SENATE MEMORIAL 76

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 2, 2011 "LAS ESPERANZAS DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, Las Esperanzas, incorporated, is a neighborhood nonprofit organization whose mission is to facilitate the preservation, revitalization and protection of the Mesquite street-original townsite historic district; and

     WHEREAS, before it was a street, Mesquite street was part of El Camino Real; and

     WHEREAS, in 1847, Pablo Melendrez used a rawhide rope to lay out a grid that would become Las Cruces; and

     WHEREAS, the grid was thirteen blocks long and six blocks wide and was divided among the settling families, whose decendants still live in the historic district; and

     WHEREAS, with the assistance of the New Mexico legislature and countless volunteers, the historic district now has Jardin de Mesquite park, Jardin de Esperanzas community garden, Entrada del Sol park and a refurbished Klein park; and

     WHEREAS, the neighborhood is now adorned with decorative light fixtures with historic medallions; and

     WHEREAS, working in partnership with CARTA, the historic district has had its history returned to it and was recently designated by the national trails system as part of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 2, 2011 be declared "Las Esperanzas Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that congratulations be extended to the Mesquite street-original townsite historic district and Las Esperanzas, incorporated, for their successful efforts to preserve, revitalize and protect the historic district; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Las Esperanzas, incorporated.

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