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Duke City Fit ditions in the southwest, colonization, revolt, and resettlement through land grants. As Albuquerque developed into a small city after 1900, the growing population had their outdoors but little in the way of formal park space for recreation. The first city park was Robinson, at the corner of Seventh and Central, and it is still a focal point for downtown neighborhoods. Aldo Leopold, about 1915 (Courtesy, Aldo Leopold Foundation)
The young forester Aldo Leopold began to tout the need for parks just before World War I, arguing that no great city can exist without them. Leopold went on to become the father of the American wilderness movement and one of the most pre-eminent ecologists of the modern era. During his short five-year stay in Albuquerque, he advocated for the creation of a Rio Grande park. Asking why so few children were seen in the city’s parks, he provided the simple answer, “The boys go to the river.” Always a visionary, his idea for a riverside park in the city would take 65 years to be fully realized. In 1910, an engaged couple’s train trip from Bowling Green, Ohio to Arizona was cut short by a medical emergency and Albuquerque’s history was changed forever. Carrie Wooster, daughter of a wealthy Ohio family, suffered from tuberculosis and was in the company of her mother and fiancé when an acute attack forced the trio to stop in Albuquerque. They found the health care to be excellent and decided to go no further. Carrie and Clyde Tingley were married on April 21, 1911.
his trademark linen suits and fedora. Bathers at Tingley Beach, early 1940s (Courtesy Albuquerque Museum)
Following World War II, with many veterans returning and with a nationwide building effort underway, Albuquerque found itself with a growing need for recreation and an expanding list of assets to meet that need. Pre-war civic projects built under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) included Terrace/Roosevelt Park (1933-1934), Tingley Field/Stadium (1936-1939), improvements to Rio Grande Park/Zoo (1936), Heights Community Center courtyard (1936), a wading pool at Tingley Beach (1937), landscaping Forest Park (1936) and other parks (1939), and the construction of University golf course (1940) to name but a few. From 1930 to 1940 the WPA expended nearly $27,000,000 on Albuquerque area projects. The Rio Grande zoo, for example, had expanded from its modest beginnings in 1925 when it started with “two bears, two lions, a snake, and a bobcat” to become the only public zoo within 475 miles. After the war, the City built Bataan Memorial Park in 1947, Hyder Park in 1948, and Coronado Park in 1949 in rapid succession. Community centers, playgrounds, and tennis courts added to the amenities that the city had to offer. Army band playing at Highland Park bandshell circa 1944 (Courtesy, Albuquerque Museum)
Clyde Tingley, about 1925 (Courtesy, Albuquerque Museum)
By the time Clyde Tingley’s influence began to shape Albuquerque in the mid-1920s, there were still only four formally developed parks—Robinson Soldiers & Sailors, Highland, and McClellan. This was partly due to the lack of water utilities and partly due to the financing needed for new parks. Clyde Tingley set about solving both problems: Tingley’s role in developing the city’s park system was inestimable. He spearheaded the construction of Tingley Beach in 1931 and his close relationship with President Franklin Roosevelt brought Works Progress Administration projects such as Terrace Park, the Heights Community Center and the Tingley Field baseball stadium. He quickly renamed Terrace Park as Roosevelt Park out admiration for the president. Tingley’s political influence was perhaps only matched by his flamboyance. He utilized photo opportunities at every turn, posing with celebrities, beauty contestants, and even Santa Claus while wearing
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Duke City Fit
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Duke City Fit
898-3562 SW Corner of 4th & Alameda Enter on 4th, Across from the Church Autumn 2011
