“With that comes the many challenges of being a tristate, binational community,” acknowledges Mayor Javier Perea. “But there are also a lot of positive things that come with it. We are just east of the Santa Teresa industrial complex, where there’s a lot of infrastructure and manufacturing and warehousing happening for logistics.” With El Paso continuing to grow and facing land constraints, Sunland Park is increasingly absorbing development spillover.At the same time, Ciudad Juarez is expanding its maquila industry westward. “So we’re at the heart of it,” he emphasizes. Despite its location within a large metropolitan area that includes more than two million people across borders, Sunland Park itself is home to approximately 20,000 residents. “We are a small, predominantly Hispanic community. We’re one of the fastest growing cities in the state of New Mexico. With that, we’re also one of the safest cities in the state,” Mayor Perea adds. The region’s diverse landscape and historic landmarks are key to its identity.“Being so far away from another major municipality, four hours from Albuquerque, nine hours from San Antonio and six hours from Phoenix, we’re kind of isolated in our own little world,” Perea says. “There’s a little bit for everybody here, from outdoor activity to urban amenities.” A community rich in culture and heritage is another draw. The historic Camino Real Trail once passed through the area, connecting early Spanish settlers from Mexico to Santa Fe. Mount Cristo Rey, located within Sunland Park and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, draws more than 30,000 pilgrims annually to visit the 29 foot statue of Christ at the summit. Dinosaur tracks are also visible on the mountain, underscoring just how far back the story goes. PLANNED GROWTH As Sunland Park welcomes growth, the focus is on ensuring that development is sustainable and aligned with community needs. The city is currently updating its master plan, which was last completed just over five years ago. “We got our direction from the council that we need a medical provider. So 137 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 SUNLAND PARK, NM
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