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Albuquerque BioPark Projects
SITES has been part of the ABQ BioPark story for decades, beginning with the original master plan in 1992. Working alongside a multidisciplinary consultant team, we helped shape what has become a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s Rio Grande recreation corridor—contributing streetscape concepts, design guidelines, and key landscape architectural elements that continue to define the experience today. Showcased here are the Japanese Garden and the Heritage Farm, which reflect the firm’s commitment to connecting people, ecology, and culture through design.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
Albuquerque Public Schools - Sandia High School
SITES worked with Albuquerque Public Schools to transform the Sandia High School campus into a living laboratory where learning extends beyond the classroom. The design focused on creating outdoor environments that connect science education with the land, reflecting APS’s commitment to hands-on, sustainable learning spaces.
At the heart of the project is a large, constructed wetland, developed in close collaboration with the school’s biology faculty to serve as a year-round teaching tool. The wetland and its surrounding landscape recall the ecologies of the nearby Rio Grande, featuring three distinct aquatic zones and native plant communities that demonstrate how water, soil, and vegetation interact. The system integrates a cistern-fed irrigation network, reused concrete materials, and accessible walkways that double as outdoor learning paths.
Beyond the wetland, the campus improvements include a new sports field, a landscaped mall linking the Science Academy and Library to the rest of the campus, and shaded gathering areas that encourage social interaction and exploration. Together, these spaces frame striking views of the Sandia Mountains and create a cohesive, sustainable campus landscape where students can study, observe, and engage directly with the natural systems that shape their community.
At the heart of the project is a large, constructed wetland, developed in close collaboration with the school’s biology faculty to serve as a year-round teaching tool. The wetland and its surrounding landscape recall the ecologies of the nearby Rio Grande, featuring three distinct aquatic zones and native plant communities that demonstrate how water, soil, and vegetation interact. The system integrates a cistern-fed irrigation network, reused concrete materials, and accessible walkways that double as outdoor learning paths.
Beyond the wetland, the campus improvements include a new sports field, a landscaped mall linking the Science Academy and Library to the rest of the campus, and shaded gathering areas that encourage social interaction and exploration. Together, these spaces frame striking views of the Sandia Mountains and create a cohesive, sustainable campus landscape where students can study, observe, and engage directly with the natural systems that shape their community.
Albuquerque Public Schools Learning Landscapes
SITES partnered with Albuquerque Public Schools to design the outdoor environments for two prototype campuses, Tierra Antigua Elementary School and Tony Hillerman Middle School. These schools were developed as models for future APS facilities, and the landscapes were created to complement the prototype buildings while connecting play, fitness, education, and environment.
SITES provided full playground and landscape design for both campuses. At Tierra Antigua Elementary, the design features a distinctive custom ocotillo shade structure, an archaeological excavation area, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor classroom surrounded by interpretive gardens that highlight Native American plants used for food, fiber, and medicine.
The Tony Hillerman Middle School "Ancient Mesa" landscape reuses existing boulders to form waffle gardens and retaining walls. A ponding area planted to attract butterflies and birds provides a living habitat supported by bat roosts and bird feeders.
Together, these learning landscapes show how thoughtful design can turn school sites into inspiring environments that promote discovery and connection to place.
SITES provided full playground and landscape design for both campuses. At Tierra Antigua Elementary, the design features a distinctive custom ocotillo shade structure, an archaeological excavation area, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor classroom surrounded by interpretive gardens that highlight Native American plants used for food, fiber, and medicine.
The Tony Hillerman Middle School "Ancient Mesa" landscape reuses existing boulders to form waffle gardens and retaining walls. A ponding area planted to attract butterflies and birds provides a living habitat supported by bat roosts and bird feeders.
Together, these learning landscapes show how thoughtful design can turn school sites into inspiring environments that promote discovery and connection to place.
Animas Trail Extension and Gateway Park Master Planning and Design
SITES has been working with the City of Farmington to expand and enhance the Animas River Trail, a defining feature of the city’s park and recreation system. The first new trail segment extended the riverside path nearly a mile east from the Among the Waters trailhead at the Bisti Highway. This phase replaced a flood-damaged culvert crossing with a new bridge and navigated a steep bluff nearly thirty feet high overlooking the Animas River near its confluence with the San Juan River.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
Ashley Pond Park
SITES was commissioned by Los Alamos County to develop plans for the rehabilitation of Ashley Pond Park, the community’s central gathering space and a historic resource once used by the Los Alamos Ranch School. Located within the Fuller Lodge Historic District, the park continues to play an essential role in the identity of both Los Alamos and New Mexico.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
Atrisco Acequia Madre Master Plan
SITES served as the planning lead for the conceptual design of an enhanced open space and community destination at the headwaters of the Atrisco Acequia Madre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project brought together a broad team of funding partners, community organizations, and members of the public to shape a shared vision for this culturally significant landscape.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Bachechi Open Space
Located in Albuquerque’s North Valley, Bachechi Open Space Park is a 27-acre destination where everyday recreation meets deeper connections to nature and the city’s agricultural legacy. Designed by SITES, the park transforms a historic farmstead into a dynamic landscape that celebrates ecology, heritage, and community. As a gateway to the Rio Grande Valley State Park multi-use trail system, it welcomes hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and nature lovers to explore regional landscapes, observe wildlife, and experience the spirit of the Rio Grande valley.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
Bosque Revitalization
SITES, in collaboration with project engineers, led the design study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that transformed the face of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. This study served as the first phase of a comprehensive program to restore and revitalize the river corridor, setting the foundation for tens of millions of dollars in restoration work guided by its blueprint.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
Corcoran “Corky” Park
Sites led a multi-disciplinary team to instill new life at “Corky” Park in Horizon City Texas. The Park, adjacent to the future town center, functions as the Town’s central park. Critical to the community’s public events, whether “Music in the Park” or the Christmas Tree lighting, the park now has a central plaza, plaza style skatepark, a multi-use paved trail, upgraded baseball and softball field, a new restroom building, multiple play structures, an embankment slide, outdoor sport courts, site furnishings, new trees, shrubs and irrigation system. Twenty-two existing mature trees were saved, providing much needed shade in the desert climate. Green Infrastructure techniques such as rain gardens, and integrated stormwater harvesting are featured throughout.
East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex
The East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a $8.5 million complex planned and designed near the city's East Lohman Corridor, east of I25. Sites collaborated with Wilson & Co Engineers and Architects to create the master plan for the park and later construction documents. This ambitious project went through a lengthy master planning process that was guided by a comprehensive Public Information Plan. Among the organizations were trail and open space enthusiasts, sports leagues, desert habitat advocates, nearby residents concerned about losing views of the Organ Mountains, trail and biking supporters, and BLM. The complex includes two access roads designed to cause as little disruption to the desert ecosystem and nearby neighborhoods as possible, soccer/football fields, baseball fields, pickle ball courts, trails, a traditional park and playgrounds, an amphitheater built into a natural hillside, concessions and restrooms, and a greenway promenade connecting all the facilities.
El Paso Open Space Enhancements
Sites led a multidisciplinary team that created a one-of-a-kind design with custom elements for two stormwater dam sites in El Paso, Texas: Van Buren Dam and Louisiana Dam. Creative solutions were considered to provide amenities that would not interfere with the stormwater capacity or functional use of these dam locations. Hard and soft surface trails connect plazas. The project's amenities included new lighting, ADA access, interpretative educational signage, workout equipment, native vegetation protection, and formerly disturbed areas that were revegetated with beautiful low-water plants and drip irrigation. Before the water is released into the city's stormwater conveyance system, check dams slow it down and enable it to be used to irrigate native plants. The design also incorporates and protects existing native areas, which will prevent the loss of habitat for existing flora and fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert region.
Farmington Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Plan
The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Master Plan for the City of Farmington is a guide for near-term investments in projects, programs, and policies the department should make to meet its strategic goals. Critically, this plan includes specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) recommendations that were shaped through a co-creation process with the City’s DEI Advisory Council. Plan goals and strategies were driven by a robust community engagement plan that included meetings with staff leadership as well as open meetings with each division’s on-the-ground staff, formal community workshops, interactive tabling activities at community events, a project website, and a community survey. The result is a comprehensive plan for the City’s parks, recreational facilities, and cultural spaces, as well as the programs that are offered there, that is reflective of the community’s needs and vision for the future.
High Desert Community
High Desert is a 1,400-acre mixed-use sustainable community in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed by High Desert Investment Corporation. Planned with strong emphasis on environmentally appropriate, naturalistic landscaping, the community preserved approximately 400 acres of open space. Over a 12-year period, Sites provided master planning, landscape design, research, and management services for the project. Our work included streetscapes, drainage ponds, parks, wildlife drinkers, trails, and open spaces—designed to maximize sustainability. Every drop of precipitation is harvested, cleaned, and redirected for use in the landscape, supporting a closed-loop water system. We designed nearly all the community’s landscapes, served on the design review committee, and authored the High Desert Plant List and Landscape Revegetation Guidelines. Drought-tolerant planting is used throughout, with water collected from roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces. Materials were chosen for environmental responsibility and sourced within 50 miles, including gravel, boulders, and even plants—many of which were salvaged during road construction. Native landscapes were preserved and enhanced with passive gravity-fed irrigation, demonstrating low-impact, sustainable techniques to residents.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park
The 28-acre Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park, located on El Paso’s north side, transforms a former vacant lot into one of the city’s most vibrant and inclusive community spaces. Formerly known as Northeast Regional Park, the site was renamed in 2018 to honor Border Patrol Agent Joey Barraza and his K-9 partner Vino, who tragically passed in the line of duty. Funded through the 2012 Quality of Life Bond Program and a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant, the project reflects the City’s commitment to honoring local heroes while investing in healthy, active lifestyles. Sites led the park’s design, seamlessly connecting the new expansion to the existing park and trail system, and integrating original features like the skate park and public art into a renewed framework. The park now offers a wide variety of amenities for all ages and abilities: three championship soccer fields, El Paso’s first large-scale dog park in the northeast, walking and jogging trails linked to the Paso del Norte Trail network, a food truck plaza for community events, and shaded picnic areas. A fully accessible, all-abilities playground anchors the park with interactive play elements, canopies, and soft surfacing, while plazas, seating, water fountains, and landscaped parking ensure comfort and usability throughout. Since its reopening in 2023, Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park has become a beloved hub for families, athletes, dog owners, and neighbors—offering spaces to gather, play, and celebrate community pride in a modern, inclusive setting.
Manzanita Ridge Neighborhood Park
Sites, Ashley Vance Engineering, and S&F Land Services worked alongside Bend Parks and Recreation District staff throughout the entire public engagement and design lifecycle for Manzanita Ridge Park. The initial public meeting revealed a divide between community members, who preferred a more natural open space park, and those who preferred a park with a playground and amenities where their families could play and picnic. To meet the needs of the Shevlin West Neighborhood and adjacent communities, the team facilitated a robust public process that included online surveys, pop up events, and public meetings led by Bend Parks and Recreation District. After presenting three potential concepts and obtaining public and stakeholder feedback, the team refined a final, preferred concept. The team took the concepts into construction documentation and eventually provided construction oversight. Ultimately, Manzanita Ridge Park, currently under construction, will be a harmonious marriage of a traditional neighborhood park with — a grassy area, playground, and nature play — with natural open space that features trails and preserved, high desert native landscape.
New Mexico Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Update
SITES partnered with New Mexico State Parks, the Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division, and the National Park Service to assess outdoor recreation resources, identify statewide trends, and complete an inventory of trails across New Mexico. The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division initiated the 2021–2026 update of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which directs the State’s allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Sites completed a comprehensive master planning effort for the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso, Texas. Based on the mission of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this effort was undertaken to create a trail that will become a regional attraction connecting communities, celebrating El Paso’s history and culture, highlighting the Rio Grande, promoting health and active living, and catalyzing economic development. Serving as a continuation of New Mexico’s proposed Rio Grande Trail, this ambitious 60-mile-plus trail project, once completed, will extend from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Southeast corner of El Paso County, and will include spur trail connections to UTEP, the Franklin Mountains Open Space, and various communities and points of interest in El Paso’s Mission Valley, as well as a loop trail through Juarez, Mexico. The theme for this trail centers around the international flavor of the area and will include historic references to El Camino Real, the agricultural areas along the Rio Grande, and the missions themselves, represented through both design themes and interpretive opportunities. The trail system features various trail types, ranging from paved multi-use paths to unpaved ditch and levee roads, as well as an urban component comprised of sidewalks and enhanced bikeways through the city of El Paso.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint
The Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint is the first overlook along the Historic Columbia River Highway as visitors head east from Portland, offering one of the most iconic views of the Columbia River Gorge. SITES worked with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to develop a comprehensive plan for revitalizing this celebrated site, balancing visitor access, resource protection, and the preservation of its historic character.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
Rio Grande Trail Master Plan
Sites teamed with Alta Planning + Design to help the New Mexico State Parks Division bring the long-envisioned Rio Grande Trail to life. With a scope that extends over 500 miles from Colorado to Texas, the New Mexico Rio Grande Trail Master Plan builds off earlier work (some of which had also been completed by Sites) that identified potential trail alignments through the southern two-thirds of the state of New Mexico. The plan included the development of a numeric ranking system to evaluate and update those previous alignment alternatives, as well as exploring new potential routes through the northern third of the state. The result is a trail alignment that will link Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas border-to-border. The plan includes recommendations for trail types for diverse geographic conditions, user accommodations, implementation strategies, and long-term management.
Sandia Ranch Master Plan
Bernalillo County commissioned Sites to develop a Master Plan and schematic design plans for the 20-acre Sandia Ranch in Albuquerque. This agriculturally based project includes extensive public involvement and coordination with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the American Sign Language Academy with a master plan, site analysis and programming, and construction documents. Programmatically the project includes farm and ranch-based zones for animal husbandry and farming with field seed plots, orchards and vineyards, trails along the Camino Real and the acequia that splits the property, 4H and County Extension Service offices and grounds, an arena with bleachers and pens, a small community park and playground, El Camino kiosk design, master gardening, and rodeo arena.
Tiguex Park and Albuquerque Museum District Master Plan
Tiguex Park has been a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s public life since the 1970s, connecting the city’s historic Old Town Plaza and shopping district to its three major museums. More than a neighborhood park, it serves as a civic gathering space, a recreational hub, and a cultural gateway for residents and visitors alike.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
Valle De Oro Master Plan
SITES partnered with Wilson & Co. and a multi-agency team—including the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo & Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Ducks Unlimited—to craft the master plan for the nation’s first purpose-designed urban wildlife refuge in Albuquerque’s South Valley.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan
Sites has a long history of partnering with Village staff on comprehensive plans, designation and plans for two metropolitan redevelopment areas, workforce housing initiatives, and zoning code updates. The Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan focused on economic development, particularly diversifying economic opportunities for residents while supporting the local tourism economy. Residents were most interested in living wage jobs, workforce housing, and recreational opportunities for local youth and families. Resiliency and emergency response related to wildfire and flooding were key components of Ruidoso’s plan and continue to be critical concerns in that community. Feedback from a wide range of residents was important to Village leadership. The team held a large public forum and offered opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in various focus groups during a multi-day site visit, where all events included meals. Absentee owners, Village staff, and leadership were heavily involved in recruiting participants, and the attendance at all events was extraordinary. Village staff were involved with the process throughout, including review and input into the final recommendations. This involvement smoothed the transition of plan recommendations into Village department work programs. Since the plan’s adoption, staff have systematically tackled the plan recommendations, including utility review and upgrades, zoning code amendments, and park and other facility improvements.
Vistoso Trails Master Plan
Sites’s work on The Vistoso Trails Master Plan for The Town of Oro Valley, Arizona demonstrates our ability to deliver a tailored Master Plan that meets the needs of the community, while not jeopardizing our core sustainability mission. In this project, we were able to optimize the number of public meetings, engaging the town residents in similar locations to the one being designed. Through those meetings, we were able to integrate feedback, resulting in a plan that included nature play areas and an amphitheater for classes or star gazing for children. We thoughtfully considered a nearby school, including a crosswalk for children’s safety, and partnered with the school to allow for parking so that families could use the Vistoso Trails’ amenities conveniently. Our ability to understand and consider community needs is also demonstrated by the similarities in neighborhoods and surrounding areas. This project wove through a high-end residential community of existing and continuing development, which is very similar to the High Desert Community Plan. At the foundation of all of this, we partnered with The Conservation Fund, the AZ chapter of Audubon, and local Archaeologist consultants to integrate conservation and preservation at the core of the project. This allowed us to collaborate with experts in designing open spaces while optimizing conservation, attracting birds and protecting wildlife, and preserving and protecting on-site petroglyphs.
