Gallup’s Parks and Recreation Director Vincent Alonzo spent his Valentine’s Day asking the city council for permission to use the city’s cannabis tax proceeds to fix up the local parks. And now he’s finally seeing the results.
The tax fund has a total of $172,000 in it currently. Alonzo plans to use $170,000 this year to improve the Joe Vargas Veterans Memorial Complex.
The park is in desperate need of repairs. One of its playgrounds is over 30 years old, and the other is almost 20.
During the April 25 city council meeting, Alonzo broke down how he plans to use the money. $75,000 will go toward new equipment for the park, $25,000 will be used to repair the existing playgrounds, $40,000 to install the new equipment, $6,000 to ship everything, and $20,000 will go toward fall protection – which includes things such as guardrails.
Alonzo said the remaining $2,000 would sit in the fund until next year. In an interview with the Sun, he said he could see the cannabis tax funds increasing to $250 million by next year. He said he thinks the proceeds could grow enough that the city could do a $5 or 6 million bond and pay it back with marijuana money.
“With five or six million dollars we can get a lot more bang for our buck,” Alonzo said. “That way if the tax were ever to go away the city wouldn’t be left holding the bag.”
After the Joe Vargas Veterans Memorial Complex improvements, Alonzo said ballparks and playgrounds are next on his list of things that need improvement.
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
