Tingley Beach ain't no kinda beach at all! It's a city park! Right by where Central Avenue (Old Rt. 66) crosses the Rio Grande.
Whatall's at Tingley Beach?
Tingley Beach is a recreational area in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, located south of Central Avenue on the east side of the Rio Grande. It is part of the Albuquerque Biological Park complex. The series of ponds, originally known as Conservancy Beach, was built during the 1930s by diverting water from the Rio Grande and later renamed in honor of Clyde Tingley. After the beach was closed to swimmers in the 1950s, it was used primarily for fishing. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)awarded Tingley Beach with the '2008 North American Conservation Award'.
Tingley Beach was thoroughly renovated starting in 2004, and was reopened to the public in November 2005. The facility features fishing ponds for adults and children, a model boating pond, paddle boats, nature trails, a gift shop, a restaurant, and a narrow-gauge railroad connecting Tingley Beach with the Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Albuquerque Aquarium, and Rio Grande Zoo. (Wikipedia)
I'll add, too, that it's gotta lotta public art sculpture. Find out more at the city's Tingley Park webpage.
Surprised by a the Rio Line Narrow Gauge Train
This was a cool surprise. Made me feel like a kid again, seein' that train. :-)
Lotsa Folks Fishin' in the Cold
Canada Geese and Others Gather for Free Bread
All them ponds is bringin' in the Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, coots, and who knows whatall kinda water birds. They's all nomads like Vanholio!
Trails in the Rio Grande Bosque
Bosque is a Spanish word for forest. This trail runs through the cottonwoods in the Rio Grande river bottoms. You don't even feel like you're in a city!
Gar Man (Joe Barrington, 1998)
"Gar Man" is just one a the sculptures in the park. (Looks a little Socialist, IMHO). Woulda gotten more sculpture photos, but the late-afternoon winter light worked against me. Guess you'll have to go yourself and see!