Winrock Town Center
The former Winrock Mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was reimagined as a vibrant town center. As part of the rehabilitation, a central park for the entire mixed-use development was built in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque. As the landscape architect for the park’s design, Sites partnered with PACE Advanced Water Engineering and Modulus to create a dynamic public space featuring an event amphitheater and lawn, a large playground with both nature-based and traditional play areas, a lake with bridges and restaurants overlooking it, and a network of soft- and hardscape trails and plazas. The design also incorporates an educational kiosk, orchard and entry plaza at the Dillard’s entrance, and a curving, flowing pathway system that guides visitors into a variety of experiences—spaces close to the water’s edge, and niches farther away for a more contemplative retreat. Native plants were carefully selected to support water conservation and climate resilience. A small high-tech water treatment plant supplies reclaimed water to the lake, which is then reused for park irrigation. The park’s story is shared through interpretive and educational signage, reinforcing a vision of long-term sustainability.
At SITES, we understand that outdoor spaces are essential to community health, identity, and connection. With deep Southwestern roots and a strong understanding of arid land ecosystems, we approach parks and recreation planning with sustainability, creativity, and cultural sensitivity at the forefront. We believe access to nature should be available to all—regardless of age, ability, or income. Our interdisciplinary team has crafted plans and construction documents for nature play areas, trail systems, sports facilities, interpretive sites, and inclusive neighborhood parks. These spaces foster deep engagement with nature, cultural expression, and environmental education while enhancing quality of life and resilience.
SITES recognizes that urban areas and village centers offer a powerful opportunity to apply placemaking principles toward vibrant, walkable, and economically resilient cities. We shape public spaces that enhance functionality and beauty while driving foot traffic and supporting local businesses. Our projects include plazas, pedestrian corridors, multimodal streets, and pocket parks—designed to elevate livability and reflect community identity. By integrating sustainable infrastructure, green space, and human-scaled design, we help address stormwater, reduce heat islands, and promote climate-conscious urbanism. Our streetscape and urban design work empowers cities to become places of pride, creativity, and connection.
Albuquerque International Sunport - Sunport Roadway Landscape Improvements
Every arrival and departure at the Albuquerque International Sunport begins with a journey through the landscape, and with it, a first impression of New Mexico. SITES reimagined the Sunport roadway corridor to celebrate that sense of place while advancing the City’s water conservation goals.
The design transformed what had been water-hungry turf medians into a living gateway that reflects the beauty and resilience of the high desert. Native yuccas, drought-tolerant perennials, and colorful seasonal plantings frame stone retaining walls and terraces, creating texture and movement throughout the approach. A central water-harvesting swale captures and filters stormwater, reducing maintenance needs and cutting irrigation demand by more than half.
The project also introduced expressive new features: a signature LED gateway sign welcoming travelers, and four large-scale Native design pots illuminated by solar lighting. Together, these elements shape a corridor that feels unmistakably Albuquerque, rooted in culture, defined by sustainability, and designed to leave a lasting impression of the landscape that makes this city unique.
The design transformed what had been water-hungry turf medians into a living gateway that reflects the beauty and resilience of the high desert. Native yuccas, drought-tolerant perennials, and colorful seasonal plantings frame stone retaining walls and terraces, creating texture and movement throughout the approach. A central water-harvesting swale captures and filters stormwater, reducing maintenance needs and cutting irrigation demand by more than half.
The project also introduced expressive new features: a signature LED gateway sign welcoming travelers, and four large-scale Native design pots illuminated by solar lighting. Together, these elements shape a corridor that feels unmistakably Albuquerque, rooted in culture, defined by sustainability, and designed to leave a lasting impression of the landscape that makes this city unique.
Ashley Pond Park
SITES was commissioned by Los Alamos County to develop plans for the rehabilitation of Ashley Pond Park, the community’s central gathering space and a historic resource once used by the Los Alamos Ranch School. Located within the Fuller Lodge Historic District, the park continues to play an essential role in the identity of both Los Alamos and New Mexico.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
Carrizozo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES partnered with the Town of Carrizozo to develop a Downtown Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy focused on strengthening the local economy, attracting visitors, and supporting rehabilitation along NM 54 and 12th Street. The plan built upon the earlier Historic Carrizozo Revitalization Plan completed through New Mexico MainStreet’s Frontier Communities Initiative in 2015, expanding on those ideas with new strategies for long-term growth.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
Central Avenue Streetscape Urban Design Plan
SITES led the design for the revitalization of a historic stretch of Route 66 along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. The project focused on the section extending from 8th Street in downtown to Coors Road, with additional study of the corridor continuing west to the top of Nine Mile Hill.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
Central New Mexico Community College Student Resource Center Plaza
The Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) campus in Albuquerque, near Coal Avenue and University Boulevard, has undergone numerous changes over the years. The grounds in front of the Student Resources Center is but one example. Originally conceived as an open lawn that largely went unused, the site eventually was converted to an inhospitable expanse of gray crushed gravel that was intended to be used for ceremonial events, which also largely went unused. In 2021, CNM commissioned Sites to transform that area into a central gathering space and plaza that could be used for events, casual gatherings, and other activities. The plaza is surrounded by custom-designed radial shade structures with a raised stage on one side. In addition to providing shade and weather protection from above, these shade canopies were designed to screen the sun from the sides, as well, providing a more comfortable space for students to use throughout the day. Rainwater is directed from structure roofs and permeable pavers into a subsurface distribution system and bioswale that provide supplemental water to shade trees within the plaza. The enhanced plaza was opened to student and faculty use in the fall of 2022.
Convair Road Improvement
Sites worked closely with El Paso International Airport (EPIA) and the project engineers to create a colorful and vibrant corridor for Convair Road. Low water and colorful plants create an iconic image of El Paso for residents and travelers who are coming, going or just passing through. Sites provided EPIA with this cutting-edge, low-voltage landscape lighting, which enables easy and quick operation of the lighting from a computer screen or a smartphone app. Lights may be quickly changed to match the team's colors, whether they are arriving as Sun Bowl players or Christmas travelers. Improvements include wide walkways, street trees, colorful shrubs, decorative screen walls, low water drip irrigation, low voltage landscape lighting and pedestrian rest areas complete with site furnishings that provide a visually interesting opportunity for a little exercise and/or respite.
East Downtown Albuquerque
The East Downtown (EDO) Revitalization brought a fresh, walkable vision to Albuquerque’s historic corridor, blending New Urbanist principles with local character. Centered on Central Avenue, Broadway Boulevard, and the former Old Albuquerque High School campus, the project transformed an underused district into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that celebrates community and place.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
East Lohman Development Plan
Sites led a planning and urban design team in preparing a master plan for the 150-acre East Lohman Site, a property on the growing east side of Las Cruces. Using guidance from a detailed market study, the plan envisioned a mixed-use community that is pedestrian-oriented and environmentally sensitive, with neighborhood centers that complement existing land uses. The plan includes strategies and realistic actions for the City to take to ensure quality urban design and development that is aligned with the plan vision. The planning process was highly collaborative involving city staff, elected officials, businesses and institutions and community members. The plan was enthusiastically approved by both elected officials and residents. The public engagement process was designed to solicit input from a range of stakeholders. It began with the City identifying key stakeholders, who were then included in focus groups, alongside key property owners. Design workshops, public meetings, and public hearings were also attended by key stakeholders and residents. Public feedback was instrumental in guiding the development of three alternative plans, each with a distinct programmatic focus and urban structure. Each scenario included a variety of creative pedestrian-oriented and urban design concepts. The final plan blended the strongest and best-supported ideas from each scenario.
Farmington Animas Action Plan
Sites led a team in providing master planning, design, land use, greenway planning, and zoning and policy expertise for an Action Plan to revitalize the Animas District in Farmington. Once a hub for local agriculture and later transitioning to more industrial uses of the energy sector, the area had become blighted and overlooked. Yet with nearby assets like the renovated Main Street, the Animas River, and the San Juan Regional Medical Center, the district offered a unique opportunity to reimagine a vibrant neighborhood with modest-scale housing. Through extensive planning and public engagement, the team developed a master plan focused on reconnecting the area to both its natural and town center context. Key strategies include integrating regional trails, parks and education along the Animas River, incorporating orchards and open space, promoting “missing middle” housing types, and enhancing street infrastructure to better link destinations and support walkability.
Gallup - Coal Avenue Commons
The Coal Avenue Commons project, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town initiative and matched by local funds, melded local arts and culture for the revitalization of downtown Gallup. Coal Avenue is the result of years of collaboration between the City of Gallup, McKinley County, gallupARTS, Gallup Main Street and Arts + Culture District, the NW NM Council of Governments, the McCune Foundation, and the state’s only Business Improvement District. The goal for this project, fueled by a robust and innovative public engagement process, was to develop a flexible, creative, and achievable design with construction-ready documents for an artful, business-friendly, community-inclusive downtown event street. It is an example of a true Creative Placemaking project that enabled long-lasting social and economic change.
High Desert Community
High Desert is a 1,400-acre mixed-use sustainable community in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed by High Desert Investment Corporation. Planned with strong emphasis on environmentally appropriate, naturalistic landscaping, the community preserved approximately 400 acres of open space. Over a 12-year period, Sites provided master planning, landscape design, research, and management services for the project. Our work included streetscapes, drainage ponds, parks, wildlife drinkers, trails, and open spaces—designed to maximize sustainability. Every drop of precipitation is harvested, cleaned, and redirected for use in the landscape, supporting a closed-loop water system. We designed nearly all the community’s landscapes, served on the design review committee, and authored the High Desert Plant List and Landscape Revegetation Guidelines. Drought-tolerant planting is used throughout, with water collected from roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces. Materials were chosen for environmental responsibility and sourced within 50 miles, including gravel, boulders, and even plants—many of which were salvaged during road construction. Native landscapes were preserved and enhanced with passive gravity-fed irrigation, demonstrating low-impact, sustainable techniques to residents.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
Las Cruces Downtown Master Plan
The City of Las Cruces retained Sites to generate a vision and planning strategy for revitalizing its downtown. The centerpiece of this urban design effort is the reopening of Main Street to reinstate it as a major north/south arterial, which will bring thousands of cars and people through the heart of the city. The redevelopment strategy included planning and designing for a new civic plaza and government buildings, attracting specialty retailers and service providers, and amplifying the downtown’s role as the center for culture and arts. Sites performed as lead consultant for the catalyst project for this effort known as the Main Street Plaza. The Main Street Plaza is designed as a flexible, curbless street with shade structures, lit bollards, and special paving that can be closed off for special events. As part of the design process, computer generated visual simulations were used to help community members and policy makers envision the downtown of tomorrow. Sites also contributed distinctive landscapes to two downtown buildings: the Las Cruces City Hall and the Las Cruces Federal Courthouse.
Las Vegas Great Blocks
Sites was commissioned by New Mexico Mainstreet to provide planning and design services for their Great Blocks Program for Mainstreet de Las Vegas. The project consisted of three blocks within Las Vegas’ Historic Railroad District including Lincoln and Railroad Avenues. Railroad Avenue is planned as a two-lane street with parallel parking and wide sidewalks on both sides. The east side of the street is wider than the west and will also include a walk and multi-use path to accommodate both bicycles and pedestrians. This bikeway will eventually be expanded to include a trail connecting with the Galleta River Trail to the south. A small sidewalk plaza and mid-block crossing at the Castaneda Hotel improves pedestrian access and enhances the streetside entry to this historic property. East Lincoln Street is envisioned as both a street and an often used part-time pedestrian plaza, which can be closed off to vehicular traffic during events. This tree-lined corridor utilizes permeable paving and subsurface wicking to sustain the trees. Street grade along Lincoln St. is elevated, with low mountable curbs, to enhance the pedestrian experience. Gateways at the Grand Ave. intersection mark the entrance to the railroad district, while steel railroad rails embedded in the roadway recall the history of the site. Sidewalk extensions and paved crossings throughout the project area make pedestrian crossings safer.
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
The Master Plan and Phase One Design for the Los Lunas Transportation Center included land use planning, new urbanist style charrettes and master planning, placemaking at this Railrunner stop, design, and construction. The master plan builds on three previous plans for the area that were initiated in 2006. Sites was hired in 2013 to master plan the Transportation Center district, with an emphasis on land use planning. Following the planning phase, our team focused on the Village Center’s urban design, which included a Rio Metro bus hub for Valencia County, three event spaces and concert venues, a plaza, centralized parking, and mixed use with retail and residential uses. Sites then designed the new plaza, drop off, Rio Metro Hub, and connections to parking, the Rail Runner stop, and other site features in addition to the master plan. Since then, the area around the center has been planned as a metropolitan redevelopment area that prioritizes redevelopment, and the Village has purchased additional land. As a result of these changes, the Master Plan was updated in 2018, and Phase One construction was completed in 2017. Sites aided the Village's vision of creating "a vibrant, walkable Village Center that serves local residents and visitors, provides a variety of attainable housing options, promotes economic development, and supports increased Rail Runner and transit ridership" by identifying land use and urban design recommendations. Sites looked at variables that support new development near the center, recognizing that current demographics, housing supply, and market conditions are the primary drivers of redevelopment. The plan calls for multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, commercial office space, outdoor civic spaces, and multimodal circulation improvements to make the area a pleasant place to walk, bike, work, and live.
Los Ranchos 4th Street Revitalization
SITES partnered with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque to transform a neglected remnant of the original Route 66 into a landmark roadway and civic corridor for this semi-rural community in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The Fourth Street Revitalization Project celebrates the village’s agricultural heritage and open-space character while creating a vibrant Main Street that serves as an economic and cultural hub for residents and visitors alike.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
Nob Hill & Highland Sector Development Plan
Sites was charged with updating a 20-year old Sector Development Plan and expanding the plan area for the Nob Hill and Highland neighborhoods in Albuquerque. The community includes older residential areas and a commercial center along Central Avenue that transitions from one of the City’s most vibrant commercial districts to a deteriorating commercial strip. The Nob Hill and Highland communities participated fully in the development of the sector plan for their neighborhoods. Sites facilitated twelve public meetings, workshops and open houses to maximize public input. The project team worked with property owners on specific zoning and design regulations and shepherded the plan through adoption by City Council. Sites addressed neighborhood concerns through updated zoning that protected established residential neighborhoods, promoted commercial development, provided for transitions between intensive commercial activity and single-family homes, accommodated mixed uses, and supported the area’s heavy pedestrian, bicycle and transit traffic. The standards established for this corridor have been incorporated into the City of Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance.
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Sites completed a comprehensive master planning effort for the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso, Texas. Based on the mission of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this effort was undertaken to create a trail that will become a regional attraction connecting communities, celebrating El Paso’s history and culture, highlighting the Rio Grande, promoting health and active living, and catalyzing economic development. Serving as a continuation of New Mexico’s proposed Rio Grande Trail, this ambitious 60-mile-plus trail project, once completed, will extend from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Southeast corner of El Paso County, and will include spur trail connections to UTEP, the Franklin Mountains Open Space, and various communities and points of interest in El Paso’s Mission Valley, as well as a loop trail through Juarez, Mexico. The theme for this trail centers around the international flavor of the area and will include historic references to El Camino Real, the agricultural areas along the Rio Grande, and the missions themselves, represented through both design themes and interpretive opportunities. The trail system features various trail types, ranging from paved multi-use paths to unpaved ditch and levee roads, as well as an urban component comprised of sidewalks and enhanced bikeways through the city of El Paso.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
Tiguex Park and Albuquerque Museum District Master Plan
Tiguex Park has been a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s public life since the 1970s, connecting the city’s historic Old Town Plaza and shopping district to its three major museums. More than a neighborhood park, it serves as a civic gathering space, a recreational hub, and a cultural gateway for residents and visitors alike.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
University Area Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES worked with the City of Albuquerque to establish and plan the South University of New Mexico (UNM) Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, a neighborhood with strong assets but ongoing challenges related to business retention and long-term residency. The area faced high commercial vacancy rates, deteriorating structures, and public safety concerns, contributing to visible blight and economic decline.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
University Boulevard Extension
This project began with developing aesthetic concepts for two roadway bridges in Mesa del Sol, followed by full landscape design from initial concepts through construction documentation. The visual themes were drawn from the surrounding environment, incorporating the sun and wind patterns of the nearby Tijeras Arroyo and referencing local wildlife through the prominent snake motifs featured on the bridges.