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Duke City Fit October 16 Day of the Tread, Pre-register required, Biking or Running or Walking on pumpkinlined courses to benefit Tingley Hospital , See Ad this page www.dayofthetread.com
2011 Doggie Dash and Dawdle, 8am, Balloon Fiesta Park, NM Humane Society fundraiser to benefit homeless pets, 5K run or 2 mile dawdle, rent a dog for $10 if you don’t have one of your own, www. animalhumanenm.org
October 22 Deadman Peaks Trail Run, Ultra marathon 50 mile run, 6am, Continental Divide Trail just south of Cuba, benefits pancreatic cancer research, deadmanpeakstrailrun.wordpress.com
November 10 Twilight Hike on a Full Moon Night, $3 Parking fee, dusk, Pre-register required, RioGrande Nature Center 2901 Candelaria NW, Call for exact start time, 344-7240
Make A Difference Day, Free, 9am-1pm, Piedra Lisa Open Space conservation, maintenance, & cleanup projects at end of Candelaria just south on Camina de la Sierra, Nicodemus Wilderness Project, Jim Satler 452-5200 October 23 2011 Duke City Marathon, Downtown - 3rd & Tijeras, 7am, 880-1414 dukecitymarathon.com October 30 The Great Pumpkin Chase, 9am, Pre-registration required, www.IRUNFIT.org
November 11 5th Annual Veterans Day 11K, 8am, Kit Carson Park - 910 Alcalde Pl SW, flat fast course in the ABQ Bosque, www.active.com November 13 White Mesa 64K & 50K Run, 8am, White Mesa bike trails, an unsupported unmarked free fat-ass style ultramarathon trail fun-run in some of the most unusual and spectacular scenery in NM, There may be a cheap and poorly constructed award for the winner, www. newmexicofa50k.wordpress.com November 15-20 Festival of the Cranes, Free, Bosque Del Apache Visitor Center, San Antonio NM, Cranes!, All day everyday 575-838-2120 www.friendsofthebosque.org/cranes
Tour of the Rio Grande Valley, Bike Ride, 7am first start, $60, 100/75/50/25 mile rides, Los Ranchos Village Hall on Rio Grande Blvd, Chris Marsh 505-891-3464 www.bikenm.org September 21 Basic Bike Maintenance, Free, 6-8pm, Pre-register, if you ride a bike you need this class on basic bike maintenance, REI Clinic room, 247-1191 September 24 Born to Run 2011, 9am, Sagebrush Church - 6440 Coors Blvd NW, active.com 881-4563 See Ad page 13 Book Signing with Matt Schmader, Free, 2-4pm, Open Space Visitor Center 6500 Coors NW, Open Space director signs his new book “Albuquerque’s Parks and Open Spaces” 897-8831 September 25 Tour De Acoma Bicycle Race, Pre-Register, 100-50-25 mile race, unique chance to bike on the beautiful pueblo lands, See Ad pg 5, 505-552-1040 www.tourdeacoma.com
October 1-9 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Balloon Fiesta Park, 1-888-422-7277 www.balloonfiesta.com,
November 6 Daylight Saving Time Ends, set your clock back 1 hour
November 19 Run From Malaria, 9am, Albuquerque Academy, 5K run and Fun walk, All proceeds of this event will go to end malaria www.aroadrun.org/inm.htm
October 2 7th Annual Sandia Shadows Trail Run, 5pm, Pre-registration required, www.IRUNFIT.org October 8 Continental Divide Trail Volunteer Day Project NM, Free, 8am-4pm, Join the CD Trail Alliance for light trail maintenance just south of Cuba, great project for new volunteers & veterans alike, Contact Jon Pierson at (505) 659-7364 October 9 Susan Komen Race for the Cure, 7am, Isotopes Park, 10K/5K/1 mile run/walk, benefits breast cancer research, www.komencnm.org October 11 Twilight Hike on a Full Moon Night, $3 Parking fee, dusk, Pre-register required, RioGrande Nature Center 2901 Candelaria NW, Call for exact start time, 344-7240 October 14-21 Prime-8 Events at Stone Age Climbing Gym, 8 days & nights of climbing events, See Ad page 9 , Call 341-2016 for schedule, stoneageclimbinggym.com
October 1 Twilight Hike on a Moonlit Night, $3 Parking fee, dusk, Pre-register required, RioGrande Nature Center 2901 Candelaria NW, Call for exact start time, 344-7240
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October 15 17th Annual Dia Del Rio, Free, 8:30am, River & Bosque conservation & cleanup, Durand Open Space in South Valley at 4812 Isleta Blvd SW, projects & education to protect & enhance the Rio Grande, preregistration REI, 247-1191
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