From the still waters of Eagle Rock Lake to the plains and canyons of Río Grande del Norte National Monument, Questa’s landscapes are as rich as the village’s history. And they also offer plentiful recreational opportunities—if you know where to find them.
During the Red River Restoration Project (a local, state, and federal effort to improve aquatic habitat and remediate the effects of the Questa Mine), crews built a trail within village limits with public access points to the river. But a map was never created for the trail, leaving residents and visitors without a way to navigate.
Even if residents did find their way to the Red River or one of Questa’s other plentiful trails, would-be hikers would often find them obscured and obstructed by overgrowth and debris. The same was true for many of Questa’s smaller roads because the Village of Questa’s Utility Department did not have the tools it needed.
Wanting to ensure locals had access to the bountiful outdoor opportunities around them, village staff developed a solution and approached LOR Questa Community Officer Maria Gonzalez with an idea in June. With the support of Gonzalez and LOR, the village is buying three new attachments for its tractor and designing and printing a trail map for the river trail, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the natural resources Questa has to offer.
“Our landscapes are important to who we are as a community,” Gonzalez says. “They support not only our local economy but our heritage. And our transportation infrastructure is key to connecting locals and visitors to the land.”
The grant marked the first transportation idea that Questa locals have put into action with the help of LOR this year. With transportation issues affecting nearly everyone in the Questa community, Gonzalez hopes to support more solutions in the coming months that make streets safer, paths cleaner, and travel around the village easier.
Gonzalez is always excited to collaborate with locals and brainstorm about community projects, no matter how small. If you have an idea, share it with her at maria@lorfoundation.org or by calling (575) 665-2001. Your small idea could make a big difference for Questa locals.
LOR works with rural communities in the Mountain West to enhance livability and prosperity while preserving the character that makes each community unique. LOR supports locally led community projects that improve transportation, housing, the environment, education, civic engagement, water, health, and the economy.
