Take a Look at Planned Westside Pool Facility

The City of El Paso is holding another community meeting for the upcoming Westside Pool, and new renderings have been released showing the latest design.

The new Westside Pool in El Paso should open by January 2018, as seen in this rendering. (City of El Paso)

The facility will include an Olympic-size indoor pool located within a 35,980 square foot building, located at 650 Wallenberg Drive.

See New Renderings of the Eastside Regional Park's Rec Center

By Armando Landin

One of the largest projects planned for the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso will be the recreation center/natatorium that will sit on the park's southern side.

The recreation center at the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso will include a competition-ready pool, a gymnasium, and various activity rooms. (In*Situ Architecture)

As planning for the park ramps up, we're getting a better look at the recreation center through renderings posted by the center's architect.

New 23-Acre East Side Park Previewed in Video

By Armando Landin   

The design of a 23-acre park slated for East El Paso has been teased in a video post by the City's Capital Improvement Program.

Argal Park in East El Paso will include two large grass areas, for soccer and multi-purpose use. (City of El Paso/Sites Southwest)

Argal Park at Las Palmas will be constructed at the corner of Pendale Road and Rojas Drive as part of the 2012 Quality of Life projects approved by voters.

First Spray Park Opens July 30th

By Armando Landin  

The first of eight planned spray parks throughout El Paso will open this weekend on the Northeast side of the city.

A large water bucket tips over at the Sue Young spray park in Northeast El Paso. The spray park will open July 30, 2016 and is free to the public. (City of El Paso)

A grand opening event is planned for the spray park at Sue Young Park, located at 9730 Diana Drive, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will include food, music, and family activities.

Airport Project to Enhance Outdoor Landscape, Lighting

By Armando Landin   

The City of El Paso is looking to create a "sense of place" in areas surrounding and leading up to the airport, and a new project will soon add landscape and lighting enhancements as well as public art.

Landscape enhancements, landscape and architectural lighting, and an "artistic lighting element" are part of the $2.7 million project.

The City will consider awarding the consulting contract portion of the project to Meridian Green Works.

Asia Gateway Project Moves Forward at El Paso Zoo

By Armando Landin  

Getting into the Asia area at the El Paso Zoo will look a lot different in the future and will even include a new carousel. The City of El Paso is set to award the design and consultation contract for the Asia Gateway project.

The path into the Asia area of the El Paso Zoo will move several feet to the north, leading to the Asia Gateway, as shown with the green arrow in this site plan. The final site plan may differ, based on the consultant's design. (City of El Paso)

After the project is completed, a new path will take visitors around the northern side of the Asian Discovery Center and through a new "gateway" between it and the Grasslands Cafe.

San Jacinto Plaza to Celebrate April 16th Grand Opening with 'Fiesta'

San Jacinto Plaza will have a grand opening celebration on Saturday, April 16, 2016. That's according to a flyer released today which most will likely hope is not an April Fool's joke.

A dedication ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. followed by a celebration from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the park in Downtown El Paso. The plaza features newly renovated "Los Lagartos" sculpture by famed artist Luis Jimenez Jr.

Details Emerge on Four More Spray Parks, Coming to East and West El Paso

The four remaining City Districts in El Paso will also get spray parks in the coming year, and the city has revealed details on the locations and expected amenities.

Salvador Rivas Park in Far East El Paso will be getting a "Water Garden/Lakefront" themed spray park with features similar to those seen in this rendering. (City of El Paso)

In all, there will be eight spray parks spread throughout El Paso, all open to the public and free of admission. The City is moving forward with requesting bids for the design/build contracts on the final four, which are considered Phase Two of the spray park project.

Olympic-Size Pool, Aquatics Center First Up at Massive Eastside Regional Park

By Armando Landin

Far East El Paso residents will see an aquatics center first as Phase One proceeds for the upcoming Eastside Regional Park. The massive 92-acre park is located off of Hueco Club Road, south of Montana Avenue and east of Rich Beem Boulevard.

This rendering shows how the entrance to the Eastside Regional Park in El Paso may look like once completed. (City of El Paso)

The aquatics area will include a natatorium with a 50-meter "competition-ready" pool and an adjacent a warm up/cool down pool as well as an outdoor recreational pool, splash pad, and lazy river.

