A crowd turned out Saturday, Nov. 25 for the Ribbon Cutting of the New York Avenue Side Street alleyway improvement project.
The project is a collaboration of community of artisans, small business owners of New York Avenue, the Holloman Spouses Organization, leadership from Alamogordo MainStreet, government leaders such a Commissioner Sharon McDonald, students from Mountain View Middle School, Alamogordo High School, New Mexico State University Alamogordo, nonprofits such as Otero Arts, With Many Friends - Alamogordo, Courtney McCary and friends, and local businesses.
“I love to see our community come together to create something truly unique and beautiful. So many people came together, worked hard, and pulled resources to create a magical space for our entire community to enjoy,” said Amanda Jewell, Board Member and community volunteer of Alamogordo MainStreet.
What began as a vision of the business owners of New York Avenue, working through Alamogordo MainStreet for the last several years to reimagine the Downtown District; as a center of commerce, history, art and culture; some visible signs of that effort is finally coming to life.
Recently the downtown merchants received a “safety grant” for lighting and cameras for the alley ways. Next was a grant from the AARP Livable Communities and the work began.
AARP Livable Communities grants are issued to community organizations with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion while improving the already built and social environment of a community to create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities.
Alamogordo MainStreet was granted $10,000 to kick off the effort. Then individuals and other businesses added to funding and volunteering and a collaborative approach is working toward a better future for New York Avenue.
For the event community members came out to the ribbon cutting and since then many more have strolled the alleyway to see the improvements. Walking tours are planned to explain the murals and those behind them in the future. As an example, Otero Arts competed a mural as a partner in the project.
The mural painted by Otero Arts as part of the MainStreet Side Street project is just the beginning of the partnership between the organizations. Otero Arts is partnered with Alamogordo MainStreet through a state program called Jump Start which is designed to lead Alamogordo to receive a designation as an Arts and Cultural District. Thus, this is the first of many components of that effort: The mural by Otero Arts was painted by the members Janet Amtmann, Pennie Espiritu, Paige Young and Ann Beacht.
The MainStreet Side Street Project continues and will evolve to include the alley on the opposite side of the street in the near future.
Chris Edwards is the editor of 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News.
