As we turn the page on summer and students prepare to return to the classroom, you’ll find helpful Back-toSchool Safety Tips We also have a special message from Mayor Lopez, sharing a few important updates.
Even though school is starting, there’s still plenty happening around Carlsbad! This month’s Department Feature highlights our incredible Parks Department that plays a vital role in maintaining our parks, recreational spaces, and community programs. Learn more about what they do and how their efforts support the quality of life we all enjoy
Thanks for staying connected with us, and we hope you have a safe and happy August!
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Past Event Photos
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A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
Dear Neighbors & Friends:
August marks the start of a new school year here in Carlsbad, and with that comes busier mornings, heavier traffic near school campuses, and lots of families getting back into routine Whether you have school-aged children or not, we all play a role in keeping our community safe. Please be mindful of those walking their kids to school, students crossing the street, and buses making frequent stops.
Take a moment to review the school zone driving tips included in this newsletter. These reminders are simple but critical, like always stopping for school buses when lights are flashing and the stop arm is out, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks or at intersections, and never passing a stopped school bus. It’s also important to respect
posted speed limits in school zones, stay alert for the unexpected, and always stop for crossing guards. A little extra caution goes a long way.
I also want to recognize the United Way of Eddy County for another outstanding Stuff the Bus campaign. This year ’ s event raised an incredible $38,000, with $16,128.40 coming from team fundraising and another $22,000 from generous sponsorships. These funds will help ensure students across Eddy County start the year with the supplies they need.
Congratulations to Intrepid, the 2025 Stuff the Bus Champion, who raised an impressive $3,258 78 and earned the “Big Bus Trophy” for their efforts The Elks and
Elks Riders came in second with $2,112.10, and Devon Energy rounded out the top three with $1,906.00. A big thank you to all of the participating teams and sponsors who made this campaign such a success
Looking ahead, National Night Out will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, hosted by Eddy County. The event will feature a 5K walk/run in the morning—if you'd like to sign up, call 575-361-2512. Throughout the day, there will be free food, drinks, games, bounce houses, face painting, raffles, and plenty of activities for kids and families. It’s a great chance to connect with your neighbors, meet local first responders, and enjoy a day out in the community For more information, visit www.eddycounty.org.
I’d also like to thank the City of Carlsbad Parks Department for their continued work in keeping up with our parks and public spaces. With all the rain we’ve had, grass and weeds have been growing quickly, and mosquito activity has increased The team has been working hard to keep things maintained, and we appreciate their efforts. We’re highlighting the Parks Department in this issue so residents can learn more about the care that goes into keeping our parks in great shape.
Wishing everyone a safe and smooth start to the school year!
Sincerely,
CarlsbadMayorRickLopez
Phone: (575) 887-1191
What’s something you appreciate about working for the City of Carlsbad?
What’s one local Carlsbad gem you think more people should visit?
Which fictional workplace would you thrive in?
What helps you stay focused when work gets busy?
Which pet matches your work style?
Which school tradition do you miss or still love if you ’ re a parent?
Are you currently attending school or taking college courses while working?
What’s something new you ’ ve learned on the job this year?
Pets of the Month
Meet the adorable pets of our City of Carlsbad employees!
Name: Atreyu l
Atr all
Two corgis that are ready to spend the summer kayaking!
3-ye anut
Pawrent: Ashley Buffington
PARKS
DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
The City of Carlsbad Parks Department works hard every day to keep our parks clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone. With a total of 29 parks and 22 public restrooms spread across the city, there are many places for families, friends, and visitors to spend time outdoors Several parks include covered picnic areas and pavilions that can be used for parties, cookouts, or relaxing in the shade. Most parks are also big enough for sports like basketball, soccer, and football.
One park the department highly recommends is Lake Carlsbad Municipal Park It is one of the most popular parks in the area because there are so many things to do. Visitors can enjoy the splash pads, swimming area, and waterpark during the warmer months. There are also courts for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and tennis. It is a great spot for both kids and adults to spend time outside and have fun.
The Parks Department provides many services for the people of Carlsbad. One of their biggest goals is making sure the parks stay clean and safe every day. They mow and trim the grass weekly and check each park at least twice a week for trash or anything that could be dangerous Keeping up with this work takes a lot of time and effort, especially during the busy seasons or after special events.
The Parks Department provides many services for the people of Carlsbad. One of their biggest goals is making sure the parks stay clean and safe every day. They mow and trim the grass weekly and check each park at least twice a week for trash or anything that could be dangerous Keeping up with this work takes a lot of time and effort, especially during the busy seasons or after special events.
Some challenges the department often faces include people leaving trash behind, graffiti on buildings, and damage to restrooms. There are also concerns with certain areas being left unsanitary by individuals without housing. Even with these issues, the department stays focused on doing their best to take care of every park in town.
