Albuquerque BioPark Projects

Sites has worked on several projects for the ABQ BioPark including the initial master plan in 1992. Sites worked as part of a large consultant team producing a master plan for what has become a centerpiece for Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Recreational Development. The firm’s staff played a major role in many landscape architectural elements including streetscape concepts and guidelines.
Sites also worked on the addition of the Japanese Garden which was planned to be spiritually and thematically in keeping with traditional Japanese gardens but adapted to the arid high desert of the American southwest.
The new BioPark Heritage Farm is more than just a farm—it’s an immersive educational experience that explores the origins of our food and the connections between people, animals, agriculture, and natural habitats. Designed for visitors of all ages, the Farm highlights the region’s agricultural history through the lens of Indigenous and immigrant traditions, and by showcasing time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. The site features trails, orchards, pollinator gardens, working animal husbandry exhibits, a cottonwood gallery, an apple cider crushing facility, and a nature-themed playground for children and families. A small train, integrated into the project, connects the Farm to the larger BioPark, with accessible walkways modeled after a traditional two-track farm road, ensuring both connectivity and inclusivity.