Silver City MainStreet
Grants Awarded
The Lion’s Park/San Vicente Trail Enhancement Project (LPE) will revitalize an underutilized section of Big Ditch Park and the San Vicente Trail system in downtown Silver City, NM, by improving trails and creating accessible recreational spaces. This initiative will foster community engagement by providing a welcoming outdoor environment for residents and visitors, thereby promoting longer visits to downtown businesses and enhancing the local economy. Collaborative efforts with various community partners will ensure sustainable improvements that celebrate the natural beauty of the area.
The Lion’s Park/San Vicente Trail Enhancement Project (LPE) outdoor recreation/trails project will transform an underused and underdeveloped section of the Big Ditch Park and San Vicente Trail system in the heart of downtown Silver City, NM. Establishment of a new San Vicente Trailhead and trail improvements is an incremental step in a Town plan currently being developed to connect many of the popular parks in town by easily accessible trails. The LPE will create permanent enhancements to the Park; including trail improvements, a family-friendly picnic area, nature interpretative signs, native plantings, retaining wall improvements, and fencing to guide foot traffic. The project will enhance resident and visitor experience by creating a beautiful and welcoming space that is easily accessed from historic downtown a block away. MainStreet will partner with the Town of Silver City, Silver City Watershed Keepers, the Youth Mural Project, the Trails and Open Spaces Committee, a woman minority-owned coffee house adjacent to the project area, and will employ local businesses for some of the work. The LPE will improve this unique public open space by enhancing opportunities for the Silver City/Grant County community to gather in and enjoy the Park. The streamside habitat and lush vegetation of Big Ditch Park and San Vicente Creek offer a rare opportunity for enjoyment of the natural world in an urban environment. Providing a welcoming and engaging outdoor space for residents and tourists will keep potential shoppers in the downtown area longer and contribute to the economic vitality of downtown businesses.