The landscape design uses xeric plantings suited to the high-desert conditions. Grasses are placed near the snake elements, while native shrubs and trees line the cobble swales that run throughout the corridor. Water harvesting strategies supplement the non-potable irrigation system, with curb cuts directing stormwater into median swales to take advantage of natural elevation changes.
Given the site’s location and dramatic topography, the project also required significant reclamation and erosion control. The result is a roadway and bridge aesthetic that is rooted in place, environmentally responsive, and aligned with the character of Mesa del Sol.
The landscape design uses xeric plantings suited to the high-desert conditions. Grasses are placed near the snake elements, while native shrubs and trees line the cobble swales that run throughout the corridor. Water harvesting strategies supplement the non-potable irrigation system, with curb cuts directing stormwater into median swales to take advantage of natural elevation changes.
Given the site’s location and dramatic topography, the project also required significant reclamation and erosion control. The result is a roadway and bridge aesthetic that is rooted in place, environmentally responsive, and aligned with the character of Mesa del Sol.
University of New Mexico Valencia Campus
Studies have shown that aesthetically pleasing campuses with functional and attractive outdoor spaces are more appealing to potential students and effectively serve as a marketing tool. Through this project, UNM sought to modernize its Valencia Campus, improving its outdoor spaces to provide a more appealing and engaging learning environment. Sites collaborated with Vigil & Associates under an on-call contract to design a series of improvements to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Our primary focus was on enhancing the common areas between buildings and connecting the pedestrian-friendly campus core to a new high-use parking area at the campus's southwest corner serving the Health Sciences and Adult Education buildings, along with the creation of a shaded, multi-level study plaza and new access point on the west side of the Student Center/Student Union Building. The project also involved a landscape renovation of the main parking lot to provide a more visually appealing entrance to the campus. In order to protect the existing mature trees that provide shade for the parking lot, UNM agreed to the elimination of some parking spaces so that we could provide expanded planting beds to protect root zones of those trees and minimize future damage to adjacent curbs and asphalt paving.
University of Texas El Paso Projects
Sites has worked on several University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) projects, including the design of the outdoor plaza for the addition to the UTEP Engineering Building. In this sunken plaza, Sites designed decorative yet functional steps and integrated dual-purpose planters that can be used for amphitheater seating for small outdoor events. Included in this beautiful space are custom-designed gabion benches and trash receptacles, turf grass, flowering trees, low-water, colorful plants, and patterned and pigmented concrete. These amenities add visual interest to the pedestrian connection between buildings and the plaza and a focal point for outdoor learning opportunities.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
Winrock Town Center
The former Winrock Mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was reimagined as a vibrant town center. As part of the rehabilitation, a central park for the entire mixed-use development was built in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque. As the landscape architect for the park’s design, Sites partnered with PACE Advanced Water Engineering and Modulus to create a dynamic public space featuring an event amphitheater and lawn, a large playground with both nature-based and traditional play areas, a lake with bridges and restaurants overlooking it, and a network of soft- and hardscape trails and plazas. The design also incorporates an educational kiosk, orchard and entry plaza at the Dillard’s entrance, and a curving, flowing pathway system that guides visitors into a variety of experiences—spaces close to the water’s edge, and niches farther away for a more contemplative retreat. Native plants were carefully selected to support water conservation and climate resilience. A small high-tech water treatment plant supplies reclaimed water to the lake, which is then reused for park irrigation. The park’s story is shared through interpretive and educational signage, reinforcing a vision of long-term sustainability.
All great communities start with a vision. Our team uses a multidisciplinary, community-driven approach to create unique, beautiful, and economically viable places where people can thrive. Our thoughtful design and meaningful community engagement balance important physical, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects of a site or a community. This holistic approach contributes to more cohesive, grounded recommendations that reflect each community’s distinct context. Our plans are informed by policy and designed to align with local regulations—supporting sustainable growth, economic opportunity, and the long-term wellbeing of the community.
Central Albuquerque Community Planning Area Assessment
The Central Community Planning Area project engaged thousands of residents to shape a shared vision for growth, economic vitality, and community character in the city’s historic core. Partnering closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES helped create a focused, equitable planning process that reflected the values and needs of its diverse neighborhoods.
SITES collaborated with City staff to establish a joint scope of work, develop communication materials, and design a robust community engagement plan. The team facilitated in-person and virtual meetings, hosted neighborhood presentations, and met residents where they gather most—at local events, gathering places, and in communities that are often underrepresented in planning efforts.
To deepen the analysis, SITES also interviewed business owners, developers, economic development organizations, and social service providers, capturing a wide range of perspectives to inform the area’s future. The resulting insights helped the City identify priorities for growth, investment, and quality of life across Central Albuquerque.
SITES collaborated with City staff to establish a joint scope of work, develop communication materials, and design a robust community engagement plan. The team facilitated in-person and virtual meetings, hosted neighborhood presentations, and met residents where they gather most—at local events, gathering places, and in communities that are often underrepresented in planning efforts.
To deepen the analysis, SITES also interviewed business owners, developers, economic development organizations, and social service providers, capturing a wide range of perspectives to inform the area’s future. The resulting insights helped the City identify priorities for growth, investment, and quality of life across Central Albuquerque.
Atrisco Acequia Madre Master Plan
SITES served as the planning lead for the conceptual design of an enhanced open space and community destination at the headwaters of the Atrisco Acequia Madre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project brought together a broad team of funding partners, community organizations, and members of the public to shape a shared vision for this culturally significant landscape.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Bosque Revitalization
SITES, in collaboration with project engineers, led the design study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that transformed the face of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. This study served as the first phase of a comprehensive program to restore and revitalize the river corridor, setting the foundation for tens of millions of dollars in restoration work guided by its blueprint.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
Carlsbad Arts and Cultural District Economic Development Plan
SITES worked with the City of Carlsbad to plan and design the Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Cultural District, which encompasses the city’s downtown core. The plan used an asset-based approach that built upon strong local institutions, successful small businesses, and a network of active arts organizations to strengthen Carlsbad’s creative economy.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Carrizozo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES partnered with the Town of Carrizozo to develop a Downtown Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy focused on strengthening the local economy, attracting visitors, and supporting rehabilitation along NM 54 and 12th Street. The plan built upon the earlier Historic Carrizozo Revitalization Plan completed through New Mexico MainStreet’s Frontier Communities Initiative in 2015, expanding on those ideas with new strategies for long-term growth.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
Central Avenue Streetscape Urban Design Plan
SITES led the design for the revitalization of a historic stretch of Route 66 along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. The project focused on the section extending from 8th Street in downtown to Coors Road, with additional study of the corridor continuing west to the top of Nine Mile Hill.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
East Lohman Development Plan
Sites led a planning and urban design team in preparing a master plan for the 150-acre East Lohman Site, a property on the growing east side of Las Cruces. Using guidance from a detailed market study, the plan envisioned a mixed-use community that is pedestrian-oriented and environmentally sensitive, with neighborhood centers that complement existing land uses. The plan includes strategies and realistic actions for the City to take to ensure quality urban design and development that is aligned with the plan vision. The planning process was highly collaborative involving city staff, elected officials, businesses and institutions and community members. The plan was enthusiastically approved by both elected officials and residents. The public engagement process was designed to solicit input from a range of stakeholders. It began with the City identifying key stakeholders, who were then included in focus groups, alongside key property owners. Design workshops, public meetings, and public hearings were also attended by key stakeholders and residents. Public feedback was instrumental in guiding the development of three alternative plans, each with a distinct programmatic focus and urban structure. Each scenario included a variety of creative pedestrian-oriented and urban design concepts. The final plan blended the strongest and best-supported ideas from each scenario.
Farmington Animas Action Plan
Sites led a team in providing master planning, design, land use, greenway planning, and zoning and policy expertise for an Action Plan to revitalize the Animas District in Farmington. Once a hub for local agriculture and later transitioning to more industrial uses of the energy sector, the area had become blighted and overlooked. Yet with nearby assets like the renovated Main Street, the Animas River, and the San Juan Regional Medical Center, the district offered a unique opportunity to reimagine a vibrant neighborhood with modest-scale housing. Through extensive planning and public engagement, the team developed a master plan focused on reconnecting the area to both its natural and town center context. Key strategies include integrating regional trails, parks and education along the Animas River, incorporating orchards and open space, promoting “missing middle” housing types, and enhancing street infrastructure to better link destinations and support walkability.
Farmington Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Plan
The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Master Plan for the City of Farmington is a guide for near-term investments in projects, programs, and policies the department should make to meet its strategic goals. Critically, this plan includes specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) recommendations that were shaped through a co-creation process with the City’s DEI Advisory Council. Plan goals and strategies were driven by a robust community engagement plan that included meetings with staff leadership as well as open meetings with each division’s on-the-ground staff, formal community workshops, interactive tabling activities at community events, a project website, and a community survey. The result is a comprehensive plan for the City’s parks, recreational facilities, and cultural spaces, as well as the programs that are offered there, that is reflective of the community’s needs and vision for the future.
Gallup - Coal Avenue Commons
The Coal Avenue Commons project, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town initiative and matched by local funds, melded local arts and culture for the revitalization of downtown Gallup. Coal Avenue is the result of years of collaboration between the City of Gallup, McKinley County, gallupARTS, Gallup Main Street and Arts + Culture District, the NW NM Council of Governments, the McCune Foundation, and the state’s only Business Improvement District. The goal for this project, fueled by a robust and innovative public engagement process, was to develop a flexible, creative, and achievable design with construction-ready documents for an artful, business-friendly, community-inclusive downtown event street. It is an example of a true Creative Placemaking project that enabled long-lasting social and economic change.
Las Cruces Downtown Master Plan
The City of Las Cruces retained Sites to generate a vision and planning strategy for revitalizing its downtown. The centerpiece of this urban design effort is the reopening of Main Street to reinstate it as a major north/south arterial, which will bring thousands of cars and people through the heart of the city. The redevelopment strategy included planning and designing for a new civic plaza and government buildings, attracting specialty retailers and service providers, and amplifying the downtown’s role as the center for culture and arts. Sites performed as lead consultant for the catalyst project for this effort known as the Main Street Plaza. The Main Street Plaza is designed as a flexible, curbless street with shade structures, lit bollards, and special paving that can be closed off for special events. As part of the design process, computer generated visual simulations were used to help community members and policy makers envision the downtown of tomorrow. Sites also contributed distinctive landscapes to two downtown buildings: the Las Cruces City Hall and the Las Cruces Federal Courthouse.
Los Alamos County Affordable Housing Plan
Alamos County that focused the community on the most serious issue affecting affordable housing – the inaccessibility of housing due primarily to the lack of available supply. Through this process we evaluated existing conditions and developed specific types of data analysis and data collection due to the uniqueness of the community. We then assessed various housing needs, costs, and affordability measures and identified important market conditions and serious supply constraints. The result of this process was conversations with key policy makers about housing priorities and a large menu of potential strategies for the community to evaluate. The biggest housing factor affecting Los Alamos is a lack of housing supply which results in inaccessibility for low- and moderate-income households. This can be partially addressed through new development, but Los Alamos has limited land availability and the community values low-density housing and a smaller community size. In addition to more housing development, key strategies we recommended were to increase the number of income-restricted housing units so that low- and moderate-income households could find accessible housing and to engage in regional strategies that can address the broader issue of housing and economic development.
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
The Master Plan and Phase One Design for the Los Lunas Transportation Center included land use planning, new urbanist style charrettes and master planning, placemaking at this Railrunner stop, design, and construction. The master plan builds on three previous plans for the area that were initiated in 2006. Sites was hired in 2013 to master plan the Transportation Center district, with an emphasis on land use planning. Following the planning phase, our team focused on the Village Center’s urban design, which included a Rio Metro bus hub for Valencia County, three event spaces and concert venues, a plaza, centralized parking, and mixed use with retail and residential uses. Sites then designed the new plaza, drop off, Rio Metro Hub, and connections to parking, the Rail Runner stop, and other site features in addition to the master plan. Since then, the area around the center has been planned as a metropolitan redevelopment area that prioritizes redevelopment, and the Village has purchased additional land. As a result of these changes, the Master Plan was updated in 2018, and Phase One construction was completed in 2017. Sites aided the Village's vision of creating "a vibrant, walkable Village Center that serves local residents and visitors, provides a variety of attainable housing options, promotes economic development, and supports increased Rail Runner and transit ridership" by identifying land use and urban design recommendations. Sites looked at variables that support new development near the center, recognizing that current demographics, housing supply, and market conditions are the primary drivers of redevelopment. The plan calls for multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, commercial office space, outdoor civic spaces, and multimodal circulation improvements to make the area a pleasant place to walk, bike, work, and live.
Mesilla Comprehensive Plan
The Town of Mesilla is a historic village and popular tourist destination in a growing area adjacent to the City of Las Cruces. It also retains unique architectural and cultural features that make it a beloved space for residents and visitors alike. Residents are facing the challenge of maintaining their rural cultural identity in the face of regional change. The plan’s guiding principles were to preserve local history and culture, retain the agriculture and greenbelt while adapting strategic areas to better meet the needs of a growing community, support a healthy community, promote rural character, and cultivate a diverse economy that is tied not only to its history, but also its outdoor recreation potential. The plan is built on ideas, creativity, and investments from community members, leadership, staff, and regional partners.
New Mexico Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Update
SITES partnered with New Mexico State Parks, the Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division, and the National Park Service to assess outdoor recreation resources, identify statewide trends, and complete an inventory of trails across New Mexico. The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division initiated the 2021–2026 update of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which directs the State’s allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
Nob Hill & Highland Sector Development Plan
Sites was charged with updating a 20-year old Sector Development Plan and expanding the plan area for the Nob Hill and Highland neighborhoods in Albuquerque. The community includes older residential areas and a commercial center along Central Avenue that transitions from one of the City’s most vibrant commercial districts to a deteriorating commercial strip. The Nob Hill and Highland communities participated fully in the development of the sector plan for their neighborhoods. Sites facilitated twelve public meetings, workshops and open houses to maximize public input. The project team worked with property owners on specific zoning and design regulations and shepherded the plan through adoption by City Council. Sites addressed neighborhood concerns through updated zoning that protected established residential neighborhoods, promoted commercial development, provided for transitions between intensive commercial activity and single-family homes, accommodated mixed uses, and supported the area’s heavy pedestrian, bicycle and transit traffic. The standards established for this corridor have been incorporated into the City of Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance.
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Sites completed a comprehensive master planning effort for the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso, Texas. Based on the mission of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this effort was undertaken to create a trail that will become a regional attraction connecting communities, celebrating El Paso’s history and culture, highlighting the Rio Grande, promoting health and active living, and catalyzing economic development. Serving as a continuation of New Mexico’s proposed Rio Grande Trail, this ambitious 60-mile-plus trail project, once completed, will extend from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Southeast corner of El Paso County, and will include spur trail connections to UTEP, the Franklin Mountains Open Space, and various communities and points of interest in El Paso’s Mission Valley, as well as a loop trail through Juarez, Mexico. The theme for this trail centers around the international flavor of the area and will include historic references to El Camino Real, the agricultural areas along the Rio Grande, and the missions themselves, represented through both design themes and interpretive opportunities. The trail system features various trail types, ranging from paved multi-use paths to unpaved ditch and levee roads, as well as an urban component comprised of sidewalks and enhanced bikeways through the city of El Paso.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
Questa Comprehensive Plan
The Village of Questa hired Sites to lead the Comprehensive Plan Update for the community in spring 2024. Sites facilitated a planning and engagement process to understand the unique elements of this community, social and organizational dynamics, and creative resources and funding opportunities to achieve common goals. The team spent time participating in community events, conducting extensive tours and facilities assessments with staff, and initiating conversations with Village leaders and businesses. Community engagement involved meeting people where they are, including at the Farmers' Market and going door-to-door to visit local businesses. The team drafted plan goals and strategies, which were brought back to the community for refinement in August 2024. The plan update was adopted, unanimously, by the Village Council.
Rio Arriba County and City of Española Affordable Housing Plan
Sites Southwest collaborated with Rio Arriba County and the City of Española to update their 2015 Affordable Housing Plan. The intent of the plan is to better understand current and future housing needs and guide new housing development. The updated plan outlines strategies to increase the availability of all types of housing within Española city limits and in rural communities of Rio Arriba County. The City and County own properties that could be used to support affordable housing. As a top priority, these publicly owned properties could be donated or sold below market value to encourage development, especially projects eligible for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The City and County would be responsible for marketing these properties to potential developers. Given the challenges of attracting developers and navigating New Mexico's housing programs, the plan recommends either hiring a new staff member or providing specialized training for existing staff. This would build internal capacity to work with developers, non-profits, and organizations like Housing New Mexico, ensuring the City and County are ready to take advantage of housing opportunities as they arise. A third priority is to make short-term updates to land development ordinances in both jurisdictions to align with state regulations on mobile and manufactured homes. The goal is to encourage the gradual replacement of aging mobile homes, improving the quality of housing and neighborhoods over time. In the long term, the City and County need to fully modernize their outdated land use ordinances to meet current standards.
