinators and wildlife within the urban context.

The park's construction was completed in phases, with the first phase finishing in 2020. Future phases are planned to include additional features such as trails leading to a small plaza on the top of the ridge, a long embankment slide down the hillside, connections to trails and open space, and a dog park.