For
the City of Santa Fe
Frenchy's Field Park Santa Fe, New Mexico
1992
Many Santa Feans remember
Frenchy’s
Dairy Farm that occupied this site between
Aqua Fria and the Santa Fe River. The
owner Frenchy Parachou, who was
actually Basque, left this 17-acre property
to the City of Santa Fe to be used only as
recreational open space. In this densely
populated district, the neighbors wanted
the new park to be nature-oriented passive
recreation linked to the city’s open space
network of trails and parks.
The landscaped parking area along
Agua Fria leads to the park entrance, a
bermed commemorative circle ringed with
fruit trees. Pedestrian paths lead to the
Community Building
constructed with many original materials
salvaged from the old Cow
Barn. The paths winding through the
native grasses and prairie dog habitat
have adjacent barbecue stoves and
picnic tables with open views to
Jemez and Sangre de Cristo mountains.
The paths lead to a new fishing pond and
dock, through rock outcroppings to the
Santa Fe River. The entire site has been
landscaped with native wild flowers, fruit
trees and ornamental shade trees.