Rio Grande Trail Master Plan
Sites teamed with Alta Planning + Design to help the New Mexico State Parks Division bring the long-envisioned Rio Grande Trail to life. With a scope that extends over 500 miles from Colorado to Texas, the New Mexico Rio Grande Trail Master Plan builds off earlier work (some of which had also been completed by Sites) that identified potential trail alignments through the southern two-thirds of the state of New Mexico. The plan included the development of a numeric ranking system to evaluate and update those previous alignment alternatives, as well as exploring new potential routes through the northern third of the state. The result is a trail alignment that will link Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas border-to-border. The plan includes recommendations for trail types for diverse geographic conditions, user accommodations, implementation strategies, and long-term management.
Santa Fe County Affordable Housing Plan
Sites completed an affordable housing plan for Santa Fe County that addresses housing needs in the Santa Fe area. A community and housing profile, existing and future housing needs, an analysis of land use barriers, and recommendations for affordable housing programs are all part of the Santa Fe County plan. Through this project, we identified and expressed in a unique way how various types of needs impact the Santa Fe area, and how each of these needs necessitates nuanced, bold strategies. We worked with staff, developers, and service providers to clearly articulate different types of needs to understand and address core issues surrounding affordable housing. We drafted a comprehensive list of achievable immediate and long-term strategies to encourage the construction and provision of affordable housing opportunities after conducting a thorough investigation of various regulatory housing barriers.
University Area Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES worked with the City of Albuquerque to establish and plan the South University of New Mexico (UNM) Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, a neighborhood with strong assets but ongoing challenges related to business retention and long-term residency. The area faced high commercial vacancy rates, deteriorating structures, and public safety concerns, contributing to visible blight and economic decline.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan
Sites has a long history of partnering with Village staff on comprehensive plans, designation and plans for two metropolitan redevelopment areas, workforce housing initiatives, and zoning code updates. The Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan focused on economic development, particularly diversifying economic opportunities for residents while supporting the local tourism economy. Residents were most interested in living wage jobs, workforce housing, and recreational opportunities for local youth and families. Resiliency and emergency response related to wildfire and flooding were key components of Ruidoso’s plan and continue to be critical concerns in that community. Feedback from a wide range of residents was important to Village leadership. The team held a large public forum and offered opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in various focus groups during a multi-day site visit, where all events included meals. Absentee owners, Village staff, and leadership were heavily involved in recruiting participants, and the attendance at all events was extraordinary. Village staff were involved with the process throughout, including review and input into the final recommendations. This involvement smoothed the transition of plan recommendations into Village department work programs. Since the plan’s adoption, staff have systematically tackled the plan recommendations, including utility review and upgrades, zoning code amendments, and park and other facility improvements.
Albuquerque BioPark Projects
SITES has been part of the ABQ BioPark story for decades, beginning with the original master plan in 1992. Working alongside a multidisciplinary consultant team, we helped shape what has become a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s Rio Grande recreation corridor—contributing streetscape concepts, design guidelines, and key landscape architectural elements that continue to define the experience today. Showcased here are the Japanese Garden and the Heritage Farm, which reflect the firm’s commitment to connecting people, ecology, and culture through design.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
Animas Trail Extension and Gateway Park Master Planning and Design
SITES has been working with the City of Farmington to expand and enhance the Animas River Trail, a defining feature of the city’s park and recreation system. The first new trail segment extended the riverside path nearly a mile east from the Among the Waters trailhead at the Bisti Highway. This phase replaced a flood-damaged culvert crossing with a new bridge and navigated a steep bluff nearly thirty feet high overlooking the Animas River near its confluence with the San Juan River.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
Atrisco Acequia Madre Master Plan
SITES served as the planning lead for the conceptual design of an enhanced open space and community destination at the headwaters of the Atrisco Acequia Madre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project brought together a broad team of funding partners, community organizations, and members of the public to shape a shared vision for this culturally significant landscape.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Bachechi Open Space
Located in Albuquerque’s North Valley, Bachechi Open Space Park is a 27-acre destination where everyday recreation meets deeper connections to nature and the city’s agricultural legacy. Designed by SITES, the park transforms a historic farmstead into a dynamic landscape that celebrates ecology, heritage, and community. As a gateway to the Rio Grande Valley State Park multi-use trail system, it welcomes hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and nature lovers to explore regional landscapes, observe wildlife, and experience the spirit of the Rio Grande valley.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
Bosque Revitalization
SITES, in collaboration with project engineers, led the design study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that transformed the face of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. This study served as the first phase of a comprehensive program to restore and revitalize the river corridor, setting the foundation for tens of millions of dollars in restoration work guided by its blueprint.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
Carlsbad Arts and Cultural District Economic Development Plan
SITES worked with the City of Carlsbad to plan and design the Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Cultural District, which encompasses the city’s downtown core. The plan used an asset-based approach that built upon strong local institutions, successful small businesses, and a network of active arts organizations to strengthen Carlsbad’s creative economy.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Carrizozo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES partnered with the Town of Carrizozo to develop a Downtown Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy focused on strengthening the local economy, attracting visitors, and supporting rehabilitation along NM 54 and 12th Street. The plan built upon the earlier Historic Carrizozo Revitalization Plan completed through New Mexico MainStreet’s Frontier Communities Initiative in 2015, expanding on those ideas with new strategies for long-term growth.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
Corcoran “Corky” Park
Sites led a multi-disciplinary team to instill new life at “Corky” Park in Horizon City Texas. The Park, adjacent to the future town center, functions as the Town’s central park. Critical to the community’s public events, whether “Music in the Park” or the Christmas Tree lighting, the park now has a central plaza, plaza style skatepark, a multi-use paved trail, upgraded baseball and softball field, a new restroom building, multiple play structures, an embankment slide, outdoor sport courts, site furnishings, new trees, shrubs and irrigation system. Twenty-two existing mature trees were saved, providing much needed shade in the desert climate. Green Infrastructure techniques such as rain gardens, and integrated stormwater harvesting are featured throughout.
East Downtown Albuquerque
The East Downtown (EDO) Revitalization brought a fresh, walkable vision to Albuquerque’s historic corridor, blending New Urbanist principles with local character. Centered on Central Avenue, Broadway Boulevard, and the former Old Albuquerque High School campus, the project transformed an underused district into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that celebrates community and place.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
East Lohman Development Plan
Sites led a planning and urban design team in preparing a master plan for the 150-acre East Lohman Site, a property on the growing east side of Las Cruces. Using guidance from a detailed market study, the plan envisioned a mixed-use community that is pedestrian-oriented and environmentally sensitive, with neighborhood centers that complement existing land uses. The plan includes strategies and realistic actions for the City to take to ensure quality urban design and development that is aligned with the plan vision. The planning process was highly collaborative involving city staff, elected officials, businesses and institutions and community members. The plan was enthusiastically approved by both elected officials and residents. The public engagement process was designed to solicit input from a range of stakeholders. It began with the City identifying key stakeholders, who were then included in focus groups, alongside key property owners. Design workshops, public meetings, and public hearings were also attended by key stakeholders and residents. Public feedback was instrumental in guiding the development of three alternative plans, each with a distinct programmatic focus and urban structure. Each scenario included a variety of creative pedestrian-oriented and urban design concepts. The final plan blended the strongest and best-supported ideas from each scenario.
East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex
The East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a $8.5 million complex planned and designed near the city's East Lohman Corridor, east of I25. Sites collaborated with Wilson & Co Engineers and Architects to create the master plan for the park and later construction documents. This ambitious project went through a lengthy master planning process that was guided by a comprehensive Public Information Plan. Among the organizations were trail and open space enthusiasts, sports leagues, desert habitat advocates, nearby residents concerned about losing views of the Organ Mountains, trail and biking supporters, and BLM. The complex includes two access roads designed to cause as little disruption to the desert ecosystem and nearby neighborhoods as possible, soccer/football fields, baseball fields, pickle ball courts, trails, a traditional park and playgrounds, an amphitheater built into a natural hillside, concessions and restrooms, and a greenway promenade connecting all the facilities.
El Paso Open Space Enhancements
Sites led a multidisciplinary team that created a one-of-a-kind design with custom elements for two stormwater dam sites in El Paso, Texas: Van Buren Dam and Louisiana Dam. Creative solutions were considered to provide amenities that would not interfere with the stormwater capacity or functional use of these dam locations. Hard and soft surface trails connect plazas. The project's amenities included new lighting, ADA access, interpretative educational signage, workout equipment, native vegetation protection, and formerly disturbed areas that were revegetated with beautiful low-water plants and drip irrigation. Before the water is released into the city's stormwater conveyance system, check dams slow it down and enable it to be used to irrigate native plants. The design also incorporates and protects existing native areas, which will prevent the loss of habitat for existing flora and fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert region.
Farmington Animas Action Plan
Sites led a team in providing master planning, design, land use, greenway planning, and zoning and policy expertise for an Action Plan to revitalize the Animas District in Farmington. Once a hub for local agriculture and later transitioning to more industrial uses of the energy sector, the area had become blighted and overlooked. Yet with nearby assets like the renovated Main Street, the Animas River, and the San Juan Regional Medical Center, the district offered a unique opportunity to reimagine a vibrant neighborhood with modest-scale housing. Through extensive planning and public engagement, the team developed a master plan focused on reconnecting the area to both its natural and town center context. Key strategies include integrating regional trails, parks and education along the Animas River, incorporating orchards and open space, promoting “missing middle” housing types, and enhancing street infrastructure to better link destinations and support walkability.
Farmington Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Plan
The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Master Plan for the City of Farmington is a guide for near-term investments in projects, programs, and policies the department should make to meet its strategic goals. Critically, this plan includes specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) recommendations that were shaped through a co-creation process with the City’s DEI Advisory Council. Plan goals and strategies were driven by a robust community engagement plan that included meetings with staff leadership as well as open meetings with each division’s on-the-ground staff, formal community workshops, interactive tabling activities at community events, a project website, and a community survey. The result is a comprehensive plan for the City’s parks, recreational facilities, and cultural spaces, as well as the programs that are offered there, that is reflective of the community’s needs and vision for the future.
Gallup - Coal Avenue Commons
The Coal Avenue Commons project, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town initiative and matched by local funds, melded local arts and culture for the revitalization of downtown Gallup. Coal Avenue is the result of years of collaboration between the City of Gallup, McKinley County, gallupARTS, Gallup Main Street and Arts + Culture District, the NW NM Council of Governments, the McCune Foundation, and the state’s only Business Improvement District. The goal for this project, fueled by a robust and innovative public engagement process, was to develop a flexible, creative, and achievable design with construction-ready documents for an artful, business-friendly, community-inclusive downtown event street. It is an example of a true Creative Placemaking project that enabled long-lasting social and economic change.
High Desert Community
High Desert is a 1,400-acre mixed-use sustainable community in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed by High Desert Investment Corporation. Planned with strong emphasis on environmentally appropriate, naturalistic landscaping, the community preserved approximately 400 acres of open space. Over a 12-year period, Sites provided master planning, landscape design, research, and management services for the project. Our work included streetscapes, drainage ponds, parks, wildlife drinkers, trails, and open spaces—designed to maximize sustainability. Every drop of precipitation is harvested, cleaned, and redirected for use in the landscape, supporting a closed-loop water system. We designed nearly all the community’s landscapes, served on the design review committee, and authored the High Desert Plant List and Landscape Revegetation Guidelines. Drought-tolerant planting is used throughout, with water collected from roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces. Materials were chosen for environmental responsibility and sourced within 50 miles, including gravel, boulders, and even plants—many of which were salvaged during road construction. Native landscapes were preserved and enhanced with passive gravity-fed irrigation, demonstrating low-impact, sustainable techniques to residents.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park
The 28-acre Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park, located on El Paso’s north side, transforms a former vacant lot into one of the city’s most vibrant and inclusive community spaces. Formerly known as Northeast Regional Park, the site was renamed in 2018 to honor Border Patrol Agent Joey Barraza and his K-9 partner Vino, who tragically passed in the line of duty. Funded through the 2012 Quality of Life Bond Program and a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant, the project reflects the City’s commitment to honoring local heroes while investing in healthy, active lifestyles. Sites led the park’s design, seamlessly connecting the new expansion to the existing park and trail system, and integrating original features like the skate park and public art into a renewed framework. The park now offers a wide variety of amenities for all ages and abilities: three championship soccer fields, El Paso’s first large-scale dog park in the northeast, walking and jogging trails linked to the Paso del Norte Trail network, a food truck plaza for community events, and shaded picnic areas. A fully accessible, all-abilities playground anchors the park with interactive play elements, canopies, and soft surfacing, while plazas, seating, water fountains, and landscaped parking ensure comfort and usability throughout. Since its reopening in 2023, Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park has become a beloved hub for families, athletes, dog owners, and neighbors—offering spaces to gather, play, and celebrate community pride in a modern, inclusive setting.
Las Cruces Downtown Master Plan
The City of Las Cruces retained Sites to generate a vision and planning strategy for revitalizing its downtown. The centerpiece of this urban design effort is the reopening of Main Street to reinstate it as a major north/south arterial, which will bring thousands of cars and people through the heart of the city. The redevelopment strategy included planning and designing for a new civic plaza and government buildings, attracting specialty retailers and service providers, and amplifying the downtown’s role as the center for culture and arts. Sites performed as lead consultant for the catalyst project for this effort known as the Main Street Plaza. The Main Street Plaza is designed as a flexible, curbless street with shade structures, lit bollards, and special paving that can be closed off for special events. As part of the design process, computer generated visual simulations were used to help community members and policy makers envision the downtown of tomorrow. Sites also contributed distinctive landscapes to two downtown buildings: the Las Cruces City Hall and the Las Cruces Federal Courthouse.
Las Vegas Great Blocks
Sites was commissioned by New Mexico Mainstreet to provide planning and design services for their Great Blocks Program for Mainstreet de Las Vegas. The project consisted of three blocks within Las Vegas’ Historic Railroad District including Lincoln and Railroad Avenues. Railroad Avenue is planned as a two-lane street with parallel parking and wide sidewalks on both sides. The east side of the street is wider than the west and will also include a walk and multi-use path to accommodate both bicycles and pedestrians. This bikeway will eventually be expanded to include a trail connecting with the Galleta River Trail to the south. A small sidewalk plaza and mid-block crossing at the Castaneda Hotel improves pedestrian access and enhances the streetside entry to this historic property. East Lincoln Street is envisioned as both a street and an often used part-time pedestrian plaza, which can be closed off to vehicular traffic during events. This tree-lined corridor utilizes permeable paving and subsurface wicking to sustain the trees. Street grade along Lincoln St. is elevated, with low mountable curbs, to enhance the pedestrian experience. Gateways at the Grand Ave. intersection mark the entrance to the railroad district, while steel railroad rails embedded in the roadway recall the history of the site. Sidewalk extensions and paved crossings throughout the project area make pedestrian crossings safer.
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
The Master Plan and Phase One Design for the Los Lunas Transportation Center included land use planning, new urbanist style charrettes and master planning, placemaking at this Railrunner stop, design, and construction. The master plan builds on three previous plans for the area that were initiated in 2006. Sites was hired in 2013 to master plan the Transportation Center district, with an emphasis on land use planning. Following the planning phase, our team focused on the Village Center’s urban design, which included a Rio Metro bus hub for Valencia County, three event spaces and concert venues, a plaza, centralized parking, and mixed use with retail and residential uses. Sites then designed the new plaza, drop off, Rio Metro Hub, and connections to parking, the Rail Runner stop, and other site features in addition to the master plan. Since then, the area around the center has been planned as a metropolitan redevelopment area that prioritizes redevelopment, and the Village has purchased additional land. As a result of these changes, the Master Plan was updated in 2018, and Phase One construction was completed in 2017. Sites aided the Village's vision of creating "a vibrant, walkable Village Center that serves local residents and visitors, provides a variety of attainable housing options, promotes economic development, and supports increased Rail Runner and transit ridership" by identifying land use and urban design recommendations. Sites looked at variables that support new development near the center, recognizing that current demographics, housing supply, and market conditions are the primary drivers of redevelopment. The plan calls for multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, commercial office space, outdoor civic spaces, and multimodal circulation improvements to make the area a pleasant place to walk, bike, work, and live.
