New Road in Radium Springs, NM leads to Leasburg Dam State Park’s entrance. Courtesy/EMNRD
EMNRD News:
RADIUM SPRINGS — A $2.9 million capital improvement project is creating safer roads, a modernized wastewater system and long-term protection for the landscape and water at Leasburg Dam State Park in the Mesilla Valley.
These upgrades are part of an ongoing capital improvement campaign that has invested more than $200 million in facility and infrastructure upgrades at various New Mexico State Parks since 2021.
“For Radium Springs and the surrounding area, Leasburg Dam State Park is a gathering place—a home base— for families, school groups and generations of New Mexicans who love the Rio Grande, said Toby Velásquez, director of New Mexico State Parks. “These improvements honor that connection. They make the park more accessible and safer for everyone.”
Contractors rebuilt and repaved Leasburg Park Road and improved the intersection with Tres Amigos Road to meet current New Mexico Department of Transportation safety standards. Along Leasburg Dam Road, milling and repaving were completed, parking capacity was doubled from ten spaces to twenty and the turnaround expanded for visitor use and Elephant Butte Irrigation District access. New signage, striping and fencing were also installed.
A modern septic tank and evapotranspiration bed will replace aging leach fields, preventing wastewater from entering soil and groundwater near the Rio Grande. Work is expected to be completed by June 30, followed by plumbing upgrades inside the main comfort station.
“These upgrades support the way Radium Springs residents use the park every day—from trail walks to river recreation—and strengthen our ability to protect the landscape and the water that define this area,” said Leasburg Dam State Park Manager Austin Wilson.
In addition to infrastructure upgrades, the Division has restored one of the park’s most historic structures: the Dam Tender’s House. Built in 1908 as a poured‑concrete “cottage style” home for the dam tender who once manually regulated water into the Leasburg Canal, the house had fallen into disrepair after decades without a resident. The project has stabilized the structure, preserved its historic character and updated it to provide housing for the park manager. The project is funded by State of New Mexico Capital Improvement dollars, with support of $260,000 from a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation grant.
Smith Engineering Company of Albuquerque and Las Cruces designed road and wastewater improvements. Las Cruces-based FAMCo Inc. performed construction.
Leasburg Dam State Park offers year-round opportunities for fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and camping in the Mesilla Valley located in the southwestern part of the state. Campsites are open and available to reserve. To book a campsite or learn more about the park, visit www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/leasburg-dam-state-park/.
New Mexico State Parks is a division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Our mission is to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources, provide first-class recreational and education facilities and opportunities, and promote public safety to benefit and enrich the lives of visitors. New Mexico State Parks manages 35 parks statewide and serves millions of visitors each year. For more information, visit emnrd.nm.gov/spd/.