Day Trip
It ain't San Antonio, but it is the Riverwalk

What looks like an elk getting a drink of water from the Rio San Jose Pond at Riverwalk Park in Grants, is really just a steel sculpture. [Photo by Gaye Brown de Alvarez/Independent]

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — While San Antonio, Texas, is famous for its Riverwalk, it's not the only such park in America.

Years ago, Grants came up with the idea of converting the meandering Rio San Jose into a greenbelt about four miles long.

Only the first phase has been completed, extending from the downtown railroad tracks about five blocks north to the amphitheater on the other side of the river, connected by a tall bridge.

Between the railroad and Santa Fe Avenue (old Route 66) at the Fifth Street traffic signals is a plaza with tables and benches, plus a waterfall splashing over a rock hill if the temperatures are right, steam rises up like a river bottom's fog.

Just west of the plaza, on the other side of the river, is the Route 66-era (modernized) Uranium Cafe, complete with a 1950s-vintage Chevy the kind with the fins inside and surrounded by dining booths.

Across the avenue is a montage metal sculpture about the region. Then comes the modern, bright colors of a children's playground, with benches for parents to watch the boys and girls. A metal sculpture statue of a buffalo Cibola County's symbol grazes contentedly, guarding the playground. From a distance and in certain light, it is very realistic.

On the other side of Fifth Street is the city's only coffee house, The Mission, open Thursdays through Sundays. It also is an art gallery, and bed and breakfast.

Fifth Street ends at High Street, where Riverwalk takes a bend through the meadow-like park, traversed with wide concrete sidewalks and a gazebo overlooking a pond. At the edge of the pond is a second metal sculpture statue, an elk dipping his antlers to quench his thirst. Even more than the buffalo statue, the elk at a quick glance seems to be real and makes one wonder what wildlife is doing in the middle of town.

The pond is sometimes stocked with fish, too. It also offers a panoramic view of Mount Taylor, which rises some 4,800 feet above Grant's most unusual park.

Visitors can continue to stroll north on the east side of the river or can cross over it on a small pedestrian bridge. Both paths lead to a large amphitheater at the north end of the current park. The concrete tiers for the audience and the restroom building above it look across the Rio San Jose to the roofed-over stage.

This end of the park is capped by a large concrete pedestrian bridge which connects the outdoor theater complex, and the river drops back into its unrestricted natural course.

Two paved parking lots serve the park, one on each side of High Street.

Riverwalk Park serves as the eastern edge of the city's downtown government center, with the New Mexico Mining Museum, home of the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce, and the Mother Whiteside Memorial Library stationed between Santa Fe Avenue and High Street and easily accessible by bridges over both thoroughfares.

Adjacent to them are the Cibola County administrative complex, the 13th Judicial District courthouse, the Grants City Hall and main fire station, with two separate parks in front of them, the local Post Office and just a few feet away is the Double Six Gallery, the new home of the Cibola Arts Council.

Getting there
Take Interstate 40 eastbound to Exit 81-B and merge onto State Hwy. 53, staying in the right-hand lane as you come over the bridge above the Rio San Jose and BNSF Railway. Go right at the traffic signal. There is a special cut-off so you don't have to wait for the green light. This will put you on Santa Fe Avenue. Nine blocks will bring you to the Fifth Street traffic signals. Turn left.