Santa Fe Living Treasures – Elder Stories

With this experience, plus her professional training, Wilson moved on to play a key role in the complex, ongoing—-and essential—effort to develop the Railyard Park off Guadalupe Street in the manner that best will serve the city’s highest interest. Without remuneration or acknowledgment she has shared her expertise and concern at public meetings, with city officials and committees, wherever she has been asked to help.

Although she would not use this term herself, perhaps the most impressive lasting "monument" to Wilson’s dedication will be the soon-to-be-completed Entrada Park at the intersection of Cerrillos Road and Don Diego. A small, triangular patch, this site has through the years been nothing more than an overlooked, unsightly and useless dot of land in a commercial strip. But Wilson could see something better there: a surprise island of beauty, a lift to the spirit for motorists and pedestrians.

Over five years of quiet persistence, Wilson almost single-handedly convinced the city to build a tiny park there. Adobe-colored installations have been set into place, and— fittingly for Wilson’s profession—the park will also be landscaped. Or to be precise, it will be "xeriscaped"—for Laura Wilson also understands just how precious water is.

Story by Richard McCord
Photo ©2004 by Steve Northrup