Transforming a quaint pocket park in the Hub City

BELEN—It’s been a labor of love over the years, and different people and groups have transformed El Corazon de Belen Community Garden in their own ways.

This year is no different. Several volunteers recently converged on the small, quaint park at the corner of Sixth Street and Dalies Avenue to make it usable once again.

What used to include a merry-go-round, wooden seesaws and silly spring riders back in the day, the park has most recently been a place to grow vegetables and colorful flowers. That aspect isn’t changing but some new ideas might bring in more interest in using the park.

The Belen Historic Downtown Partnership has sponsored the El Corazon de Belen Community Garden for many years.

“Many people have noticed the weeds in the garden. I take full responsibility for that,” said Maggy Fitzgerald, a member of the Belen Historic Downtown Partnership. “Earlier this year, I went back to work full-time and, at that point, the time I had for the garden basically disappeared.

Fitzgerald said this iteration of the revitalization of the corner pocket park is focused on bringing people in to enjoy the space and each other. Old, broken structures were removed, for safety reasons. The shed was moved back closer to the fence, opening up the space in the garden. The raised garden planters are being repainted and reinstalled.

Additional seating has been added, including three stone benches donated by NM Travertine, with a plan to add more in the future, Fitzgerald said. They also donated five tons of crusher fine material for a new staging area, which has been created in the southwest corner of the park, and Fitzgerald said by opening up the area in the garden, adding more seating, she hopes to have the garden used for more and varied activities in the future, such as concerts and performances.

The plan is to be included in the activities on Becker Avenue, as well as continuing to focus on local plants, trees and vegetables. Future plans include adding more native plants that attract bees and birds, Fitzgerald said.

The city and Belen Historic Downtown Partnership have received several grants in the past from BNSF and PNM for the fence, shade structure, lighting, benches, trash cans and the bike rack.

Throughout the years, different groups, businesses and individuals have helped transform the park, including with their physical efforts and others with their monetary means.

Middle school and St. Mary’s students helped to repaint the park’s sign, and Sisneros Bros. Manufacturing made the large planters, with volunteers from H2 Academics and Belen Art League painting them. The Belen High School woodworking students made the shed with used doors that were originally going to be used for a fence.

Double AA Landscaping is also donating their time and materials to complete the staging area.

Rhona Espinoza, the executive director of the Belen Historic Downtown Partnership, said they will be reinstalling the Little Free Library for residents to share their love of literacy.

“We’re excited to be able to expand the use of the park,” Espinoza said. “It’s a small pocket park, and it’s so useful. It’s beautiful, and we love to get kids involved.”

Fitzgerald agreed, saying they will be calling for volunteers this spring to help with the seasonally-based planting.

“We want more kids involved, and it would be great to have someone come and teach the kids how to plant, what to plant, what bugs are good and which onces are bad. I think it would be a great education program.”

In hopes to continue the tradition of taking care of the park, Fitzgerald is looking for volunteers to help. Call 505-864-8091 if interested.