As a military family, we moved frequently before my father was once again stationed in Spain, where I was born and raised. Though we lived in cities during our time there, Madrid and Zaragoza, my childhood is peppered with memories from visiting the pueblo, Prado del Campo, where my mother’s family is from. Spending summer and easter breaks there, my deep connection to the outdoors began to grow.

In the pueblo, there’s a sense of safety that allows you to be outside all day long. I can close my eyes and still walk by the wooded creek and county roads even today, thousands of miles away. My family members raised animals on this land, they sowed chickpeas, lentils, hay, and wheat, and the strong sense of pride and protection for their land is a legacy that continues to live through me, as well as many of my cousins and other relatives. My hands brushed the sprouts in the fields that I worked on my family’s lands. When I recall the vast landscape of rolling hills, sprinkled with pinon pines, and remember the agricultural soul exuded by these lands, I’m reminded that this beauty has even inspired artists to paint, write and commemorate the feeling of serenity and bounty that one experiences and imagines when they’re in special places like these.

From an early age, I remember my grandparents and family members sharing stories with me of the land’s value, that by caring for the land, it provides for us, and gives us sustenance. This connection guides us, and is a meaningful part of my family’s culture and heritage.

In Madrid, outside of school and holiday breaks at the pueblo, my grandparents took me on afternoon visits to a nearby park, Dehesa de la Villa. I remember my grandma sitting on the bench watching me on the playground, where I would spend what seemed like hours. As I grew older and moved away from Madrid, parks continued to play a role in my life, where I would go to walk and spend time with friends. Even though we were in urban environments, parks made all the difference in making me feel that nature was solace from the bustle of the city. Later on, I would take up hiking, camping, and fishing, some of my favorite outdoor activities to this day.

Today, as Director of the Parks and Recreation department, a lot of these memories carry into what I hope to implement in my community in Coconino County, Arizona. My view is that the work of parks and recreation, touch so many aspects of humanity. Outdoor spaces are essential for their environmental benefits, but also play a major role in our public health – mental and physical. We also offer economic value, as parks like the Grand Canyon contribute to the robust tourist economy in Arizona. Within our department, we bring people together by providing places, activities, and programs to connect people and build community. I’m passionate about what I do because our work is multi-faceted, providing great value across many spheres.

When I was a child, those afternoon visits to the park were made possible, and convenient for my grandparents, because of the proximity to this space. Accessibility and the importance of having green space in urban settings is something that needs to be part of the human experience and is important to me to work towards. Part of the human experience is connecting to our earth and connecting to green spaces. Additionally, it’s important to me that we protect special places like wetlands, forests, deserts, rivers, lakes, and unique natural resources and places such as the Grand Canyon so that future generations can enjoy and benefit from these lands. We just recently designated several lands for conservation to protect and provide passive outdoor recreation opportunities. We are proud of this work and so excited to plan and develop these spaces and eventually promote their use. The Coconino County parks and recreation department actively works to ensure that a legacy is left to build upon our connection to the outdoors and to instill the value of stewardship.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve tracked increased use across our trails, going to show that now more than ever, we rely on and depend on open spaces. The parks and recreation department is seeing as much as 200 to 300 percent increase in foot traffic at our parks and on trails I look forward to engaging users and fostering their continued use, access and benefits of parks, trails and open space.

To wind down from my workday, I love to hike, and one of my favorite trails is the San Francisco Peaks trail. The sound of my steps on the trail ground me, the warmth of the sun guides me. Coming back down the trail, I feel restored.

It is my honor to serve Coconino County as Director of the Parks and Recreation department, and I’m grateful that every day I can pay homage to my connection with the outdoors by ensuring that everybody can have experiences with nature.

Guest Blog: Legacy of The Pueblo in Coconino County’s Parks and Recreation Department