different challenges, but also a lot of opportunities, very unique to our community,” says Mayor Perea, who began his fourth term on January 1st 2024, marking over 12 and a half years at the city’s helm. The opportunities he speaks of are rapidly materializing, from new housing developments to ambitious entertainment venues. The city’s location has historically served as a natural crossroads for commerce and culture.“We’re in a binational bicultural community,” Mayor Perea explains.“That area has always been a place where people go back and forth between Mexico, whether the United States or even at one point when it was all Mexico.”This heritage of movement and exchange continues to shape Sunland Park’s character today. The city’s evolution from a modest border town to an emerging hub of development showcases the results of careful planning and community engagement.The welcoming nature of its residents, coupled with their strong work ethic, has created an environment ripe for growth. “The people here are very welcoming, very friendly, hardworking individuals that want to provide a better future for their families along with the next generation,” Mayor Perea observes. GROWTH AND SAFETY AT THE TRI-STATE JUNCTION Sunland Park’s strategic position at the intersection of New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico creates unique opportunities and challenges in managing growth while maintaining its distinctive character.The city’s recent recognition as one of New Mexico’s safest urban areas comes alongside its status as one of the state’s fastest-developing regions. This rapid development is reshaping the city’s municipal approach. For the first time, Sunland Park implemented a comprehensive master plan five years ago, marking a turning point in how the city approaches its future. “In the city’s 40-year history, we never really had a cohesive master plan,” Mayor Perea points out. “We had to be upfront about the issues that our community faces.” The influx of new residents, particularly from other parts of the United States drawn to the region’s lower cost of living, has contributed to rising home prices 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 02 SUNLAND PARK, NM
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