COMMUNITY
Dinosaurs still thriving in this sa国际传媒官网网页入口 alley
Donated toys and murals add to the prehistoric feel at this beloved community gathering spot
Joseph Chavez has loved dinosaurs since before he could say 鈥淭yrannosaurus.鈥�
So when his mother, Denette, was scrolling social media and found a video about a 鈥渄inosaur alley,鈥� she knew she鈥檇 have to take Joseph, 10, and his little sister, Josephine, 6, to the Jurassic park in sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 Bear Canyon Neighborhood.
鈥淚 saw it and since we have so many dinosaurs, we wanted to come and donate,鈥� Danette said.
Located at the intersection of Torreon and El Morro NE, this unique alley is packed with toy dinosaurs of various sizes placed by local children. It also features dinosaur murals and a little library with a variety of books.
鈥淚 put a red one my dad gave me!鈥� said Josephine, noting the Spinosaurus was her favorite. The Chavezes also donated a long-necked green sauropod.
鈥淚 want other kids to enjoy it,鈥� Joseph said, referencing that he didn鈥檛 mind donating his dinosaurs in the alley. 鈥淚 enjoy it here, and the artwork is just incredible.鈥�
When did dinosaurs start ruling the alley?
Legend has it that dinosaur alley started when a neighborhood boy celebrated his birthday there, according to Theodore Bustos, president of the Bear Canyon Neighborhood Association.
鈥淣eighbors have embraced the spirit of the alley by adding dinosaurs, murals and fun signs, with new surprises continuing to appear over time,鈥� Bustos said.
In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, other kids started leaving behind dinosaurs too. Since then, it鈥檚 grown into a neighborhood treasure: a place where kids can celebrate being kids.
鈥淚f we鈥檙e honest, plenty of grown-ups think it鈥檚 pretty awesome too,鈥� he said.
Neighbors work together to make sure the alley remains a safe place for kids and that nothing but dinosaur toys stay in the alley.
鈥淲e came here yesterday and we saw different toys and today they鈥檙e gone, but all the dinosaurs stay,鈥� Denette said.
Karmina Conde is a news reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kconderuiz@abqjournal.com
