County Opens Surveys for Dinosaur Park, Grand Canyon Playlot

Los Alamos County’s Community Services Department, working with Groundwork Studio, has completed the first public listening sessions and opened surveys to gather more community input on planned renovations at two neighborhood play areas.

The projects focus on Dinosaur Park on Barranca Mesa, also referred to as the San Ildefonso playlot, and the Grand Canyon Playground in White Rock. The county described the effort as aimed “to design, develop construction documents, and provide construction administration services for the renovation of Dinosaur and Grand Canyon Playgrounds.” Officials emphasized that “this project is in its early stages,” and the survey opportunity is intended to capture resident priorities before design work advances.

County materials explained the listening sessions’ purpose plainly: “The purpose of the listening sessions was to hear from the community as to what they would love about the parks, things to keep in mind throughout the project, and any ideas on what they would like to see.” The outreach follows recommendations that listed both playlots as short-term action items in the 2023 CSD Integrated Master Plan and the 2023 Americans with Disabilities Audit and Transition Plan, signaling a county-level commitment to accessibility upgrades.

Planned renovation elements are explicit: “The overall renovations will include ADA/Safety improvements, new play structures, shade, and supporting amenities, with a focus on unstructured play, accessibility, and community engagement.” For Los Alamos and White Rock families, those priorities carry public health and equity implications. Improved accessibility can open play space to children and caregivers with disabilities, shade can reduce heat and sun exposure for toddlers and older adults during New Mexico summers, and upgraded safety features can help prevent playground injuries. Emphasizing unstructured play supports developmental and social benefits for children across socioeconomic backgrounds.

The county advises that “A survey is now available for both Dinosaur and Grand Canyon Playlots to collect even more community feedback. Please click the links below to answer the questions on both playground renovations.” If residents need more information or want to request the survey links and project materials, contact Wendy Parker at wendy.parker@losalamosnm.gov or 505.663.1771. The county also maintains a Playground Project Page for ongoing updates.

Public involvement at this stage will shape design choices that affect everyday life in neighborhoods - how children play, how caregivers access facilities, and how parks respond to climate and mobility challenges. Los Alamos residents who use Barranca Mesa or White Rock play areas have a concrete opportunity to influence shade placement, accessibility features, and the balance between structured equipment and open play. Participation now helps ensure renovations reflect local needs rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

What comes next: community feedback from the surveys and earlier listening sessions will inform design and construction documents as the county moves toward later project phases. Residents should submit input through the survey or contact Wendy Parker to make their priorities known while the projects remain in the early planning stage.