Dolores Huerta Gateway Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Dolores Huerta Gateway Park is a 19-acre park located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.


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Summary

The park is named after Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union. There are several good reasons to visit this park, including its beautiful scenery, cultural significance, and historical relevance. Visitors can enjoy walking trails, picnic areas, and a playground.

One of the main points of interest in the park is the Plaza de la Raza, an open-air pavilion that hosts cultural and educational events. The pavilion is decorated with murals and sculptures that honor the history and culture of the area's Hispanic community. Another point of interest is the Dolores Huerta Memorial Garden, which features native plants and a fountain.

One interesting fact about the park is that it was built on the site of a former landfill. The park is now a testament to the power of community activism and the importance of environmental stewardship.

The best time of year to visit Dolores Huerta Gateway Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its peak. The park is open year-round and admission is free.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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