San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs

LOCATION: 5001 Namaste Road NW
CONTACT: Adryana Vialpando, Planner ● 505-768-4203 ● [email protected]

NOTICE: The City of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division would like to inform the public that the San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs property and parking area will be temporarily closed to all public access beginning the week of July 7, 2025, due to the start of Phase One construction.

Construction activities will include trail improvements, outdoor classroom development, ADA upgrades, and parking lot enhancements. For public safety, access to the property, including the overlook area on the south side of the property, will be restricted for the duration of construction.

• No entry will be permitted beyond the posted fencing and signage
• Additional updates will be shared as work progresses

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to improve this valuable open space for future use and enjoyment.

If you have questions, please contact: Adryana Vialpando, Planner/Project Manager, 505-768-4203 or [email protected] 

Thank you for your understanding and continued support!

Planning

San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs (SAOB) is a 23-acre property  purchased from the Poole family in Spring of 2021 by the City of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division with assistance from the State of New Mexico. The City of Albuquerque Open Space Division (OSD) completed a planning process that led to the approval of the San Antonio Oxbow Preferred Site Plan by the Environmental Planning Commission in late 2023. Throughout 2024, OSD and its contractor have been focused on finalizing construction documents and developing an interpretive signage plan. To learn more about the San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs project, click this story map link. 

Next Steps

Looking ahead, Phase One construction is scheduled to begin in 2025. Phase one will include upgrades to the parking lot, installation of a trail system and grassland loop, creation of an outdoor classroom, and enhancements to the horno area to establish a Poole Recognition Space. During this time, access to Namaste Street and the southern portion of the San Antonio Oxbow Bluffs will be impacted by temporary closures or detours.

Review the slide presentation and community feedback taken in the fall of 2021.

Oxbow Marsh Restoration and Maintenance

The OSD is currently conducting restoration and maintenance projects in the Oxbow Marsh, located just below the SOAB. Projects include beaver dam mitigation, invasive species removal, and an endangered species survey. The OSD will coordinate quarterly volunteer stewardship events to engage the community in the restoration and management of this valuable habitat. These events will be posted on the Open Space City website when they are finalized.

The OSD is also working with the Bosque School and St. Pius X, who have graciously volunteered to perform general species inventories and help monitor the environmental quality of the Oxbow Marsh and surrounding area. These efforts are important to help inform science-backed management and preserve the quality of the oxbow for future generations. Additionally, The Native Plant Society is conducting bi-annual plant inventories. The OSD will continue to engage partners and the community in these efforts and additional citizen science projects.

To learn how to get involved with restoration projects at the Oxbow Marsh, contact Open Space Field Biologist Joanna Strange 505-768-4208 or [email protected].