Place: Big Ditch Park

Location: Silver City, New Mexico   

Person interviewed:  Carl Levi and Damie Nelson, residents of Silver City

How this site benefits you and your community: “We think the Big Ditch Park is the heart of Silver City. It’s a place of historic interest because in the early 1900’s, this was our original Main Street. Then, two separate floods eroded away our Main Street, all the way down to the bedrock where the creek now flows. Because of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the riverwalk was created, making for a great space for community events and festivals. It’s this little greenway amidst the trees and the flowing creek. When we have visitors and family with us, this is the first place we take them as it is unique to our town. It’s an awesome venue for events like the Farmers Market, the San Vicente Art Fair, the Continental Divide Trail Days, picnics, and all sorts of wonderful activities for residents and visitors.

At the Big Ditch Park, we can have anywhere from 300 to 400 people through here during the farmers market or any event that is held here. It’s accessible to folks with mobility concerns and it’s beautiful for everyone to enjoy nature and being outside. It’s a great space. To turn this Big Ditch into a community park is genius and a great way to provide a space for the community to gather.”