Los Ranchos 4th Street Revitalization
SITES partnered with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque to transform a neglected remnant of the original Route 66 into a landmark roadway and civic corridor for this semi-rural community in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The Fourth Street Revitalization Project celebrates the village’s agricultural heritage and open-space character while creating a vibrant Main Street that serves as an economic and cultural hub for residents and visitors alike.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
Manzanita Ridge Neighborhood Park
Sites, Ashley Vance Engineering, and S&F Land Services worked alongside Bend Parks and Recreation District staff throughout the entire public engagement and design lifecycle for Manzanita Ridge Park. The initial public meeting revealed a divide between community members, who preferred a more natural open space park, and those who preferred a park with a playground and amenities where their families could play and picnic. To meet the needs of the Shevlin West Neighborhood and adjacent communities, the team facilitated a robust public process that included online surveys, pop up events, and public meetings led by Bend Parks and Recreation District. After presenting three potential concepts and obtaining public and stakeholder feedback, the team refined a final, preferred concept. The team took the concepts into construction documentation and eventually provided construction oversight. Ultimately, Manzanita Ridge Park, currently under construction, will be a harmonious marriage of a traditional neighborhood park with — a grassy area, playground, and nature play — with natural open space that features trails and preserved, high desert native landscape.
New Mexico Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Update
SITES partnered with New Mexico State Parks, the Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division, and the National Park Service to assess outdoor recreation resources, identify statewide trends, and complete an inventory of trails across New Mexico. The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division initiated the 2021–2026 update of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which directs the State’s allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Sites completed a comprehensive master planning effort for the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso, Texas. Based on the mission of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this effort was undertaken to create a trail that will become a regional attraction connecting communities, celebrating El Paso’s history and culture, highlighting the Rio Grande, promoting health and active living, and catalyzing economic development. Serving as a continuation of New Mexico’s proposed Rio Grande Trail, this ambitious 60-mile-plus trail project, once completed, will extend from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Southeast corner of El Paso County, and will include spur trail connections to UTEP, the Franklin Mountains Open Space, and various communities and points of interest in El Paso’s Mission Valley, as well as a loop trail through Juarez, Mexico. The theme for this trail centers around the international flavor of the area and will include historic references to El Camino Real, the agricultural areas along the Rio Grande, and the missions themselves, represented through both design themes and interpretive opportunities. The trail system features various trail types, ranging from paved multi-use paths to unpaved ditch and levee roads, as well as an urban component comprised of sidewalks and enhanced bikeways through the city of El Paso.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint
The Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint is the first overlook along the Historic Columbia River Highway as visitors head east from Portland, offering one of the most iconic views of the Columbia River Gorge. SITES worked with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to develop a comprehensive plan for revitalizing this celebrated site, balancing visitor access, resource protection, and the preservation of its historic character.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
Rio Grande Trail Master Plan
Sites teamed with Alta Planning + Design to help the New Mexico State Parks Division bring the long-envisioned Rio Grande Trail to life. With a scope that extends over 500 miles from Colorado to Texas, the New Mexico Rio Grande Trail Master Plan builds off earlier work (some of which had also been completed by Sites) that identified potential trail alignments through the southern two-thirds of the state of New Mexico. The plan included the development of a numeric ranking system to evaluate and update those previous alignment alternatives, as well as exploring new potential routes through the northern third of the state. The result is a trail alignment that will link Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas border-to-border. The plan includes recommendations for trail types for diverse geographic conditions, user accommodations, implementation strategies, and long-term management.
Sandia Ranch Master Plan
Bernalillo County commissioned Sites to develop a Master Plan and schematic design plans for the 20-acre Sandia Ranch in Albuquerque. This agriculturally based project includes extensive public involvement and coordination with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the American Sign Language Academy with a master plan, site analysis and programming, and construction documents. Programmatically the project includes farm and ranch-based zones for animal husbandry and farming with field seed plots, orchards and vineyards, trails along the Camino Real and the acequia that splits the property, 4H and County Extension Service offices and grounds, an arena with bleachers and pens, a small community park and playground, El Camino kiosk design, master gardening, and rodeo arena.
Tiguex Park and Albuquerque Museum District Master Plan
Tiguex Park has been a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s public life since the 1970s, connecting the city’s historic Old Town Plaza and shopping district to its three major museums. More than a neighborhood park, it serves as a civic gathering space, a recreational hub, and a cultural gateway for residents and visitors alike.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
University Area Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES worked with the City of Albuquerque to establish and plan the South University of New Mexico (UNM) Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, a neighborhood with strong assets but ongoing challenges related to business retention and long-term residency. The area faced high commercial vacancy rates, deteriorating structures, and public safety concerns, contributing to visible blight and economic decline.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
University of Texas El Paso Projects
Sites has worked on several University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) projects, including the design of the outdoor plaza for the addition to the UTEP Engineering Building. In this sunken plaza, Sites designed decorative yet functional steps and integrated dual-purpose planters that can be used for amphitheater seating for small outdoor events. Included in this beautiful space are custom-designed gabion benches and trash receptacles, turf grass, flowering trees, low-water, colorful plants, and patterned and pigmented concrete. These amenities add visual interest to the pedestrian connection between buildings and the plaza and a focal point for outdoor learning opportunities.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
Valle De Oro Master Plan
SITES partnered with Wilson & Co. and a multi-agency team—including the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo & Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Ducks Unlimited—to craft the master plan for the nation’s first purpose-designed urban wildlife refuge in Albuquerque’s South Valley.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan
Sites has a long history of partnering with Village staff on comprehensive plans, designation and plans for two metropolitan redevelopment areas, workforce housing initiatives, and zoning code updates. The Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan focused on economic development, particularly diversifying economic opportunities for residents while supporting the local tourism economy. Residents were most interested in living wage jobs, workforce housing, and recreational opportunities for local youth and families. Resiliency and emergency response related to wildfire and flooding were key components of Ruidoso’s plan and continue to be critical concerns in that community. Feedback from a wide range of residents was important to Village leadership. The team held a large public forum and offered opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in various focus groups during a multi-day site visit, where all events included meals. Absentee owners, Village staff, and leadership were heavily involved in recruiting participants, and the attendance at all events was extraordinary. Village staff were involved with the process throughout, including review and input into the final recommendations. This involvement smoothed the transition of plan recommendations into Village department work programs. Since the plan’s adoption, staff have systematically tackled the plan recommendations, including utility review and upgrades, zoning code amendments, and park and other facility improvements.
Vistoso Trails Master Plan
Sites’s work on The Vistoso Trails Master Plan for The Town of Oro Valley, Arizona demonstrates our ability to deliver a tailored Master Plan that meets the needs of the community, while not jeopardizing our core sustainability mission. In this project, we were able to optimize the number of public meetings, engaging the town residents in similar locations to the one being designed. Through those meetings, we were able to integrate feedback, resulting in a plan that included nature play areas and an amphitheater for classes or star gazing for children. We thoughtfully considered a nearby school, including a crosswalk for children’s safety, and partnered with the school to allow for parking so that families could use the Vistoso Trails’ amenities conveniently. Our ability to understand and consider community needs is also demonstrated by the similarities in neighborhoods and surrounding areas. This project wove through a high-end residential community of existing and continuing development, which is very similar to the High Desert Community Plan. At the foundation of all of this, we partnered with The Conservation Fund, the AZ chapter of Audubon, and local Archaeologist consultants to integrate conservation and preservation at the core of the project. This allowed us to collaborate with experts in designing open spaces while optimizing conservation, attracting birds and protecting wildlife, and preserving and protecting on-site petroglyphs.
Master planning lays the foundation for a cohesive, long-term vision that guides development and growth. At SITES, we collaborate with clients to craft plans that blend visionary concepts with realistic phasing, implementation strategies, and alignment with policy and regulatory frameworks. Our work includes parks, recreation facilities, trail systems, open space networks, plazas, and multi-facility campuses. With sustainability and equity at the core, we help clients secure funding and community support through clear, compelling plans that emphasize functionality, beauty, and long-term stewardship. Whether reimagining existing space or designing anew, our master plans support vibrant and resilient communities.
Sofa pod
The team at SITES is leading the effort to help New Mexico understand and prioritize affordable housing investments. We are at the forefront of the connection between land use, sustainability, and housing accessibility. We work with policymakers, community organizations, and industry experts to develop housing strategies that are actionable, inclusive, and equity-driven. Our planning work spans the local, regional, and state levels, helping partners navigate zoning, incentives, and regulatory frameworks to expand access to affordable housing. Our subject matter experts are frequently called upon to educate and empower communities around these critical issues.
Los Alamos County Affordable Housing Plan
Alamos County that focused the community on the most serious issue affecting affordable housing – the inaccessibility of housing due primarily to the lack of available supply. Through this process we evaluated existing conditions and developed specific types of data analysis and data collection due to the uniqueness of the community. We then assessed various housing needs, costs, and affordability measures and identified important market conditions and serious supply constraints. The result of this process was conversations with key policy makers about housing priorities and a large menu of potential strategies for the community to evaluate. The biggest housing factor affecting Los Alamos is a lack of housing supply which results in inaccessibility for low- and moderate-income households. This can be partially addressed through new development, but Los Alamos has limited land availability and the community values low-density housing and a smaller community size. In addition to more housing development, key strategies we recommended were to increase the number of income-restricted housing units so that low- and moderate-income households could find accessible housing and to engage in regional strategies that can address the broader issue of housing and economic development.
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
The Master Plan and Phase One Design for the Los Lunas Transportation Center included land use planning, new urbanist style charrettes and master planning, placemaking at this Railrunner stop, design, and construction. The master plan builds on three previous plans for the area that were initiated in 2006. Sites was hired in 2013 to master plan the Transportation Center district, with an emphasis on land use planning. Following the planning phase, our team focused on the Village Center’s urban design, which included a Rio Metro bus hub for Valencia County, three event spaces and concert venues, a plaza, centralized parking, and mixed use with retail and residential uses. Sites then designed the new plaza, drop off, Rio Metro Hub, and connections to parking, the Rail Runner stop, and other site features in addition to the master plan. Since then, the area around the center has been planned as a metropolitan redevelopment area that prioritizes redevelopment, and the Village has purchased additional land. As a result of these changes, the Master Plan was updated in 2018, and Phase One construction was completed in 2017. Sites aided the Village's vision of creating "a vibrant, walkable Village Center that serves local residents and visitors, provides a variety of attainable housing options, promotes economic development, and supports increased Rail Runner and transit ridership" by identifying land use and urban design recommendations. Sites looked at variables that support new development near the center, recognizing that current demographics, housing supply, and market conditions are the primary drivers of redevelopment. The plan calls for multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, commercial office space, outdoor civic spaces, and multimodal circulation improvements to make the area a pleasant place to walk, bike, work, and live.
Rio Arriba County and City of Española Affordable Housing Plan
Sites Southwest collaborated with Rio Arriba County and the City of Española to update their 2015 Affordable Housing Plan. The intent of the plan is to better understand current and future housing needs and guide new housing development. The updated plan outlines strategies to increase the availability of all types of housing within Española city limits and in rural communities of Rio Arriba County. The City and County own properties that could be used to support affordable housing. As a top priority, these publicly owned properties could be donated or sold below market value to encourage development, especially projects eligible for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The City and County would be responsible for marketing these properties to potential developers. Given the challenges of attracting developers and navigating New Mexico's housing programs, the plan recommends either hiring a new staff member or providing specialized training for existing staff. This would build internal capacity to work with developers, non-profits, and organizations like Housing New Mexico, ensuring the City and County are ready to take advantage of housing opportunities as they arise. A third priority is to make short-term updates to land development ordinances in both jurisdictions to align with state regulations on mobile and manufactured homes. The goal is to encourage the gradual replacement of aging mobile homes, improving the quality of housing and neighborhoods over time. In the long term, the City and County need to fully modernize their outdated land use ordinances to meet current standards.
Santa Fe County Affordable Housing Plan
Sites completed an affordable housing plan for Santa Fe County that addresses housing needs in the Santa Fe area. A community and housing profile, existing and future housing needs, an analysis of land use barriers, and recommendations for affordable housing programs are all part of the Santa Fe County plan. Through this project, we identified and expressed in a unique way how various types of needs impact the Santa Fe area, and how each of these needs necessitates nuanced, bold strategies. We worked with staff, developers, and service providers to clearly articulate different types of needs to understand and address core issues surrounding affordable housing. We drafted a comprehensive list of achievable immediate and long-term strategies to encourage the construction and provision of affordable housing opportunities after conducting a thorough investigation of various regulatory housing barriers.
Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan
Sites has a long history of partnering with Village staff on comprehensive plans, designation and plans for two metropolitan redevelopment areas, workforce housing initiatives, and zoning code updates. The Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan focused on economic development, particularly diversifying economic opportunities for residents while supporting the local tourism economy. Residents were most interested in living wage jobs, workforce housing, and recreational opportunities for local youth and families. Resiliency and emergency response related to wildfire and flooding were key components of Ruidoso’s plan and continue to be critical concerns in that community. Feedback from a wide range of residents was important to Village leadership. The team held a large public forum and offered opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in various focus groups during a multi-day site visit, where all events included meals. Absentee owners, Village staff, and leadership were heavily involved in recruiting participants, and the attendance at all events was extraordinary. Village staff were involved with the process throughout, including review and input into the final recommendations. This involvement smoothed the transition of plan recommendations into Village department work programs. Since the plan’s adoption, staff have systematically tackled the plan recommendations, including utility review and upgrades, zoning code amendments, and park and other facility improvements.
Albuquerque BioPark Projects
Albuquerque International Sunport - Sunport Roadway Landscape Improvements
Albuquerque Public Schools - Sandia High School
Albuquerque Public Schools Learning Landscapes
Animas Trail Extension and Gateway Park Master Planning and Design
Bachechi Open Space
Ashley Pond Park
Bosque Revitalization
Central Avenue Streetscape Urban Design Plan
Central New Mexico Community College Student Resource Center Plaza
Convair Road Improvement
Corcoran “Corky” Park
East Downtown Albuquerque
East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex
El Paso Open Space Enhancements
High Desert Community
Gallup - Coal Avenue Commons
Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park
Las Cruces Downtown Master Plan
Las Vegas Great Blocks
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
Los Ranchos 4th Street Revitalization
Manzanita Ridge Neighborhood Park
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint
Rio Grande Trail Master Plan
Sandia Ranch Master Plan
Tiguex Park and Albuquerque Museum District Master Plan
University Boulevard Extension
University of New Mexico Valencia Campus
University of Texas El Paso Projects
Valle De Oro Master Plan
Vistoso Trails Master Plan
Winrock Town Center
SITES brings our clients' visions to life, combining deep knowledge of the land with elegant design. Rooted in the ecology and culture of the high desert, our technical specialties include water conservation, green infrastructure, and regionally appropriate design. We create sustainable, meaningful landscapes that reflect place-based stories, honor cultural traditions, and foster long-term ecological health. Our work spans streetscapes, parks and sports complexes, gardens, civic and commercial centers, trails, and open spaces—transforming drainageways into linear parks, rooftops into gardens, wetlands into outdoor classrooms, and former farmlands into thriving habitat. Our landscapes are as resilient as they are beautiful.
Albuquerque BioPark Projects
SITES has been part of the ABQ BioPark story for decades, beginning with the original master plan in 1992. Working alongside a multidisciplinary consultant team, we helped shape what has become a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s Rio Grande recreation corridor—contributing streetscape concepts, design guidelines, and key landscape architectural elements that continue to define the experience today. Showcased here are the Japanese Garden and the Heritage Farm, which reflect the firm’s commitment to connecting people, ecology, and culture through design.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
The Japanese Garden was envisioned as a tranquil environment that honors the spirit and traditions of classic Japanese gardens while embracing the arid beauty of the high desert. Native and adaptive plantings, stone composition, and carefully choreographed water features create a place of reflection that feels both authentic and regionally grounded.
The Heritage Farm is more than just a farm. It’s an immersive educational landscape 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, celebrating time-tested practices and sustainable resource management. Trails weave through orchards, pollinator gardens, and working animal exhibits, while a cottonwood gallery, apple cider press, and nature-themed playground invite exploration and discovery. A small train links the Farm to the larger BioPark, and accessible walkways modeled after traditional two-track farm roads ensure connectivity and inclusivity for all visitors.
Central Albuquerque Community Planning Area Assessment
The Central Community Planning Area project engaged thousands of residents to shape a shared vision for growth, economic vitality, and community character in the city’s historic core. Partnering closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES helped create a focused, equitable planning process that reflected the values and needs of its diverse neighborhoods.
