URBANWATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP Restoring Urban Waters, Revitalizing Communities South Valley Community Commons Project Middle Rio Grande (Albuquerque, New Mexico); 2010 - Present Summary The South Valley Health Commons seeks to become the "heart" of its New Mexico community. The project seeks to address unmet needs for the South Valley, helping provide access to early childhood development programs, affordable healthy food, and safe places. Once the site is complete, the Commons will include a Health Leadership High School; an early childhood development center; as well as a wellness center, a training/ teaching farm, and a health and wellness open-space oasis - all connected by walking trails. Federal Agency Partners include: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), National Park Service (NPS), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Development Association (EDA), Department of Commerce, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Non-Federal Partners include: New Mexico State Legislature, First Choice Community Healthcare Inc., National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Presbyterian Healthcare Services, Bernalillo County Government, Agri-Cultura Network, Bernalillo County Community Health Council, Healthy Here NM, South Valley Community Partnership, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, PNM Resources, Wells Fargo Foundation, Modrall Sperling Law Firm, South Valley Academy, Alan Marks Goals The South Valley Community Commons seeks to become a gathering place for this historically underserved area with high rates of poverty, low income, and low education rates. The project seeks to: • Create a sustainable wellness ecosystem, including a Health Leadership High School; an early childhood development center; a wellness center; a teaching/ training farm; and community spaces and places, • Incorporate green infrastructure, water conservation, and low-impact development in all facilities, • Teach the community how water resource conservation will advance economic benefits, and • Restore land for agricultural purposes, bringing fallow land back to beneficial use. Major Actions to Date Project leaders have made important strides to advance construction of the South Valley Community Commons, such as: • Entering into a 30-year lease agreement with the Health Leadership Highschool for lease of the school building, • Securing funds from New Mexico State Legislators to provide infrastructure for the community farm, • Holding a groundbreaking for the farm phase of the project on July 11, 2017, • Completing construction by mid-October 2018, and preparing for the grand opening in spring 2018. In summary, the South Valley Community Commons Project has made progress to achieve equitable development in an underserved area, revitalizing and reconnecting the community to its urban waters. Image of the planned Health Leadership High School, a key feature of South Valley Community Commons (Photo credit: First Choice Community Healthcare) ------- |