In 1943, this site was the east entry gate to the "secret city" of Los Alamos, home of the Manhattan Project, and entry required credentials until 1957. In 1986, Sunrise Kiwanis adopted the park after recognizing the need for a place for campers to park while visiting Los Alamos. Over the years, the Kiwanis Club held raffles to raise $30,000 to help improve the site and provided hundreds of hours of volunteer labor. With an additional $12,000 from the State of New Mexico, Sunrise Park was created. Also in 1986, Sunrise Park was recognized with a Certificate of Merit awarded to Sunrise Kiwanis for its efforts to help Beautify America, presented by Secretary of the Interior Don Paul Hodel, and it was one of only fifty such awards given at the time. In 2001, Sunrise Kiwanis joined with the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos to become one organization that continues to help maintain the park. In 2015, a replica of the main gate guard shack was added and became a popular photo opportunity for visitors. In 2016, the Los Alamos County Council officially renamed Sunrise Park to Los Alamos Project Main Gate Park.

Photo: James Hulse

Photo: James Hulse

White Rock, New Mexico · USA