Anyone who jogs knows that running along busy thoroughfares and residential streets can be dangerous. There are more cars on the road than ever before, and those who have lived in the northeast heights near Paseo del Norte and Barstow know this well. Thirty years ago houses on the north side of Paseo were far and few between. The desert landscape provided wide open spaces for joggers, dog walkers, and bicyclists to exercise, roam, and explore. Fast forward to 2022 and that space is no more. The area is dotted with houses, paved roads, and businesses, making it difficult for area residents to exercise in a car-free environment.
Luckily, the city took note and constructed a little oasis down the road from Dennis Chavez Elementary school known as Barstow Park. A post by the Heritage Hills Neighborhood Association indicates the playground was installed during phase 2 of the park construction project sometime in 2013. Nine years later the playground is still in good condition, the landscaping well maintained, and the jogging/bicycle path regularly used.
The 4.3-acre park offers paved walkways for parents to push strollers and for joggers to warm up before heading over to the South Domingo Baca Trail along the arroyo. The park is the eastern most starting point for the trail that connects to Rancho de Palomas Park and Paseo del Norte Trail to the west. A sign on Barstow next to the arroyo reminds park-goers to stay out of the ditches, which are especially dangerous during the monsoon months between June and September.
Other amenities at the park include a swing-set, a pavilion, benches, trash receptacles, and a separate play area for younger children. For more information on Albuquerque’s city parks, visit the city’s Parks & Recreation webpage.
