Over the past few years, Questa locals have come together to enhance public spaces like the Municipal Park near the library, which – thanks to the hard work of community members – has become a rich gathering place for families. Recent enhancements, including new playground equipment, will make the park even more popular, but the lack of shade protection in the warmer months has left families uncomfortably hot, in the full sun.
Earlier this summer, the Village reached out to Maria Gonzalez, Questa’s community officer for the LOR Foundation, hoping to address the issue, and received help. By purchasing a shade structure as well as tables for the Municipal Park, village officials hope to make the park even more inviting. “This was a solution we are happy to support,” Gonzalez says. “Previously, some families would leave Questa and take their kids to neighboring towns to play. These new amenities will strengthen our sense of community.”
Questa residents also know how important it is to keep those places – and all residents of the village – safe. For more than two years, the community did not have any public safety officers. But now that the police department has been reestablished, officers have been evaluating their ability to respond to major incidents and realized they lacked some key first-responder equipment. With that problem in mind, the village reached out to Gonzalez, and a solution for improving public safety has emerged. With LOR’s help, the police and EMS departments were able to purchase roadside flares, traffic-safety cones, vehicle extinguishers, portable lighting, and trauma kits – ensuring that Questa residents have access to important resources during emergencies.
Solutions like these come directly from the concerns of community members, and Gonzalez is hoping to hear many more as summer turns to fall. On September 12 and September 26, she will be hosting open houses at her office (62 State Highway 38) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and would love for you to stop by and share an idea. You can also reach out to her directly at maria@lorfoundation.org or by phone at (575) 665-2001.
