More than 1,000 people walk, jog and play golf at the UNM North Golf Course.
And that's one reason why the University must preserve it, said Sara Koplik, president of the North Golf Course Community Advisory Board.
"It's such an important open space in the middle of the city," she said. "It's wonderful that the University has provided this to the community for so long. There's not another piece like it."
In April, the board will ask the regents not to build on the course, Koplik said.
But Regent Mel Eaves said that might not sway the Board of Regents.
"I think the current Board of Regents should not agree to it," Eaves said. "They want us not to build on that property, even to further the University's mission."
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The fate of the golf course has been in question since February 2007, when the University expressed interest in developing the area into a retirement community for alumni.
But the announcement didn't come without contention. Hundreds of people have since turned up at rallies and protests to support the preservation of the course.
President David Schmidly formed the nine-member advisory board in November to address the community's concern.
Koplik said the board is pushing UNM to preserve the green space.
"It's most important for us to construct a legal framework between the University and the people of New Mexico to preserve the golf course and agreed-upon green space - and to determine the available footprint for UNM's future building needs," she said.
Eaves said it would be illegal to make the property unavailable for future uses, such as dormitories and more classroom space.
"It's a breach of our duty to the students, faculty, and community," he said.
Koplik said the recommendations include improving the golf course and periphery walking, jogging, and biking path through water conservation, habitat restoration, preservation of native plant species and sustainable management techniques.
The board presented its recommendations to Schmidly in January.
"It was an interesting concept, but one that is not in its totality in the best interest of the University," Schmidly said.
Board member Cara McCulloch said she hopes the regents will take the recommendations into consideration.
"Many parts of the proposal might not be understood," she said. "Like the idea of using the golf course for sustainability research."
The board will also call for the University to work with Albuquerque Public Schools, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, and other organizations to develop an educational program to be based in the area, Koplik said.
"We also wish to create a nonprofit foundation dedicated solely to the preservation, improvement and conservation of the golf course," she said.
Eaves said there are no current plans to use the area.
"But in the future, if the University has a legitimate use that is necessitated by its core mission, the University should utilize that property as the Board of Regents deems appropriate," he said.
