The Plaza Will Be Open Soon – for Everyone
June 2nd, 2026
There’s been quite a bit of chatter about the plaza lately, with accompanying questions about the construction that’s taking place right now—on the hearts, minds, and tongues of Taoseños who have endured a lot of it this past decade.
At the onset, hungry machinery started eating segments of Paseo del Pueblo Sur in Ranchos, which was followed by a steady march of new infrastructure, roadways, quays (entrance roads such as small intersections and driveways), bike lanes, and sidewalks being built toward the Taos town limits. During that time, warm weather months were defined by lane closures, detours, orange barrels, and very slow travel in those zones.
Because of those improvements, however, travelers coming in and out of town on NM Highway 68, regular commuters from Ranchos and points down south, and Norteños alike can now enjoy this high-quality thoroughfare safely and smoothly. Additionally, new private investments have been made—and continue to be made today—in the southern part of town that are augmenting this recent public investment.
Last year, that yearslong crawl which began at the intersection of NM Highway 68 and NM 518 finally came to an end with a tie-in at Paseo del Pueblo Norte and Camino La Placita. In the downtown portion of the project, upgrades included an emphasis on the walkability, bikeability, and maneuverability of people through its streets, marking a shift in the character and make-up of our city center.
Forever potholes, flooded streets, bulging centerlines, narrow and crunchy sidewalks (albeit homey), and toppled traffic lights were relegated to a “thing of the past” through thoughtful engineering and the use of modern methods and materials. The dedication of the workers who committed many months and years of their lives to provide these creature comforts to us must be noted as well.
Again, as these crews inched their way northward and orange barrels were eventually removed, businesses along the route followed suit by offering newness and efficacy for their patrons—compounding the positive effects of this recent public investment.
The final piece of this Taos uplift puzzle will be interleaved with the completion of the Taos Plaza renovation in the coming weeks. Concerns about the pace, the timing of the construction schedule, and the resultant eyesore that has lingered in our beloved town square for multiple years are understandable.
But, to reiterate the headline in the April 23 edition of Taos News which reported the status of the construction on the inner rung of the plaza, the end is very much near. Soon, the fence will come down, the excavators will leave, and the concrete piles will disappear. And immediately after that, all of us will have a vibrant and welcoming space everyone can uniquely enjoy.
Taos MainStreet has been a principal partner in this effort because our mission is to strengthen our historic downtown economically, physically, and culturally. In that spirit, Taos MainStreet secured $1 million in New Mexico MainStreet Capital Outlay funding for the Plaza Improvement Project—state infrastructure funding coming back into our downtown and into the heart of our community.
This work has also required targeted investment and coordination from the Town of Taos, Taos County, and New Mexico MainStreet. Together, these partners have made possible the most significant investment in the Plaza since 1975. Since 2023, across three distinct phases, the inner ring of the Plaza has seen long-needed upgrades to the infrastructure and public spaces that support daily community life.
The tough stuff occurred during Phase One with the replacement of the unseen underground utilities, drainage systems, and sub-grade foundations, which required the literal tearing-up of the interior plaza grounds. This gut-wrenching destruction of this revered land was wholly necessary because the earth below the courtyard was sagging and the old walls were crumbling. Beneath the surface, the infrastructure was a patchwork of old, disconnected, and failing systems.
Phase Two saw the complete refurbishment of the gazebo and the surrounding spaces on the west side of the courtyard—including new steps, ramps, sidewalks, pavers, electrical systems, and lampposts. This phase was fast-tracked by thoughtful contractors and laborers who made sure the pavilion could be used for Halloween and Christmas festivities late last year.
Phase Three is happening now and the agenda includes completing the sidewalks with their adjoined curb and gutters; removing barrier walls; expanding the courtyard (audience space); replacing the lampposts; and rearranging walkways. To allay concerns about the Veterans Memorial, officials have reiterated that it is not being removed. Contrarily, designs call for the monument to be a key feature of the entire project by making the plaques and statues more accessible to every visitor—regardless of their mobility.
A thriving plaza isn’t just a nice amenity. Just like the four-mile stretch of roadwork that was recently completed, a new plaza in downtown Taos is intended to work for everyone and is meant for locals and tourists alike. It is first and foremost a gathering place for our community, while also serving as an anchor of our visitor economy.
Furthermore, it is a direct reflection of how we value our own history, while at the same time being a blank canvas that can become what we dream it to be. Taoseños deserve to have a functional and welcoming downtown space shared with kids, grandkids, parents, grandparents, neighbors, friends, guests, tourists, merchants, public servants, and pets.
The plaza has been the center of Taos life for centuries. Surely, more good things are yet to come due to this recent public investment.