Trail gives students a safer way to school

For many years, Columbia Elementary students had few walkable options to get to and from school. But now, thanks to a collaborative effort between organizations, school leaders, and Doña Ana County, families have a new path in the area.  

Recently, a new section of the Elks trail opened along the east side of Columbia, offering a safer, walkable connection that connects nearby neighborhoods directly to the school. 

“It’s just a way for kids to be able to safely get to school by walking and biking,” said Ashleigh Curry, safe routes coordinator for Las Cruces Public Schools. “It serves really three schools, Vista Middle School, Columbia Elementary, and another one in the area. So for those kids to be able to have a safe place to walk them back to school, but then also just to hang out and recreate and play on the weekends as well, it really makes a difference.”  

The project is a part of a broader effort to bring more outdoor access and walkable infrastructure to neighborhoods across the Las Cruces and Doña Ana area.  Curry mentioned it took a long list of partners to bring the trail to life. 

"The lead on it has been Doña Aña County. They built the first big chunk of the trail. Then when Columbia was being rebuilt, we applied for a grant from the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant program," she said. "We received $51,000 from them to build the section that goes in front of Columbia."

The Parque Alegre project was funded in part by a $100,000 grant from the division's Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant program.

She added that the partnership has long-term plans to extend the trail even further. 

“There’s also hopes that we’ll continue our collaborations, even with the city, as well as with the county, to continue the trail even further down into the city and kind of provide more connectivity,” Curry said. 

For Israel Chavez, who serves as the president of the Dona Aña Village Association, said the trail represented more than just a safe route or sidewalk. 

“We partnered with Doña Ana County to reimagine an unused flood pond at the end of the village,” Chavez said. “That’s where the Elks Trail will connect next. It’s not just infrastructure, it’s transformation.”  

His organization worked with county officials to turn a vacant open space near Camino Real and Doña Ana School Road, into an opportunity for community use and cultural connection. 

“We’re excited about the planned improvements that would connect the Elks Trail all the way to the historic village of Doña Ana,” Chavez said. “That’s a gem of a project. It’s about more than just access, it’s about linking people back to the land, to each other, and to cultural memory.”  

Chavez mentioned that the trail was part of a larger vision, developed in collaboration with the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, and both local and national stakeholders. 

Curry said the next step is getting people to go outside and use them. 

“I just want to see the community come out,” she said. “I think it’s a really fun opportunity for people to come and walk, bike, roll, and enjoy some activities and just be a community together.” 

She also hopes that the project becomes a model. 

“I hope it inspires people to do more projects like this in other neighborhoods, so more kids can have this kind of access to get out and commute where they need to go,” Curry said. “It’s part of a much bigger picture.” 

Educators at the event also said the trail will make a meaningful difference for students and families.  

Jaimie Alvarez, a seventh-grade teacher at Jake Paul Taylor Academy, said the trail creates a safer and more connected environment for the surrounding communities. 

“I think it will serve the community great because it will now give them a safe space to walk and enjoy the connection between Doña Ana and Las Cruces," Alvarez said. “It really kind of connects the two communities together and finally gives a place for all the students to use and the parents to feel like they have somewhere they can trust they’ll be safe walking to.”  

The trail was celebrated Feb. 13 during a community event that was held at Columbia Elementary, where students, families, and partner organizations gathered to walk the new route, take part in activities, and highlight the impact of the project.