SITES collaborated with City staff to establish a joint scope of work, develop communication materials, and design a robust community engagement plan. The team facilitated in-person and virtual meetings, hosted neighborhood presentations, and met residents where they gather most—at local events, gathering places, and in communities that are often underrepresented in planning efforts.
To deepen the analysis, SITES also interviewed business owners, developers, economic development organizations, and social service providers, capturing a wide range of perspectives to inform the area’s future. The resulting insights helped the City identify priorities for growth, investment, and quality of life across Central Albuquerque.
SITES collaborated with City staff to establish a joint scope of work, develop communication materials, and design a robust community engagement plan. The team facilitated in-person and virtual meetings, hosted neighborhood presentations, and met residents where they gather most—at local events, gathering places, and in communities that are often underrepresented in planning efforts.
To deepen the analysis, SITES also interviewed business owners, developers, economic development organizations, and social service providers, capturing a wide range of perspectives to inform the area’s future. The resulting insights helped the City identify priorities for growth, investment, and quality of life across Central Albuquerque.
Albuquerque International Sunport - Sunport Roadway Landscape Improvements
Every arrival and departure at the Albuquerque International Sunport begins with a journey through the landscape, and with it, a first impression of New Mexico. SITES reimagined the Sunport roadway corridor to celebrate that sense of place while advancing the City’s water conservation goals.
The design transformed what had been water-hungry turf medians into a living gateway that reflects the beauty and resilience of the high desert. Native yuccas, drought-tolerant perennials, and colorful seasonal plantings frame stone retaining walls and terraces, creating texture and movement throughout the approach. A central water-harvesting swale captures and filters stormwater, reducing maintenance needs and cutting irrigation demand by more than half.
The project also introduced expressive new features: a signature LED gateway sign welcoming travelers, and four large-scale Native design pots illuminated by solar lighting. Together, these elements shape a corridor that feels unmistakably Albuquerque, rooted in culture, defined by sustainability, and designed to leave a lasting impression of the landscape that makes this city unique.
The design transformed what had been water-hungry turf medians into a living gateway that reflects the beauty and resilience of the high desert. Native yuccas, drought-tolerant perennials, and colorful seasonal plantings frame stone retaining walls and terraces, creating texture and movement throughout the approach. A central water-harvesting swale captures and filters stormwater, reducing maintenance needs and cutting irrigation demand by more than half.
The project also introduced expressive new features: a signature LED gateway sign welcoming travelers, and four large-scale Native design pots illuminated by solar lighting. Together, these elements shape a corridor that feels unmistakably Albuquerque, rooted in culture, defined by sustainability, and designed to leave a lasting impression of the landscape that makes this city unique.
Albuquerque Public Schools - Sandia High School
SITES worked with Albuquerque Public Schools to transform the Sandia High School campus into a living laboratory where learning extends beyond the classroom. The design focused on creating outdoor environments that connect science education with the land, reflecting APS’s commitment to hands-on, sustainable learning spaces.
At the heart of the project is a large, constructed wetland, developed in close collaboration with the school’s biology faculty to serve as a year-round teaching tool. The wetland and its surrounding landscape recall the ecologies of the nearby Rio Grande, featuring three distinct aquatic zones and native plant communities that demonstrate how water, soil, and vegetation interact. The system integrates a cistern-fed irrigation network, reused concrete materials, and accessible walkways that double as outdoor learning paths.
Beyond the wetland, the campus improvements include a new sports field, a landscaped mall linking the Science Academy and Library to the rest of the campus, and shaded gathering areas that encourage social interaction and exploration. Together, these spaces frame striking views of the Sandia Mountains and create a cohesive, sustainable campus landscape where students can study, observe, and engage directly with the natural systems that shape their community.
At the heart of the project is a large, constructed wetland, developed in close collaboration with the school’s biology faculty to serve as a year-round teaching tool. The wetland and its surrounding landscape recall the ecologies of the nearby Rio Grande, featuring three distinct aquatic zones and native plant communities that demonstrate how water, soil, and vegetation interact. The system integrates a cistern-fed irrigation network, reused concrete materials, and accessible walkways that double as outdoor learning paths.
Beyond the wetland, the campus improvements include a new sports field, a landscaped mall linking the Science Academy and Library to the rest of the campus, and shaded gathering areas that encourage social interaction and exploration. Together, these spaces frame striking views of the Sandia Mountains and create a cohesive, sustainable campus landscape where students can study, observe, and engage directly with the natural systems that shape their community.
Albuquerque Public Schools Learning Landscapes
SITES partnered with Albuquerque Public Schools to design the outdoor environments for two prototype campuses, Tierra Antigua Elementary School and Tony Hillerman Middle School. These schools were developed as models for future APS facilities, and the landscapes were created to complement the prototype buildings while connecting play, fitness, education, and environment.
SITES provided full playground and landscape design for both campuses. At Tierra Antigua Elementary, the design features a distinctive custom ocotillo shade structure, an archaeological excavation area, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor classroom surrounded by interpretive gardens that highlight Native American plants used for food, fiber, and medicine.
The Tony Hillerman Middle School "Ancient Mesa" landscape reuses existing boulders to form waffle gardens and retaining walls. A ponding area planted to attract butterflies and birds provides a living habitat supported by bat roosts and bird feeders.
Together, these learning landscapes show how thoughtful design can turn school sites into inspiring environments that promote discovery and connection to place.
SITES provided full playground and landscape design for both campuses. At Tierra Antigua Elementary, the design features a distinctive custom ocotillo shade structure, an archaeological excavation area, a wildlife habitat, and an outdoor classroom surrounded by interpretive gardens that highlight Native American plants used for food, fiber, and medicine.
The Tony Hillerman Middle School "Ancient Mesa" landscape reuses existing boulders to form waffle gardens and retaining walls. A ponding area planted to attract butterflies and birds provides a living habitat supported by bat roosts and bird feeders.
Together, these learning landscapes show how thoughtful design can turn school sites into inspiring environments that promote discovery and connection to place.
Animas Trail Extension and Gateway Park Master Planning and Design
SITES has been working with the City of Farmington to expand and enhance the Animas River Trail, a defining feature of the city’s park and recreation system. The first new trail segment extended the riverside path nearly a mile east from the Among the Waters trailhead at the Bisti Highway. This phase replaced a flood-damaged culvert crossing with a new bridge and navigated a steep bluff nearly thirty feet high overlooking the Animas River near its confluence with the San Juan River.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
The second trail extension will nearly double the total length of the system, adding three miles of new path from the Riverside Nature Center east past the Farmington Museum. This reach will wind behind local businesses and across another steep embankment above the river, connecting new destinations to the broader community network.
As part of the northern trail extension, SITES also developed a Master Plan for a new regional park overlooking the river just east of the museum. The park is designed as a focal point for the community, highlighting the connection between the museum, the river, and the trail. It follows a mixed-use concept with restaurants, small shops, and a multi-use pavilion for growers markets and special events that attract both local and regional visitors.
The plan also includes a large plaza with a stage and terraced berm amphitheater seating, open lawns for play and community gatherings, and natural play areas. The design replaces the museum’s asphalt parking lot with a tree-shaded, permeable event and parking space. SITES developed multiple site concepts and refined options before finalizing the preferred master plan. Construction of the multi-use pavilion is underway, and Phase 1 of the park is anticipated to begin later in 2025.
Ashley Pond Park
SITES was commissioned by Los Alamos County to develop plans for the rehabilitation of Ashley Pond Park, the community’s central gathering space and a historic resource once used by the Los Alamos Ranch School. Located within the Fuller Lodge Historic District, the park continues to play an essential role in the identity of both Los Alamos and New Mexico.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
The project focused on two primary goals: creating a continuous walkway that connects the park to the Fuller Lodge Historic District, and improving the pond’s water quality, which had been affected by eutrophication. The redevelopment included rehabilitating bulkheads and sidewalks, upgrading lake engineering systems, and improving pedestrian access between the street, parking areas, and the water’s edge.
SITES also redesigned the lakeside landscape to enhance beauty and function while respecting the park’s historic character. The result is a revitalized public space that honors its past while serving as a vibrant centerpiece for the community.
Atrisco Acequia Madre Master Plan
SITES served as the planning lead for the conceptual design of an enhanced open space and community destination at the headwaters of the Atrisco Acequia Madre in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The project brought together a broad team of funding partners, community organizations, and members of the public to shape a shared vision for this culturally significant landscape.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Project priorities included improving connections to nearby bosque trails and community amenities, creating opportunities for public education about the history and importance of acequias in regional development and culture, and fostering stewardship for this shared environment.
Since the plan’s adoption, SITES has continued to lead design and construction for Phase 1. Current work includes trailhead improvements, accessible trail connections, and planning for interpretive signage and public art that celebrate the environmental, social, and cultural value of acequias.
Bachechi Open Space
Located in Albuquerque’s North Valley, Bachechi Open Space Park is a 27-acre destination where everyday recreation meets deeper connections to nature and the city’s agricultural legacy. Designed by SITES, the park transforms a historic farmstead into a dynamic landscape that celebrates ecology, heritage, and community. As a gateway to the Rio Grande Valley State Park multi-use trail system, it welcomes hikers, bicyclists, equestrians, and nature lovers to explore regional landscapes, observe wildlife, and experience the spirit of the Rio Grande valley.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
At its heart is a landscape that adapts the area’s agricultural past into a model of ecological richness and sustainability. A former pecan orchard remains, now entwined with a working arboretum of sycamores, junipers, and cottonwoods. Wetland depressions and xeric meadows replicate the valley’s natural rhythms, harvesting stormwater and roof runoff from the adjacent Environmental Education Building. The collected water is stored in above-ground cisterns that irrigate surrounding plantings, creating a landscape that is both beautiful and functional.
Wildlife watching stations dot the woodland, inviting visitors to pause and observe birds, toads, and riparian species, while trails wind through native plant forests and open meadows. Picnic areas, interpretive signage, and a memorial rose garden honor the site’s cultural roots, tracing back to the Bachechi family’s Italian immigrant heritage and early farming operations.
The layering of landscapes, including the orchard, arboretum, wetland boardwalk, meadow systems, and trail connections, reflects SITES’ holistic approach to design. It is a place where history, ecology, and recreation come together, and where Albuquerque’s open space legacy continues to thrive.
Bosque Revitalization
SITES, in collaboration with project engineers, led the design study for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that transformed the face of the Rio Grande in central New Mexico. This study served as the first phase of a comprehensive program to restore and revitalize the river corridor, setting the foundation for tens of millions of dollars in restoration work guided by its blueprint.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
The plan aimed to restore the Bosque, the forested ecosystem along the river, to an ecologically sustainable and natural environment that provides exceptional visual, recreational, and interpretive opportunities for communities throughout the state and region.
The project involved extensive analysis, conceptual design, and public engagement to ensure both scientific integrity and community support. The Rio Grande Bosque Restoration Study was recognized nationally with the American Society of Landscape Architects National Honor Award for Planning and Analysis, celebrating its vision and enduring impact.
Carlsbad Arts and Cultural District Economic Development Plan
SITES worked with the City of Carlsbad to plan and design the Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Cultural District, which encompasses the city’s downtown core. The plan used an asset-based approach that built upon strong local institutions, successful small businesses, and a network of active arts organizations to strengthen Carlsbad’s creative economy.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Arts and cultural districts recognize that a vibrant creative economy includes a broad range of artistic and cultural pursuits. Through an extensive public engagement process that included individual interviews, public workshops, and collaboration with a steering committee, SITES helped establish a shared vision and economic transformation strategy for the district.
The vision defined the Pearl of the Pecos as a diverse and thriving center for arts and culture, supported by a strategy to promote and expand creative opportunities across the community. Three central themes guided the plan: creative placemaking, facility programming and activation, and optimization of community assets.
The plan outlined specific actions to help achieve this transformation and served as the final step in securing the district’s official certification as a New Mexico Arts and Cultural District.
Carrizozo Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES partnered with the Town of Carrizozo to develop a Downtown Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy focused on strengthening the local economy, attracting visitors, and supporting rehabilitation along NM 54 and 12th Street. The plan built upon the earlier Historic Carrizozo Revitalization Plan completed through New Mexico MainStreet’s Frontier Communities Initiative in 2015, expanding on those ideas with new strategies for long-term growth.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
The process emphasized community collaboration and the town’s growing identity as an arts-focused destination. SITES engaged residents through interactive workshops, small group discussions, and an online project website that shared meeting information and draft materials. This approach ensured participation from residents both in person and remotely.
Community engagement guided every stage of the plan. Initial workshops gathered input on local priorities, and follow-up sessions helped refine goals and identify the most promising projects. SITES ultimately developed fifteen project ideas for downtown revitalization, including streetscape improvements, a district wayfinding system, an outdoor performance space, free downtown Wi-Fi, façade upgrades, a community trail system, affordable housing opportunities, and marketing and economic development strategies.
Together, these ideas form a clear and actionable path for Carrizozo’s continued growth as a creative and welcoming community.
Central Avenue Streetscape Urban Design Plan
SITES led the design for the revitalization of a historic stretch of Route 66 along Central Avenue in Albuquerque. The project focused on the section extending from 8th Street in downtown to Coors Road, with additional study of the corridor continuing west to the top of Nine Mile Hill.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
Working closely with the City of Albuquerque, SITES aligned the design with the community’s goal to reestablish Central Avenue as a vibrant center of neighborhood life, commerce, and cultural history. The plan emphasized the aesthetic and functional rebuilding of the corridor through a blend of urban design and landscape architecture.
Key improvements included wider pedestrian zones, enhanced transit areas, new lighting, street furniture, landscaping, and roadway upgrades. SITES also studied street edge conditions and developed guidelines for future development along the corridor, reinforcing Central Avenue’s identity as one of Albuquerque’s most significant historic and civic spaces.
Central New Mexico Community College Student Resource Center Plaza
The Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) campus in Albuquerque, near Coal Avenue and University Boulevard, has undergone numerous changes over the years. The grounds in front of the Student Resources Center is but one example. Originally conceived as an open lawn that largely went unused, the site eventually was converted to an inhospitable expanse of gray crushed gravel that was intended to be used for ceremonial events, which also largely went unused. In 2021, CNM commissioned Sites to transform that area into a central gathering space and plaza that could be used for events, casual gatherings, and other activities. The plaza is surrounded by custom-designed radial shade structures with a raised stage on one side. In addition to providing shade and weather protection from above, these shade canopies were designed to screen the sun from the sides, as well, providing a more comfortable space for students to use throughout the day. Rainwater is directed from structure roofs and permeable pavers into a subsurface distribution system and bioswale that provide supplemental water to shade trees within the plaza. The enhanced plaza was opened to student and faculty use in the fall of 2022.
Convair Road Improvement
Sites worked closely with El Paso International Airport (EPIA) and the project engineers to create a colorful and vibrant corridor for Convair Road. Low water and colorful plants create an iconic image of El Paso for residents and travelers who are coming, going or just passing through. Sites provided EPIA with this cutting-edge, low-voltage landscape lighting, which enables easy and quick operation of the lighting from a computer screen or a smartphone app. Lights may be quickly changed to match the team's colors, whether they are arriving as Sun Bowl players or Christmas travelers. Improvements include wide walkways, street trees, colorful shrubs, decorative screen walls, low water drip irrigation, low voltage landscape lighting and pedestrian rest areas complete with site furnishings that provide a visually interesting opportunity for a little exercise and/or respite.
Corcoran “Corky” Park
Sites led a multi-disciplinary team to instill new life at “Corky” Park in Horizon City Texas. The Park, adjacent to the future town center, functions as the Town’s central park. Critical to the community’s public events, whether “Music in the Park” or the Christmas Tree lighting, the park now has a central plaza, plaza style skatepark, a multi-use paved trail, upgraded baseball and softball field, a new restroom building, multiple play structures, an embankment slide, outdoor sport courts, site furnishings, new trees, shrubs and irrigation system. Twenty-two existing mature trees were saved, providing much needed shade in the desert climate. Green Infrastructure techniques such as rain gardens, and integrated stormwater harvesting are featured throughout.
East Downtown Albuquerque
The East Downtown (EDO) Revitalization brought a fresh, walkable vision to Albuquerque’s historic corridor, blending New Urbanist principles with local character. Centered on Central Avenue, Broadway Boulevard, and the former Old Albuquerque High School campus, the project transformed an underused district into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood that celebrates community and place.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
SITES contributed to the overall master plan, collaborating closely with design partners on site composition and landscape concepts for the first phases of redevelopment. The transformation of the Old Albuquerque High School into residential lofts anchored the effort—preserving the original architecture while introducing inviting outdoor “rooms,” landscaped plazas, and flexible gathering spaces that encourage connection and activity.
