Albuquerque School Installed Fencing to Block Fields
New perimeter fencing restricts after-hours access to the Collet Park Elementary School campus.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Administration
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Albuquerque Public Schools installed a fence and gate at Collet Park Elementary School to prevent public access to campus fields outside of school hours. This project follows a series of district-wide security enhancements implemented over the past five years.
Why it matters
The district installed the barriers to mitigate ongoing concerns regarding campus safety, property damage, and the presence of intruders or drug paraphernalia. These changes restrict local recreational access to school grounds to better protect students and facility infrastructure.
The fencing project at Collet Park Elementary cost $99,852.76, funded by a $292,000 taxpayer allocation for security upgrades. This improvement is part of a broader, five-year district-wide initiative to fortify school facilities.
The players
Albuquerque Public Schools
The local school district managing infrastructure and security for K-12 facilities in the region.
The details
The district installed physical perimeter fencing and gates to effectively wall off school property from the surrounding Northeast Heights neighborhood after hours. In addition to the fence, the security upgrades include new camera systems, alarm infrastructure, and keycard access controls. These measures are designed to curb specific issues identified by the district, including unauthorized indigent camps, dog attacks, and general property damage.
Timeline
Over the past 5 years, Albuquerque Public Schools implemented security enhancements across all district facilities.
Within the last year, new fencing was installed at Collet Park Elementary.
The Home Front
This project follows the pattern set by the district-wide security program, which began five years ago to harden facilities against physical security threats. The trend reflects a broader shift toward securing public school perimeters against unauthorized after-hours use.
Residents living near Collet Park Elementary should plan for restricted access to the campus fields during evenings and weekends. Families should verify whether their local school facility has also implemented new keycard or fencing restrictions if they typically utilize those grounds.
The takeaway
The installation of new fencing at Collet Park Elementary highlights the district's effort to manage campus access for student safety. Residents should prepare for similar perimeter restrictions as the district continues its long-term security upgrade program.
Further reading
For more on how local district changes affect our neighborhood, visit Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRQE 13.
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