February 26, 2004
UNM PLANNING GROUP PRESENTS SANTA ROSA VISIONING WORKSHOP
The Design Planning Assistance Center (DPAC), within the University of New Mexico's School of Architecture and Planning, presents the "Santa Rosa Community Visioning Workshop," Friday, March 5, at 6 p.m. at Santa Rosa City Hall. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Santa Rosa Mayor and District 63 State Representative José A. Campos said that the community has great potential and that the proposals will give community leaders and the public the opportunity to visualize that potential.
"Santa Rosa has a wealth of opportunity. I heard that many people are already excited about the possibilities," said Campos. He said he thinks the community will support the change once they see the proposals.
DPAC students and faculty, Joni Palmer, landscape architecture; and José Zelaya, architecture; have been developing preliminary ideas for a redesign of the community's downtown courthouse square. "The Santa Rosa courthouse square is historic. We need to both recognize and preserve the region's history," said Chris Wilson, UNM associate professor and J.B. Jackson professor of cultural landscape studies.
Proposals for a trail system for pedestrians and bicyclists along the Pecos River, and El Rito will also be presented. "We are looking to improve the amenities for the community as well as enhance tourism in the area," Wilson said.
Campos said, "Santa Rosa is known as the City of Natural Lakes. We need to look at ways to improve the area through landscape, park design and trails."
"We will also offer some ideas for facility improvements at Blue Hole," Wilson said. Blue Hole is recognized as a scuba diving center.
DPAC, established at UNM in 1969, is built on a foundation of community involvement in planning and architecture design projects. DPAC grew out of the community design center movement during the civil rights era. Advocacy planning was a way for architects and planners to get involved in social issues. DPAC thrives because of sustained participation from community members in projects affecting neighborhoods and communities.
DPAC, recipient of an Award of Distinction for the Rocky Mountain West Region of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), has worked on more than 900 projects throughout New Mexico for low-income families, disadvantaged groups, neighborhood associations, Native American communities, social service organizations and others.
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