Building on that success, the EDO Master Plan established design standards for the surrounding area, guiding streetscapes, parks, roundabouts, and public plazas with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and livability. SITES also supported the development team through conceptual design, cost estimating, and on-street parking analysis to ensure a cohesive and enduring urban fabric.
East Lohman Development Plan
Sites led a planning and urban design team in preparing a master plan for the 150-acre East Lohman Site, a property on the growing east side of Las Cruces. Using guidance from a detailed market study, the plan envisioned a mixed-use community that is pedestrian-oriented and environmentally sensitive, with neighborhood centers that complement existing land uses. The plan includes strategies and realistic actions for the City to take to ensure quality urban design and development that is aligned with the plan vision. The planning process was highly collaborative involving city staff, elected officials, businesses and institutions and community members. The plan was enthusiastically approved by both elected officials and residents. The public engagement process was designed to solicit input from a range of stakeholders. It began with the City identifying key stakeholders, who were then included in focus groups, alongside key property owners. Design workshops, public meetings, and public hearings were also attended by key stakeholders and residents. Public feedback was instrumental in guiding the development of three alternative plans, each with a distinct programmatic focus and urban structure. Each scenario included a variety of creative pedestrian-oriented and urban design concepts. The final plan blended the strongest and best-supported ideas from each scenario.
East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex
The East Mesa Sports & Recreation Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a $8.5 million complex planned and designed near the city's East Lohman Corridor, east of I25. Sites collaborated with Wilson & Co Engineers and Architects to create the master plan for the park and later construction documents. This ambitious project went through a lengthy master planning process that was guided by a comprehensive Public Information Plan. Among the organizations were trail and open space enthusiasts, sports leagues, desert habitat advocates, nearby residents concerned about losing views of the Organ Mountains, trail and biking supporters, and BLM. The complex includes two access roads designed to cause as little disruption to the desert ecosystem and nearby neighborhoods as possible, soccer/football fields, baseball fields, pickle ball courts, trails, a traditional park and playgrounds, an amphitheater built into a natural hillside, concessions and restrooms, and a greenway promenade connecting all the facilities.
El Paso Open Space Enhancements
Sites led a multidisciplinary team that created a one-of-a-kind design with custom elements for two stormwater dam sites in El Paso, Texas: Van Buren Dam and Louisiana Dam. Creative solutions were considered to provide amenities that would not interfere with the stormwater capacity or functional use of these dam locations. Hard and soft surface trails connect plazas. The project's amenities included new lighting, ADA access, interpretative educational signage, workout equipment, native vegetation protection, and formerly disturbed areas that were revegetated with beautiful low-water plants and drip irrigation. Before the water is released into the city's stormwater conveyance system, check dams slow it down and enable it to be used to irrigate native plants. The design also incorporates and protects existing native areas, which will prevent the loss of habitat for existing flora and fauna of the Chihuahuan Desert region.
Farmington Animas Action Plan
Sites led a team in providing master planning, design, land use, greenway planning, and zoning and policy expertise for an Action Plan to revitalize the Animas District in Farmington. Once a hub for local agriculture and later transitioning to more industrial uses of the energy sector, the area had become blighted and overlooked. Yet with nearby assets like the renovated Main Street, the Animas River, and the San Juan Regional Medical Center, the district offered a unique opportunity to reimagine a vibrant neighborhood with modest-scale housing. Through extensive planning and public engagement, the team developed a master plan focused on reconnecting the area to both its natural and town center context. Key strategies include integrating regional trails, parks and education along the Animas River, incorporating orchards and open space, promoting “missing middle” housing types, and enhancing street infrastructure to better link destinations and support walkability.
Farmington Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Plan
The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs (PRCA) Master Plan for the City of Farmington is a guide for near-term investments in projects, programs, and policies the department should make to meet its strategic goals. Critically, this plan includes specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) recommendations that were shaped through a co-creation process with the City’s DEI Advisory Council. Plan goals and strategies were driven by a robust community engagement plan that included meetings with staff leadership as well as open meetings with each division’s on-the-ground staff, formal community workshops, interactive tabling activities at community events, a project website, and a community survey. The result is a comprehensive plan for the City’s parks, recreational facilities, and cultural spaces, as well as the programs that are offered there, that is reflective of the community’s needs and vision for the future.
Gallup - Coal Avenue Commons
The Coal Avenue Commons project, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town initiative and matched by local funds, melded local arts and culture for the revitalization of downtown Gallup. Coal Avenue is the result of years of collaboration between the City of Gallup, McKinley County, gallupARTS, Gallup Main Street and Arts + Culture District, the NW NM Council of Governments, the McCune Foundation, and the state’s only Business Improvement District. The goal for this project, fueled by a robust and innovative public engagement process, was to develop a flexible, creative, and achievable design with construction-ready documents for an artful, business-friendly, community-inclusive downtown event street. It is an example of a true Creative Placemaking project that enabled long-lasting social and economic change.
High Desert Community
High Desert is a 1,400-acre mixed-use sustainable community in the foothills of Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed by High Desert Investment Corporation. Planned with strong emphasis on environmentally appropriate, naturalistic landscaping, the community preserved approximately 400 acres of open space. Over a 12-year period, Sites provided master planning, landscape design, research, and management services for the project. Our work included streetscapes, drainage ponds, parks, wildlife drinkers, trails, and open spaces—designed to maximize sustainability. Every drop of precipitation is harvested, cleaned, and redirected for use in the landscape, supporting a closed-loop water system. We designed nearly all the community’s landscapes, served on the design review committee, and authored the High Desert Plant List and Landscape Revegetation Guidelines. Drought-tolerant planting is used throughout, with water collected from roads, rooftops, and other hard surfaces. Materials were chosen for environmental responsibility and sourced within 50 miles, including gravel, boulders, and even plants—many of which were salvaged during road construction. Native landscapes were preserved and enhanced with passive gravity-fed irrigation, demonstrating low-impact, sustainable techniques to residents.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
The High Desert Water Harvesting project is intended to serve as an official interactive storm drain distillation and retention facility. Water is collected from the nearby arroyo that drains straight into the kiva as well as from the nearby street in the form of nuisance flows. A formal circular layout of stone-clad banks with walkways and protected seating areas above defines the ponding area. The kiva is designed to accommodate a sizable sculpture that serves as a seasonal guide, similar to a sundial, by utilizing the sun's orientation to commemorate significant occasions like the summer solstice or the start of the rainy season.
Because of the Pino Pond project's natural contours, great care has been taken to preserve the remaining pinon and juniper stands. An additional feature that enhances the project's richness is a trail that describes the geologic events that led to the formation of the Rio Grande rift using interpretive artwork developed by Sites. By precisely creating planting schemes that replicate the ecotone succession that one could encounter while traveling from the summit of the Sandia Mountains to the Rio Grande Valley, the landscaping completes the project's elements.
Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park
The 28-acre Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park, located on El Paso’s north side, transforms a former vacant lot into one of the city’s most vibrant and inclusive community spaces. Formerly known as Northeast Regional Park, the site was renamed in 2018 to honor Border Patrol Agent Joey Barraza and his K-9 partner Vino, who tragically passed in the line of duty. Funded through the 2012 Quality of Life Bond Program and a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant, the project reflects the City’s commitment to honoring local heroes while investing in healthy, active lifestyles. Sites led the park’s design, seamlessly connecting the new expansion to the existing park and trail system, and integrating original features like the skate park and public art into a renewed framework. The park now offers a wide variety of amenities for all ages and abilities: three championship soccer fields, El Paso’s first large-scale dog park in the northeast, walking and jogging trails linked to the Paso del Norte Trail network, a food truck plaza for community events, and shaded picnic areas. A fully accessible, all-abilities playground anchors the park with interactive play elements, canopies, and soft surfacing, while plazas, seating, water fountains, and landscaped parking ensure comfort and usability throughout. Since its reopening in 2023, Joey Barraza & Vino Memorial Park has become a beloved hub for families, athletes, dog owners, and neighbors—offering spaces to gather, play, and celebrate community pride in a modern, inclusive setting.
Las Cruces Downtown Master Plan
The City of Las Cruces retained Sites to generate a vision and planning strategy for revitalizing its downtown. The centerpiece of this urban design effort is the reopening of Main Street to reinstate it as a major north/south arterial, which will bring thousands of cars and people through the heart of the city. The redevelopment strategy included planning and designing for a new civic plaza and government buildings, attracting specialty retailers and service providers, and amplifying the downtown’s role as the center for culture and arts. Sites performed as lead consultant for the catalyst project for this effort known as the Main Street Plaza. The Main Street Plaza is designed as a flexible, curbless street with shade structures, lit bollards, and special paving that can be closed off for special events. As part of the design process, computer generated visual simulations were used to help community members and policy makers envision the downtown of tomorrow. Sites also contributed distinctive landscapes to two downtown buildings: the Las Cruces City Hall and the Las Cruces Federal Courthouse.
Las Vegas Great Blocks
Sites was commissioned by New Mexico Mainstreet to provide planning and design services for their Great Blocks Program for Mainstreet de Las Vegas. The project consisted of three blocks within Las Vegas’ Historic Railroad District including Lincoln and Railroad Avenues. Railroad Avenue is planned as a two-lane street with parallel parking and wide sidewalks on both sides. The east side of the street is wider than the west and will also include a walk and multi-use path to accommodate both bicycles and pedestrians. This bikeway will eventually be expanded to include a trail connecting with the Galleta River Trail to the south. A small sidewalk plaza and mid-block crossing at the Castaneda Hotel improves pedestrian access and enhances the streetside entry to this historic property. East Lincoln Street is envisioned as both a street and an often used part-time pedestrian plaza, which can be closed off to vehicular traffic during events. This tree-lined corridor utilizes permeable paving and subsurface wicking to sustain the trees. Street grade along Lincoln St. is elevated, with low mountable curbs, to enhance the pedestrian experience. Gateways at the Grand Ave. intersection mark the entrance to the railroad district, while steel railroad rails embedded in the roadway recall the history of the site. Sidewalk extensions and paved crossings throughout the project area make pedestrian crossings safer.
Los Alamos County Affordable Housing Plan
Alamos County that focused the community on the most serious issue affecting affordable housing – the inaccessibility of housing due primarily to the lack of available supply. Through this process we evaluated existing conditions and developed specific types of data analysis and data collection due to the uniqueness of the community. We then assessed various housing needs, costs, and affordability measures and identified important market conditions and serious supply constraints. The result of this process was conversations with key policy makers about housing priorities and a large menu of potential strategies for the community to evaluate. The biggest housing factor affecting Los Alamos is a lack of housing supply which results in inaccessibility for low- and moderate-income households. This can be partially addressed through new development, but Los Alamos has limited land availability and the community values low-density housing and a smaller community size. In addition to more housing development, key strategies we recommended were to increase the number of income-restricted housing units so that low- and moderate-income households could find accessible housing and to engage in regional strategies that can address the broader issue of housing and economic development.
Los Lunas Transportation Center Master Plan
The Master Plan and Phase One Design for the Los Lunas Transportation Center included land use planning, new urbanist style charrettes and master planning, placemaking at this Railrunner stop, design, and construction. The master plan builds on three previous plans for the area that were initiated in 2006. Sites was hired in 2013 to master plan the Transportation Center district, with an emphasis on land use planning. Following the planning phase, our team focused on the Village Center’s urban design, which included a Rio Metro bus hub for Valencia County, three event spaces and concert venues, a plaza, centralized parking, and mixed use with retail and residential uses. Sites then designed the new plaza, drop off, Rio Metro Hub, and connections to parking, the Rail Runner stop, and other site features in addition to the master plan. Since then, the area around the center has been planned as a metropolitan redevelopment area that prioritizes redevelopment, and the Village has purchased additional land. As a result of these changes, the Master Plan was updated in 2018, and Phase One construction was completed in 2017. Sites aided the Village's vision of creating "a vibrant, walkable Village Center that serves local residents and visitors, provides a variety of attainable housing options, promotes economic development, and supports increased Rail Runner and transit ridership" by identifying land use and urban design recommendations. Sites looked at variables that support new development near the center, recognizing that current demographics, housing supply, and market conditions are the primary drivers of redevelopment. The plan calls for multifamily housing, ground-floor retail, commercial office space, outdoor civic spaces, and multimodal circulation improvements to make the area a pleasant place to walk, bike, work, and live.
Los Ranchos 4th Street Revitalization
SITES partnered with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque to transform a neglected remnant of the original Route 66 into a landmark roadway and civic corridor for this semi-rural community in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. The Fourth Street Revitalization Project celebrates the village’s agricultural heritage and open-space character while creating a vibrant Main Street that serves as an economic and cultural hub for residents and visitors alike.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
The design reflects the community’s history and identity through locally inspired materials, agricultural plantings, and subtle design motifs. A complete-street approach guided the reimagining of the corridor, which now features a widened brick and pigmented concrete sidewalk, layered landscaping, and a pedestrian promenade with plazas, shaded seating areas, and new lighting. Custom street furniture and thoughtfully integrated public spaces reinforce Fourth Street as a welcoming, walkable destination.
Major improvements included a lane reduction to create a calmer, more people-oriented street, new custom bus stops, gateway signage to announce arrival into the village, beacon-controlled pedestrian crossings, and a new public parking lot to support local businesses and events. Together, these elements redefine Fourth Street as a signature community space that honors Los Ranchos’ rural roots while supporting its future as a thriving local center.
Manzanita Ridge Neighborhood Park
Sites, Ashley Vance Engineering, and S&F Land Services worked alongside Bend Parks and Recreation District staff throughout the entire public engagement and design lifecycle for Manzanita Ridge Park. The initial public meeting revealed a divide between community members, who preferred a more natural open space park, and those who preferred a park with a playground and amenities where their families could play and picnic. To meet the needs of the Shevlin West Neighborhood and adjacent communities, the team facilitated a robust public process that included online surveys, pop up events, and public meetings led by Bend Parks and Recreation District. After presenting three potential concepts and obtaining public and stakeholder feedback, the team refined a final, preferred concept. The team took the concepts into construction documentation and eventually provided construction oversight. Ultimately, Manzanita Ridge Park, currently under construction, will be a harmonious marriage of a traditional neighborhood park with — a grassy area, playground, and nature play — with natural open space that features trails and preserved, high desert native landscape.
Mesilla Comprehensive Plan
The Town of Mesilla is a historic village and popular tourist destination in a growing area adjacent to the City of Las Cruces. It also retains unique architectural and cultural features that make it a beloved space for residents and visitors alike. Residents are facing the challenge of maintaining their rural cultural identity in the face of regional change. The plan’s guiding principles were to preserve local history and culture, retain the agriculture and greenbelt while adapting strategic areas to better meet the needs of a growing community, support a healthy community, promote rural character, and cultivate a diverse economy that is tied not only to its history, but also its outdoor recreation potential. The plan is built on ideas, creativity, and investments from community members, leadership, staff, and regional partners.
New Mexico Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Update
SITES partnered with New Mexico State Parks, the Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division, and the National Park Service to assess outdoor recreation resources, identify statewide trends, and complete an inventory of trails across New Mexico. The Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, State Parks Division initiated the 2021–2026 update of the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), which directs the State’s allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
SITES led the planning process and was responsible for analyzing national and statewide recreation trends, summarizing the economic impact of outdoor recreation in New Mexico, and creating a comprehensive resource inventory with associated maps. The team also examined environmental opportunities and threats, explored the role of outdoor education, and evaluated ongoing issues related to access and equity in recreation opportunities.
The plan was developed through extensive engagement that included leaders from agencies, non-profits, and communities, as well as residents and recreationalists from across the state. The resulting recommendations outline long-term strategies for outdoor recreation planning and identify needs and opportunities for establishing recreation and historic trails in every region of New Mexico.
Nob Hill & Highland Sector Development Plan
Sites was charged with updating a 20-year old Sector Development Plan and expanding the plan area for the Nob Hill and Highland neighborhoods in Albuquerque. The community includes older residential areas and a commercial center along Central Avenue that transitions from one of the City’s most vibrant commercial districts to a deteriorating commercial strip. The Nob Hill and Highland communities participated fully in the development of the sector plan for their neighborhoods. Sites facilitated twelve public meetings, workshops and open houses to maximize public input. The project team worked with property owners on specific zoning and design regulations and shepherded the plan through adoption by City Council. Sites addressed neighborhood concerns through updated zoning that protected established residential neighborhoods, promoted commercial development, provided for transitions between intensive commercial activity and single-family homes, accommodated mixed uses, and supported the area’s heavy pedestrian, bicycle and transit traffic. The standards established for this corridor have been incorporated into the City of Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance.
Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan
Sites completed a comprehensive master planning effort for the Paso del Norte Trail in El Paso, Texas. Based on the mission of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, this effort was undertaken to create a trail that will become a regional attraction connecting communities, celebrating El Paso’s history and culture, highlighting the Rio Grande, promoting health and active living, and catalyzing economic development. Serving as a continuation of New Mexico’s proposed Rio Grande Trail, this ambitious 60-mile-plus trail project, once completed, will extend from the New Mexico/Texas border to the Southeast corner of El Paso County, and will include spur trail connections to UTEP, the Franklin Mountains Open Space, and various communities and points of interest in El Paso’s Mission Valley, as well as a loop trail through Juarez, Mexico. The theme for this trail centers around the international flavor of the area and will include historic references to El Camino Real, the agricultural areas along the Rio Grande, and the missions themselves, represented through both design themes and interpretive opportunities. The trail system features various trail types, ranging from paved multi-use paths to unpaved ditch and levee roads, as well as an urban component comprised of sidewalks and enhanced bikeways through the city of El Paso.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Paso del Norte Trail Master Plan, Sites has been actively involved in supporting several local engineering firms with the design and development of several key trail segments, including the Playa Drain Trail and the Border Highway Trail. These projects represent important steps toward creating a more connected, accessible, and walkable El Paso. The trails introduce thoughtfully designed pedestrian paths that include site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and pet waste stations to improve user comfort and convenience. The landscape design incorporates new trees and drought-tolerant shrubs that not only enhance visual appeal but also provide shade and ecological value along the route. By transforming underutilized corridors into inviting, multi-use spaces, these projects encourage community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and support long-term regional connectivity.
Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint
The Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint is the first overlook along the Historic Columbia River Highway as visitors head east from Portland, offering one of the most iconic views of the Columbia River Gorge. SITES worked with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to develop a comprehensive plan for revitalizing this celebrated site, balancing visitor access, resource protection, and the preservation of its historic character.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
The design addressed priorities identified in the Columbia River Gorge Management Units Plan and incorporated standards from the Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook, the HCRH Trail Design Guidelines, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Management Plan. It focused on enhancing the visitor experience by separating vehicles from pedestrian viewing areas and introducing an ADA-accessible route across the site’s steep slopes.
Other proposed improvements included expanded but discreetly screened parking, new restroom facilities, additional seating and gathering areas, and amenities for cyclists and trail users entering the Gorge. The design also emphasized environmental stewardship through invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and preservation of historic monuments.
Public engagement was a key part of the process. SITES supported Oregon Parks and Recreation Department-led outreach through opportunities-and-constraints analyses, schematic concepts, and refined designs shaped by community feedback. The resulting plan provides a clear, context-sensitive vision for improving accessibility and sustainability at one of the Pacific Northwest’s most remarkable viewpoints.
Questa Comprehensive Plan
The Village of Questa hired Sites to lead the Comprehensive Plan Update for the community in spring 2024. Sites facilitated a planning and engagement process to understand the unique elements of this community, social and organizational dynamics, and creative resources and funding opportunities to achieve common goals. The team spent time participating in community events, conducting extensive tours and facilities assessments with staff, and initiating conversations with Village leaders and businesses. Community engagement involved meeting people where they are, including at the Farmers' Market and going door-to-door to visit local businesses. The team drafted plan goals and strategies, which were brought back to the community for refinement in August 2024. The plan update was adopted, unanimously, by the Village Council.
Rio Arriba County and City of Española Affordable Housing Plan
Sites Southwest collaborated with Rio Arriba County and the City of Española to update their 2015 Affordable Housing Plan. The intent of the plan is to better understand current and future housing needs and guide new housing development. The updated plan outlines strategies to increase the availability of all types of housing within Española city limits and in rural communities of Rio Arriba County. The City and County own properties that could be used to support affordable housing. As a top priority, these publicly owned properties could be donated or sold below market value to encourage development, especially projects eligible for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The City and County would be responsible for marketing these properties to potential developers. Given the challenges of attracting developers and navigating New Mexico's housing programs, the plan recommends either hiring a new staff member or providing specialized training for existing staff. This would build internal capacity to work with developers, non-profits, and organizations like Housing New Mexico, ensuring the City and County are ready to take advantage of housing opportunities as they arise. A third priority is to make short-term updates to land development ordinances in both jurisdictions to align with state regulations on mobile and manufactured homes. The goal is to encourage the gradual replacement of aging mobile homes, improving the quality of housing and neighborhoods over time. In the long term, the City and County need to fully modernize their outdated land use ordinances to meet current standards.
Rio Grande Trail Master Plan
Sites teamed with Alta Planning + Design to help the New Mexico State Parks Division bring the long-envisioned Rio Grande Trail to life. With a scope that extends over 500 miles from Colorado to Texas, the New Mexico Rio Grande Trail Master Plan builds off earlier work (some of which had also been completed by Sites) that identified potential trail alignments through the southern two-thirds of the state of New Mexico. The plan included the development of a numeric ranking system to evaluate and update those previous alignment alternatives, as well as exploring new potential routes through the northern third of the state. The result is a trail alignment that will link Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas border-to-border. The plan includes recommendations for trail types for diverse geographic conditions, user accommodations, implementation strategies, and long-term management.
Sandia Ranch Master Plan
Bernalillo County commissioned Sites to develop a Master Plan and schematic design plans for the 20-acre Sandia Ranch in Albuquerque. This agriculturally based project includes extensive public involvement and coordination with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the American Sign Language Academy with a master plan, site analysis and programming, and construction documents. Programmatically the project includes farm and ranch-based zones for animal husbandry and farming with field seed plots, orchards and vineyards, trails along the Camino Real and the acequia that splits the property, 4H and County Extension Service offices and grounds, an arena with bleachers and pens, a small community park and playground, El Camino kiosk design, master gardening, and rodeo arena.
Santa Fe County Affordable Housing Plan
Sites completed an affordable housing plan for Santa Fe County that addresses housing needs in the Santa Fe area. A community and housing profile, existing and future housing needs, an analysis of land use barriers, and recommendations for affordable housing programs are all part of the Santa Fe County plan. Through this project, we identified and expressed in a unique way how various types of needs impact the Santa Fe area, and how each of these needs necessitates nuanced, bold strategies. We worked with staff, developers, and service providers to clearly articulate different types of needs to understand and address core issues surrounding affordable housing. We drafted a comprehensive list of achievable immediate and long-term strategies to encourage the construction and provision of affordable housing opportunities after conducting a thorough investigation of various regulatory housing barriers.
Tiguex Park and Albuquerque Museum District Master Plan
Tiguex Park has been a cornerstone of Albuquerque’s public life since the 1970s, connecting the city’s historic Old Town Plaza and shopping district to its three major museums. More than a neighborhood park, it serves as a civic gathering space, a recreational hub, and a cultural gateway for residents and visitors alike.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
Working with the City of Albuquerque, SITES developed a master plan to reinvigorate this beloved urban park while strengthening its role within the broader Museum District. The plan addressed updated program needs, improved drainage and water conservation, enhanced safety and visibility, and ensured accessibility for all users. A detailed analysis of surrounding land uses and urban connections informed the park’s redesign, creating stronger visual and physical links between Tiguex Park, the museums, and the adjacent neighborhoods.
To reinforce a sense of place, SITES introduced a cohesive system of aesthetic elements, including new pathways, gathering spaces, and signature gateway monuments built with local materials and inspired by historic building forms. Combined with sustainable landscape design and native plantings, these improvements reestablished Tiguex Park as both a neighborhood anchor and a destination within the city’s cultural core.
University Area Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan
SITES worked with the City of Albuquerque to establish and plan the South University of New Mexico (UNM) Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, a neighborhood with strong assets but ongoing challenges related to business retention and long-term residency. The area faced high commercial vacancy rates, deteriorating structures, and public safety concerns, contributing to visible blight and economic decline.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
In close collaboration with City staff, SITES led the designation process for the redevelopment area, identifying opportunities for reinvestment that respected the surrounding historic and residential neighborhoods. Following designation, the team developed a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan that outlined key catalytic strategies and recommended public and private investments to strengthen the area’s economic health.
Through an inclusive engagement process, SITES worked with businesses, residents, property owners, developers, and representatives from major institutions to shape the plan. A central outcome was the creation of a stakeholder group dedicated to advocating for business improvement and ongoing community investment, ensuring the plan’s momentum continues beyond adoption.
University Boulevard Extension
This project began with developing aesthetic concepts for two roadway bridges in Mesa del Sol, followed by full landscape design from initial concepts through construction documentation. The visual themes were drawn from the surrounding environment, incorporating the sun and wind patterns of the nearby Tijeras Arroyo and referencing local wildlife through the prominent snake motifs featured on the bridges.
The landscape design uses xeric plantings suited to the high-desert conditions. Grasses are placed near the snake elements, while native shrubs and trees line the cobble swales that run throughout the corridor. Water harvesting strategies supplement the non-potable irrigation system, with curb cuts directing stormwater into median swales to take advantage of natural elevation changes.
Given the site’s location and dramatic topography, the project also required significant reclamation and erosion control. The result is a roadway and bridge aesthetic that is rooted in place, environmentally responsive, and aligned with the character of Mesa del Sol.
The landscape design uses xeric plantings suited to the high-desert conditions. Grasses are placed near the snake elements, while native shrubs and trees line the cobble swales that run throughout the corridor. Water harvesting strategies supplement the non-potable irrigation system, with curb cuts directing stormwater into median swales to take advantage of natural elevation changes.
Given the site’s location and dramatic topography, the project also required significant reclamation and erosion control. The result is a roadway and bridge aesthetic that is rooted in place, environmentally responsive, and aligned with the character of Mesa del Sol.
University of New Mexico Valencia Campus
Studies have shown that aesthetically pleasing campuses with functional and attractive outdoor spaces are more appealing to potential students and effectively serve as a marketing tool. Through this project, UNM sought to modernize its Valencia Campus, improving its outdoor spaces to provide a more appealing and engaging learning environment. Sites collaborated with Vigil & Associates under an on-call contract to design a series of improvements to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Our primary focus was on enhancing the common areas between buildings and connecting the pedestrian-friendly campus core to a new high-use parking area at the campus's southwest corner serving the Health Sciences and Adult Education buildings, along with the creation of a shaded, multi-level study plaza and new access point on the west side of the Student Center/Student Union Building. The project also involved a landscape renovation of the main parking lot to provide a more visually appealing entrance to the campus. In order to protect the existing mature trees that provide shade for the parking lot, UNM agreed to the elimination of some parking spaces so that we could provide expanded planting beds to protect root zones of those trees and minimize future damage to adjacent curbs and asphalt paving.
University of Texas El Paso Projects
Sites has worked on several University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) projects, including the design of the outdoor plaza for the addition to the UTEP Engineering Building. In this sunken plaza, Sites designed decorative yet functional steps and integrated dual-purpose planters that can be used for amphitheater seating for small outdoor events. Included in this beautiful space are custom-designed gabion benches and trash receptacles, turf grass, flowering trees, low-water, colorful plants, and patterned and pigmented concrete. These amenities add visual interest to the pedestrian connection between buildings and the plaza and a focal point for outdoor learning opportunities.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
The UTEP Swimming and Fitness Facility's Phase II design focused mostly on outdoor features, like moving a sand volleyball court and updating a ropes challenges course. The focal point of this extremely steep site, which had to be contoured for the field's installation, is a brand-new all-purpose field finished in synthetic turf. To identify all the components and take into account the frequently different needs, Sites collaborated with UTEP employees, user groups, and team members.
Sites Southwest provided aesthetic upgrades to UTEP’s existing SUB landscape and student plaza areas. The upgrades provided year-round color with native and xeric plant materials while preserving the existing large trees that provide shade to students and staff.
For UTEP's centennial celebration, Sites was tasked with designing five unique outdoor areas on campus. For each location, the team produced 3D models, sketches, and conceptual ideas. Presentation boards featuring perspective concept renderings, rendered plans, and before images from the sites demonstrated how their designs were incorporated into campus life for these distinctive areas.
The existing old Psychology Building site was given aesthetic enhancements by Sites. The improvements preserved the big trees that currently provided shade while adding year-round color with native and xeric plant materials. The design incorporated several courtyard patio and deck areas to support academic and social possibilities on campus.
Valle De Oro Master Plan
SITES partnered with Wilson & Co. and a multi-agency team—including the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo & Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Ducks Unlimited—to craft the master plan for the nation’s first purpose-designed urban wildlife refuge in Albuquerque’s South Valley.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Located on a former dairy farm just south of Albuquerque, the 570-acre refuge has been transformed through thoughtful planning into a landscape that supports both wildlife and community. From the outset the project employed an extensive public-interaction strategy involving workshops, charrettes, field trips, public gatherings, and meetings with local and national agencies.
The plan’s vision included restoring habitat for waterfowl and other avian and land-based species, creating six wetland or management units, organizing the site around fields informed by its agricultural history, and weaving in both pedestrian and equestrian trails. Botany study labs, children’s learning exhibits, and a salt-grass habitat emphasize education and ecology. Innovative stormwater features serve as both functional art and infrastructure that cleanses runoff before it reaches the Rio Grande.
At its core, this project reflects SITES’ commitment to designing landscapes that serve people, habitat, and process in equal measure. Valle de Oro stands as a model of how ecological restoration, public engagement, and community access can converge in an urban setting, offering memorable outdoor experiences and meaningful stewardship opportunities for decades to come.
Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan
Sites has a long history of partnering with Village staff on comprehensive plans, designation and plans for two metropolitan redevelopment areas, workforce housing initiatives, and zoning code updates. The Village of Ruidoso Comprehensive Plan focused on economic development, particularly diversifying economic opportunities for residents while supporting the local tourism economy. Residents were most interested in living wage jobs, workforce housing, and recreational opportunities for local youth and families. Resiliency and emergency response related to wildfire and flooding were key components of Ruidoso’s plan and continue to be critical concerns in that community. Feedback from a wide range of residents was important to Village leadership. The team held a large public forum and offered opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in various focus groups during a multi-day site visit, where all events included meals. Absentee owners, Village staff, and leadership were heavily involved in recruiting participants, and the attendance at all events was extraordinary. Village staff were involved with the process throughout, including review and input into the final recommendations. This involvement smoothed the transition of plan recommendations into Village department work programs. Since the plan’s adoption, staff have systematically tackled the plan recommendations, including utility review and upgrades, zoning code amendments, and park and other facility improvements.
Vistoso Trails Master Plan
Sites’s work on The Vistoso Trails Master Plan for The Town of Oro Valley, Arizona demonstrates our ability to deliver a tailored Master Plan that meets the needs of the community, while not jeopardizing our core sustainability mission. In this project, we were able to optimize the number of public meetings, engaging the town residents in similar locations to the one being designed. Through those meetings, we were able to integrate feedback, resulting in a plan that included nature play areas and an amphitheater for classes or star gazing for children. We thoughtfully considered a nearby school, including a crosswalk for children’s safety, and partnered with the school to allow for parking so that families could use the Vistoso Trails’ amenities conveniently. Our ability to understand and consider community needs is also demonstrated by the similarities in neighborhoods and surrounding areas. This project wove through a high-end residential community of existing and continuing development, which is very similar to the High Desert Community Plan. At the foundation of all of this, we partnered with The Conservation Fund, the AZ chapter of Audubon, and local Archaeologist consultants to integrate conservation and preservation at the core of the project. This allowed us to collaborate with experts in designing open spaces while optimizing conservation, attracting birds and protecting wildlife, and preserving and protecting on-site petroglyphs.
Winrock Town Center
The former Winrock Mall in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was reimagined as a vibrant town center. As part of the rehabilitation, a central park for the entire mixed-use development was built in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque. As the landscape architect for the park’s design, Sites partnered with PACE Advanced Water Engineering and Modulus to create a dynamic public space featuring an event amphitheater and lawn, a large playground with both nature-based and traditional play areas, a lake with bridges and restaurants overlooking it, and a network of soft- and hardscape trails and plazas. The design also incorporates an educational kiosk, orchard and entry plaza at the Dillard’s entrance, and a curving, flowing pathway system that guides visitors into a variety of experiences—spaces close to the water’s edge, and niches farther away for a more contemplative retreat. Native plants were carefully selected to support water conservation and climate resilience. A small high-tech water treatment plant supplies reclaimed water to the lake, which is then reused for park irrigation. The park’s story is shared through interpretive and educational signage, reinforcing a vision of long-term sustainability.
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