The Shalem Colony Trail Park in Doña Ana County is among the beneficiaries of state outdoor recreation funds announced Wednesday. The $85,366.74 grant will be used to remediate 21 acres along the Rio Grande where erosion and sedimentation have damaged native vegetation, according to New Mexico’s Outdoor Recreation Division, which is under the state Economic Development Department.
The park will serve as a legitimate recreational option with controlled river access, the ORD stated. The Shalem Colony Trail Park Master Plan provides for picnic areas, beach areas, a boardwalk, a hiking trail, rafting and kayaking staging areas and a playground area.
The park lies directly on the state’s Rio Grande Trail and is intended to support outdoor recreation and tourism in southern New Mexico.
The local award was part of a $1.7 million tranche of under the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ grant initiative for fiscal year 2024, plus $2.5 million in matching funds.
