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Mayor Tim Keller Welcomes Albuquerque’s First Woman Open Space Superintendent

Colleen McRoberts highly qualified to manage more than 29,000 acres of major public open space

Mayor Tim Keller welcomed Colleen McRoberts today as the City of Albuquerque’s first woman to serve as the Open Space Superintendent. McRoberts brings extensive experience to lead the Open Space Division within the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. The City of Albuquerque maintains more than 29,000 acres of major public open space.

“We’re always working to attract the best and brightest to the City, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have someone as qualified as Colleen join us as the Open Space Superintendent,” stated Mayor Keller. “Our city is known for its natural beauty, and we look forward to making strides to improve our Open Space system with Colleen at the helm.”

“Colleen is an outstanding, experienced educator and program leader,” stated Dave Simon, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We’ll be working together to protect more Open Space lands, expand recreational opportunities, and increase environmental education programs—especially for children.”

Please see below for Colleen McRoberts' biography:

During the past 18 years, Colleen McRoberts has served communities throughout the country and the world in conservation education and natural resource management for not-for-profit and government agencies. Her passion is community development and connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to nature.

Colleen received a Bachelor of Science from the Department of Education at the University of New Mexico in 1999 and a Master’s degree in Environmental Education through UNM’s Master’s International Program. She served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer for three years in the Republic of Philippines. Following the Peace Corps, Colleen worked as a research assistant for the World Wildlife Fund and then as the Growing Native Program Director at Potomac Conservancy in the Washington, D.C. area.

Most recently, Mrs. McRoberts served as the Open Space Coordinator for Bernalillo County for more than 10 years. During her tenure, she developed an award winning Open Space Program from the ground up through community and partnership support. She launched the first Master Naturalist program in New Mexico, developed annual public events and programs, managed outreach opportunities for youth, oversaw natural resource projects, and created interpretive materials. She also served as a spokeswoman for Open Space, helping to secure a 15-year mill levy.

Since her teen years, she has been hiking and mountain biking at Open Space properties, where she finds profound solace, joy, and wonderment.

About the Open Space Division:

Open Space works to acquire and protect the natural character of land designated as major public Open Space in the 1988 revised City of Albuquerque Comprehensive Plan. These lands, which comprise more than 29,000 acres in and around Albuquerque, are managed to:

  • Conserve natural and archaeological resources
  • Provide opportunities for outdoor education
  • Provide a place for low impact recreation
  • Define the edges of the urban environment