Village of Los Lunas Open Space (Parks and Recreation Department)
Grants Awarded
Children with disabilities can benefit from riding adaptive cycles. Physical benefits include increased joint motion, muscle movement, circulation, cardiovascular health, core development, and improved coordination and balance. Emotionally, riding adaptive cycles can help foster inclusion and a sense of independence. Barriers to obtaining an adaptive cycle include prohibitive cost, lack of local availability, and lack of support and guidance as to which cycle or accessory is best suited for a rider’s needs. Every Body Rides with Grace seeks to draw attention to these barriers and increase accessibility to cycle riding for New Mexican youth with disabilities.
Our program provides eight seasonal outdoor adventures, including rafting, skiing, fishing, OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) riding, and camping, for groups of ten to twenty youth participants, covering all costs for a fully inclusive experience. Led by the Los Lunas Open Space team, these activities aim to instill environmental appreciation and responsible stewardship in participants, ultimately benefiting the local community by promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness.
Los Lunas seeks to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors through a comprehensive marketing strategy that showcases existing resources and promotes new activities and community events. This inclusive approach aims to strengthen community engagement, support local businesses, and improve the overall quality of life, positioning Los Lunas as a vibrant hub for outdoor recreation.
The Village of Los Lunas takes great pride in its ongoing efforts to effect comprehensive systems change, notably through the refinement and standardization of policies and practices that align with the evolving needs of our community. Recognizing the outdated nature of previous approaches, we actively sought external expertise to enrich our perspectives and facilitate the development of modernized policies and practices. Concurrently, in collaboration with our esteemed Parks and Recreation Department, we have significantly emphasized promoting the health and well-being of individuals within our organization. We have implemented various initiatives to support personal well-being, including subsidizing employee gym memberships and complimentary access to our state-of-the-art village gym facilities. Additionally, we have established a comprehensive employee assistance program that provides accessible mental health, substance abuse, and physical health resources to our staff and their families, ensuring their welfare remains a top priority. Over the past few years, our forward-thinking Parks and Recreation Department has made remarkable strides in expanding our program offerings to meet the diverse needs of our community. Notably, we have introduced highly successful after-school and winter camp programs providing engaging and enriching local youth experiences. Recognizing the vital importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle, The Village Council has recently passed a resolution to allocate resources for expanding and funding a new gymnasium and dedicated programming rooms. Furthermore, our esteemed Open Space Division has been at the forefront of promoting environmental stewardship through various initiatives. We have made substantial progress in augmenting our outdoor adventures program, which now features multiple camps throughout the year. To further demonstrate our commitment to the environment, we have proudly introduced eight bee hives within our facilities, complemented by an educational program that seeks to raise awareness about bees’ invaluable role in our ecosystem. The Open Space Division is at the forefront of OFF-HIGHWAY Vehicle training and education within New Mexico, teaching youth and adults the laws and responsibilities of riding OHVs on public lands. In recognition of the exceptional work carried out by our Open Space Division in youth programming, we are honored to have received an esteemed accolade from a respected local nonprofit organization, further highlighting our team’s dedication and outstanding contributions. These achievements underscore The Village of Los Lunas’ unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in serving our community’s evolving needs.