Santa Fe council approves road closures near Plaza Park

SANTA FE, N.M. —

Santa Fe officials have approved a resolution to close roads surrounding Plaza Park, with permanent and seasonal restrictions scheduled to begin in 2027.

Under the resolution, the portions of Lincoln and Palace avenues next to Plaza Park would remain permanently closed to vehicle traffic. Other streets around the park, including San Francisco Street, would generally close to vehicles each year from Memorial Day through Oct. 31 or later if determined by the city manager.

Bicycles and other human-powered, non-electric devices would still be allowed on the closed streets. Palace Avenue between Lincoln and Washington avenues would also become a designated loading and unloading zone for Plaza vendors and Palace of the Governors vendors. Pedicabs, walking tours and bicycle tours would not be allowed to operate in that area.

The city would designate at least six ADA parking spaces within 100 feet of the Plaza and study the feasibility of creating an ADA-accessible drop-off and pickup area.

Officials must identify and publicize specific dates when through-traffic will be allowed by April 1, 2027. The resolution says those dates should include weekends whenever possible.

The resolution passed 6-2. Mayor Michael Garcia was not required to vote because there was no tie, but he said he would have voted against it.

“I want to ensure that folks still have faith and confidence in their government and that we are going to hear them out. A perfect example is by this pilot; we heard folks. They want to try this. We heard folks; they don’t want this,” Garcia said during the meeting.

The closures will begin on Memorial Day 2027 and expire at the end of that year. The City Council may need to pass new legislation to keep the closures going.