The team regularly patrols the parks to figure out which areas need repairs or upgrades. They work throughout the year to replace old equipment and add new features when they can. The department also has plans to keep improving our parks. In the future, residents can expect updates like new playgrounds, better safety surfaces, improved fencing, and more lighting for better visibility
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Sincerely,
MikeHernandez Parks Superintendent
Fri. August 1st:
AUGUST EVENTS AND DATES
For more information regarding any of these events or others please visit the official City Events Calander.
Women for a Better Carlsbad
Carlsbad Under 40 Nominations
Leadership Carlsbad 2025-2026
Registration
Kindergarten Readiness Party at
Carlsbad Public Library
Karaoke/Open Mic at Guadalupe
Mountain Brewing Company
Sat. August 2nd:
Carlsbad Farmers Market
Tues. August 5th:
Summer Yoga at SENMC
Trivia Night at Milton’s Brewing
Wed. August 6th:
Carlsbad Public Library LEGO Time
Fri. August 8th:
Karaoke/ Open Mic at Guadalupe
Mountain Brewing Company
Sat. August 9th: Carlsbad Farmers Market
National Night Out Hosted by Eddy County
Caffeine & Cultivate: seed and sprouts swap at Carlsbad Public Library
Pumpkin Doodle with Jody Prell
Mon. August 11th:
SENMC Orientation Bootcamp
Wed. August 13th:
Carlsbad Public Library Voting and Election Town Hall
Carlsbad Public Library LEGO Time
Fri. August 15th:
Karaoke/Open Mic at Guadalupe
Mountain Brewing Company
Sat. August 16th:
Carlsbad Farmers Market
Tues. August 19th:
Trivia Night at Milton’s Brewing
Wed. August 20th:
Carlsbad Public Library LEGO Time
Brews and Books at Milton’s Brewing
Thurs. August 21st:
Summer Yoga at SENMC
Fri. August 22nd:
SENMC Safety Conference
52nd Annual Sammie Hughes
Cowboy Camp
Karaoke/Open Mic at Guadalupe
Mountain Brewing Company
Sat. August 23rd:
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Annual Golf Tournament
Carlsbad Farmers Market
Sat. August 23rd Continued:
Caffeine & Cultivate: seed and sprouts swap at Carlsbad Public Library
STEM Club at Carlsbad Public Library
Tues. August 26th:
Spanish Conversation Group
Wed. August 27th:
Carlsbad Public Library LEGO Time
Fri. August 29th:
Story Time at the Living Desert Zoo
Karaoke/Open Mic at Guadalupe
Mountain Brewing Company
Sat. August 30th: Carlsbad Farmers Market
For more information regarding any of these events or others please visit the official City Events Calander.
LAKE CARLSBAD GOLF COURSE IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETE
We’re excited to announce that all improvement projects at the Lake Carlsbad Golf Course are now complete, and the entire facility is officially open to the public!
This includes:
The Driving Range – OPEN
The Championship Course – OPEN
The Par 3 Course – NOW OPEN as of August 1, 2025
The Miniature Golf Course – OPEN and ready for players of all ages
Thank you to our community for your patience and support throughout this process. These upgrades were made with our residents and visitors in mind, and we’re proud to offer a fully improved golf experience that everyone can enjoy.
For more information or to schedule a tee time, please contact the Lake Carlsbad Golf Course at (575) 885-5444.
CARLSBAD WATER PARK LATE-SEASON SCHEDULE
As the summer season winds down and students prepare to head back to school, the Carlsbad Water Park will be transitioning to weekend-only operations. Beginning the weekend of August 2–3, 2025, the park will be open Saturdays and Sundays only through the end of the season.
Remaining open dates for the 2025 season are:
August 2–3
August 9–10
August 16–17
August 23–24
August 30–31
The final day of the season will be Sunday, August 31, 2025, after which the park will officially close for the year. We want to thank our residents and visitors for making this summer another safe and fun-filled season at the Carlsbad Water Park.
For more information, hours of operation, or any additional questions, please contact the Carlsbad Water Park directly at
UPCOMING HOLIDAY CLOSURES FOR 2025
Labor Day: Monday, September 1, 2025
Veterans Day: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Day after Thanksgiving: Friday, November 28, 2025
Christmas Eve: Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Christmas Day: Thursday, December 25, 2025
New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1, 2026
CITY COUNCIL
Richard Lopez, Mayor mayor.office@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 1
Edward Rodriguez | etrodriguez@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Lisa Anaya-Flores | laflores@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 2
JJ Chavez | jochavez@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Jeff Forrest | jjforrest@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 3
Karla Hamel Niemeier | kjniemeier@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Mary Garwood | msgarwood@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ward 4
Anthony Foreman | arforeman@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Mark Walterscheid | mewalterscheid@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
CITY ADMINISTRATION
Wendy Austin, City Administrator wdaustin@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
Ken Ahrens, Deputy City Administrator ksahrens@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
