Vista del Norte in Albuquerque, NM

Vista del Norte is a master-planned subdivision on Albuquerque's north side, covering roughly 395 acres west of Interstate 25 and reaching north from Osuna Road. Single-family streets sit alongside townhome and condominium clusters, all under one homeowners association. That association keeps two swimming pools, a clubhouse, tennis courts and a basketball court, and a summer swim team trains there. Vista del Norte Park, a city turf field on Osuna, borders the community, and the North Diversion Channel Trail runs past on its way north toward Balloon Fiesta Park.

The homeowners association runs the recreation side of the neighborhood. Its pool is staffed by lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with longer unguarded hours the rest of the year, while the courts and park facility stay open from early morning until night. A youth swim team, the Barracudas, practices there from May into July.

The city park on Osuna keeps growing. Its turf field was rebuilt at close to five acres, nearly double the original, with a new irrigation system laid on what had been the undeveloped eastern half. Later phases, waiting on bond money, would roughly double the parking, add restrooms near the west field, put a dog park on the east side, and ring the grounds with a perimeter trail and more landscaping.

The North Diversion Channel Trail gives the area a paved route running roughly eight and a half miles up from the university area, with underpasses at the cross streets so a rider never has to stop for traffic.