Sunflower Meadow Park logo featuring a sunflower.

Sunflower Meadow Park

A community website to share park events and local resources

About

Park history and info.

Park History

Sunflower Meadow Park is a unique place in that it was created by the local community.  It is now a Bernalillo County property.  View the official Bernalillo County Page for Sunflower Meadow Park.  It continues to have lots of community involvement and volunteer support.  

What’s at the park

It features a large namesake meadow with many wildflowers and native sunflowers that bloom in the late summer and fall. 

As one of the few community spaces in the area, it serves as an important gathering spot, place to go walk, or take the kids. 

Other park features:

  • a playground and swings
  • a little free library
  • a community bulletin board
  • a paved walking path
  • basketball court
  • volleyball court
  • a shaded shelter with picnic table

Restrooms

The park has no restroom facilities.  The nearest public restrooms are outhouses located at the Pine Flats Picnic Area about 3 miles away.  (This area can be closed in the winter if there is a lot of snow.)  

Events

What’s happening at the park. 

Drop-in park play & socializing

Thursday nights ~6pm-8pm, Seasonally (May-August). 

All are welcome: Kids with adults, Adults with kids, Adults without kids.  

Ever gone to the park and found no kids to play with? Drop-In Park Play aims to solve that by picking times when we all try to show up at the same time – so kids have other kids to play with and adults can talk to other adults.
 
This is a casual thing with no official organizers. You don’t have to RSVP, show up on time, or feel bad if you can’t make it.  It should go without saying: you are responsible for yourself and your child(ren).
 
Turn-out can fluctuate – some weeks not many people can make it.  Other weeks, lots of people show up with kids of a range of ages riding bikes around, roller-skating, and running around.  Days that make you think “This is what childhood should be.”  
 
P.S. If your kid is old enough, consider bringing their bike or scooter and helmet.

Map

How to find the park. 

Sunflower Meadow Park is about 9 miles south of Tijeras, NM on Hwy 337.  It’s located off of Raven Road.  

Volunteer/Stewardship

How to get involved. 

Sunflower Meadow Park Restoration Volunteers

Since noticing an invasion of Russian thistle (“tumbleweeds”) in 2023, volunteers have worked with Bernalillo County to decrease invasive species, restore native vegetation, improve soil health and increase biodiversity at the Park. There are workdays and educational events from April to October.

You can use the contact form below to request more information or to volunteer.  

Local Resources

Useful links & local info.

Local Organizations

For Parents

Alternative Schools & Pre-K

  • SOL Forest School
    A local, outdoor-focused school run with a lot of care and passion.
  • Moore Learning
    Located in Cedar Crest. Pre-K, after school care & summer programs for older kids.  

Summer Camps & Programs

Summer camps are listed starting with those local to the East Mountains, but also include some options in Albuquerque.  The popular summer programs in this area tend to fill up quickly.  It’s best to find out when they start enrolling and sign up sooner rather than later if there is one you are interested in.  February/March is a good time to start thinking about this.  

  • SOL Forest School
    SOL has programs during the school year, but they also offer summer programming.
  • Los Vecinos Community Center
    One of the most affordable summer options.  Run by Bernalillo County.  
  • The Nuclear Science Museum
    In Albuquerque, but it’s on this side of town (close to Costco!).  Sometimes has spaces after other summer programs have filled up.  Before and after care are included.  Themed weeks on different science topics.  
  • Stone Age Climbing Gym
    Camps are offered at both locations in Albuquerque.  Their kids programs are excellent.
  • Learners Chess
    This is a good option for a kid that is interested in chess.  They often have spaces after other summer programs have filled up.  
  • Explora
    Also in Albuquerque, and not on this side of town.  Popular and fills up quickly.  
  • Swim Lessons – City of Albuquerque
    Quality can vary widely on instructor.  They fill up FAST.  Recommended to put the date and time they open enrollment in your calendar.
  • Swim Lessons – Jewish Community Center
    More expensive, better lessons. 

Recreational

Local Business Sponsors

These local businesses help support the cost of maintaining this site.

  • Website Tech Girl 
    Website design and ongoing support for small businesses and community organizations

Contact & Site Info

Questions or ideas?

Get in touch

Have a suggestion for content or a question about park play times, volunteering, or local sponsorships?
Use the form below and I’ll get back to you.  Including a quick note about how you’re connected to the area helps me know this is a real, local message.

Questions, comments, contributions?
If you have questions, comments, suggestions or would like to contribute any content to this site (events, local links, etc.), please feel free to reach out using the form above. 

Local links & sponsorships
This site includes links to local resources that are useful to the Sunflower Meadow Park community.

• Nonprofits, community groups, and public resources are listed for free when they’re a good fit for the neighborhood.
• Local businesses may be listed as website sponsors for $20/year, which helps cover hosting and basic site maintenance costs.

If you have a local resource that you think would be a good fit for the site, please reach out using the contact form above. All links are added at the discretion of the site maintainer, with the goal of keeping this page useful and uncluttered.