Improvements Coming at San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs Open Space

The City is set to begin work on the first phase of improvements at the San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs Open Space, a unique 23-acre site on the Westside. This project will bring to life the master plan developed through extensive public input and a community-led effort to protect this ecologically sensitive land — one of the last remaining undeveloped parcels adjacent to the Rio Grande Bosque. Rendering of the planned improvements, attached. 

Work will soon begin on recreation access and resource management enhancements that reflect the community’s vision for this important natural area. The San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs was preserved following a successful campaign to prevent development on this environmentally significant parcel, safeguarding one of the Westside’s last large undeveloped tracts along the Rio Grande Bosque.                                                                    

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Phase 1 Improvements Will Include

• A loop trail encircling the property.
• An ADA-accessible trail ensuring inclusive access.
• Installation of outdoor furnishings and educational signage.
• A gathering area/outdoor classroom with seating and shade.
• Parking lot upgrades designed to control drainage and erosion.

Together, these upgrades will transform the site into a vibrant open space destination, rooted in community voice and ecological preservation.

“This is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when community voices lead the way,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “This open space provides a lasting legacy for families on the Westside and across Albuquerque.”

The plans integrate trails, gathering spaces, educational signage, and restored natural habitats, offering visitors opportunities for recreation, education, and a unique connection to the landscape.

“This has been a hands-on effort to restore the land and bring the community’s vision to life,” said Open Space Superintendent Colleen Langan-McRoberts.

The City purchased the San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs in March 2021 for $6.7 million, following a campaign by residents and environmental advocates to stop a planned subdivision. The parcel directly borders the San Antonio Oxbow, one of the region’s most important wetland habitats.

From 2021 through 2023, the City’s Open Space Division led an extensive public engagement and design process, including community meetings, site visits, and surveys. Anthropopulus Design and Planning (formerly Groundwork Studio) collaborated with the community to develop conceptual plans, while Conservation by Design created an interpretive signage plan highlighting the area’s ecological and cultural significance.

The City has secured $1 million in General Obligation Bonds and an additional $125,000 in State Capital Outland funding to support this first phase. The site is expected to open to the public in spring 2026.