Land and Water Conservation Fund helps pay for Socorro park lights

Michelle Lujan Grisham

Governor

Melanie A. Kenderdine

Cabinet Secretary

Ben Shelton

Deputy Cabinet Secretary

Erin Taylor

Deputy Cabinet Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 15, 2025

Land and Water Conservation Fund helps pay for Socorro park lights

Energy-efficient lights will enable more use of baseball fields

SANTA FE – The City of Socorro is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of a $797,908 project to install lights on the Sedillo Park baseball fields.

Nearly have the project cost, $342,504, came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal program that in New Mexico is administered by the State Parks Division.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is the only federal program solely dedicated to outdoor recreation, providing matching grants to states, local governments, and Tribes for projects like ballfields, trails, and protecting natural areas,” said Toby Velasquez, Director of New Mexico State Parks . “These funds help create and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities that improve the quality of life for our New Mexico communities.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for 8:00 pm, Aug. 18 at Sedillo Park on Francisco de Avondo.

For more information, please visit https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/land-and-water-conservation-fund/ or click on

Find a Park at emnrd.nm.gov/spd .

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(Figure) New energy efficient lighting at the Sedillo Park baseball fields in Socorro)

Sidney Hill

Public Information Officer

New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

Email: sidney.hill@emnrd.nm.gov

Phone: 505-629-2900