Kirtland Youth Association receives $50K grant to build sports field

Ethan Irwin, 8 and Katalina Pete, 8, both of Farmington, play with a blue-tailed lizard on Thursday outside of the Kirtland Youth Association in Kirtland. Katalina said, "We're digging a hole for the lizard to live in." (Alexa Rogals The Daily Times)

Julian Gaytan, 8, shoots hoops at the playground on Thursday outside the Kirtland Youth Association in Kirtland. (Alexa Rogals The Daily Times)

KIRTLAND A new grass activity field is in the works for the Kirtland Youth Association after the group received a $50,000 grant from the Public Service Company of New Mexico.

The youth association is one of 24 nonprofit agencies in New Mexico and Texas to receive a grant from PNM Power Up Grants. The program distributed $500,000 to organizations for various community projects.

On Thursday, San Juan County Commissioners and representatives from local Navajo Nation chapters, San Juan United Way and the San Juan Generating Station attended a grant presentation in the parking lot of the Kirtland organization.

The Kirtland Youth Association is one of four agencies and the only one in the Four Corners to receive $50,000 from the PNM foundation. Twenty agencies each received $15,000 grants.

It's a dream come true to build the playing field for youth sports like football and soccer, said the Kirtland association's executive director, Charles Kromer. Members of the organization have worked hard to build the facility for the community, he said.

"We've trying to make it as successful for the community as we can," Kromer said.

At the presentation, children participating in the association's summer program sat in the bleachers set up in the parking lot. San Juan Generating Station Plant Manager Tom Fallgren opened the presentation by talking about the program and the effect the youth association has in the community.

"The Kirtland Youth Association is dedicated to serving the youth of the San Juan River valley with educational, recreational and social programs," Fallgren said.

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Kirtland Youth Association receives $50K grant to build sports field