Park Upgrades Unveiled in Honor of Fallen APD Officer Daniel Webster

Albuquerque –

Today, Federal, state, and city leaders, along with representatives from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), the Parks & Recreation Department, Officer Dan Webster’s family, and community members, gathered to unveil the enhancements and new recreational features that have been added to Officer Daniel Webster Memorial Children’s Park. This event marked the culmination of the city’s latest upgrades to the Officer Daniel Webster Memorial Children’s Park.

Phase 3 of the project includes a gathering plaza, a large inclusive playground, and an extreme fitness course, as requested by Officer Webster’s widow, Michelle Carlino-Webster. This course reflects Officer Webster’s playful spirit and love for staying active. This park is an inclusive park designed for kids of all abilities.

“The park is super cool!” said Michelle Carlino-Webster “Dan would love it. He would be playing on the fitness course, racing all the little kids.”

“Officer Daniel Webster dedicated his life to protecting our community. It is meaningful to have a place like this as we continue to reflect on his legacy,” said APD Interim Chief of Police, Cecily Barker. “This Park brings families, children and officers together in a positive way and is a reminder that public safety is also about building strong, healthy communities.

The extreme fitness course at Daniel Webster Park offers a variety of features, including an A-frame cage, globe grasp, jump hang, over-under bars, ledge hanger, angled overhead ladder, and an unstable bridge. Phase 3 introduces new recreational elements such as a net climbing structure, play logs, and a “mountain” surface that resembles the Sandias. This fully integrated space allows children of all abilities to play together.

Carlino-Webster also stated “I’m just really happy that it’s being done and that he’s not forgotten. He really would like to see it used by all, big kids, little kids – as he was one himself.”

During the celebration, Hawthorne Elementary School students explored the new playground equipment, while APD cadets showcased the extreme fitness course. This event highlighted the park’s role as a community gathering place for all ages.

The park’s Phase 3 improvements were funded through a combination of city, state, and federal dollars. Notably, a $858,000 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant from the National Park Service was matched 1:1 by city and state funds, and a $750,000 congressionally directed spending grant was secured through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This park matches the energy and spirit Officer Webster brought to his work,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Neighbors can challenge themselves, play, and celebrate his legacy.”

The fourth and final phase of the project will feature two basketball courts, one standard and the other designed for inclusive and wheelchair use, along with a dog area, a nature-based play zone, a “tot lot” for younger children, a new gate, improved lighting, and other safety features. Construction is scheduled to commence this spring. Continues below the photo gallery…

On October 21st, 2015, during a traffic stop, Officer Dan Webster was shot by a repeat offender with a prior manslaughter conviction and past felony convictions. The offender was riding a motorcycle with a stolen license plate. Officer Webster died from his injuries on October 29th, 2015.

Before his death, Officer Webster had devoted eight years to serving the community in Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department, where he was Uniformed Officer of the Year in 2013.

Before joining APD, he was a proud 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army and earned two Bronze Stars. Officer Webster was a Sergeant First Class in the 82nd Airborne Division and served in multiple deployments and combat tours, including Panama, Bosnia, Africa, the Gulf War I, and multiple tours to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. He was also a Jump Master with a total of 112 jumps.

At the time of his passing in 2015, Officer Webster was survived by his wife, Michelle Carlino-Webster; his mother, Gayle Hanafin; his father, Daniel Arthur Webster (d. 2024); and his three daughters, Rebecca, Danielle, and Ashleigh; and several grandchildren.