Spray Parks to be Themed, Start Construction Soon

By Armando Landin

The City of El Paso is taking steps to complete the first phase of spray parks it has planned for different areas around the city. Phase One of the plan includes four spray parks, which will be themed.

This rendering shows what the spray park at Pavo Real Park may look like once in operation. Pavo Real is located in El Paso's Lower Valley. (City of El Paso)

City Council will consider awarding the first part of a design-build contract next week to begin infrastructure work on the four parks. The first to be constructed will be in Districts Two, Three, Four, and Six.

Wildlife Theater Under Construction at El Paso Zoo

By Armando Landin

The City of El Paso recently broke ground on a new attraction at the El Paso Zoo. Work is underway on a wildlife theater that will host live animal shows at the park in Central El Paso.

Exterior rendering of the Wildlife Theater now under construction at the El Paso Zoo. (City of El Paso)

The wildlife amphitheater will seat 300 people in the open-air venue which will contain a canopy overhead, according to renderings of the project.

Will City of El Paso Buy Controversial Kern View Estates Property?

The City of El Paso will consider a proposal this week to purchase a 15.57 acre property on a hill overlooking the Kern and Mission Hills neighborhoods. A developer had previously put forward controversial plans to construct housing on the plot of land.

The City of El Paso may purchase a 15.57-acre property in West El Paso to preserve it as open space. (City of El Paso)

Kern View Estates includes 60 attached single family homes on the side of Crazy Cat Mountain, just east of Piedmont Drive.

UTEP Updates: Campus Work Centers on ‘Transformation’ Projects

Transportation, Housing Developments Also on University’s Checklist

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is gearing up for its Centennial Celebration, and crews continue their progress on projects around campus.

Students and visitors to UTEP have dealt with detours, fenced off areas, and general construction for many months, particularly in the middle of the school’s grounds where Centennial Plaza is taking shape.

A crowd gathers around the Esfera Cuantica Tlahtolli sculpture, recently unveiled at the University of Texas at El Paso (www.youtube.com/user/UTEP)

According to UTEP News, crews recently began digging holes for the trees and shrubbery that will surround the plaza. Centennial Plaza is the centerpiece of UTEP’s Centennial Celebration, a large gathering area bordered by the Union, Geological Sciences, Psychology, and Administration buildings. University construction will ultimately remove streets, parking lots, and concrete areas to reveal a more natural, pedestrian-friendly environment.

Weekly Edition, Issue 68

The Weekly Edition, Issue 68 has arrived! Take a look at the newest issue of our Weekly Edition, by clicking HERE. (Note: The newsletter will open in PDF format.)

In this edition:

• Another Union Plaza Building May See Renovation
• UTEP Updates: Campus Work Centers on 'Transformation' Projects, Housing, Transportation, and Art

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City Assessing Storm Damage to Construction Projects

Sun Metro Cancels Five Points Terminal Grand Opening Event

The City of El Paso is assessing damage to construction projects around town this morning after last night's severe storms and flooding conditions.

As of this morning, the City has posted updates to a few projects via a press release.

(City of El Paso)

According to the City, the current list is after just the first round of assessments.

Construction Update: San Jacinto Plaza Renovation Project

Work Begins on Central Shade Structure that will Protect 'Los Lagartos' Sculpture

The famed “Los Lagartos” sculpture that calls San Jacinto Plaza home will be getting a protective shade structure as part of park improvements, and now crews have begun laying the foundation for the public art in Downtown El Paso.

A shade structure will protect the ‘Los Lagartos’ sculpture at the renovated San Jacinto Plaza, supported by cables on pylons. (City of El Paso)

According to a City update, an auger is now on site which will dig holes 50 feet deep that will house the pylons that will support the shade structure using stainless steel cables. The floating shade canopy will allow small bits of sunlight to peek through during the day and add an artistic element with special lighting at night, according to the project manager’s blog (buildingsanjacintoplaza.wordpress.com).

Weekly Edition, Issue 64

The Weekly Edition, Issue 64 has arrived! Take a look at the newest issue of our Weekly Edition, by clicking HERE. (Note: The newsletter will open in PDF format.)

In this edition:

• Mixed-Use Project Set for Union Plaza
• Construction Update: San Jacinto Plaza Renovation Project
• Officials Break Ground on New Northwest El Paso Hospital

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City Selects Four Pedestrian/Bicycle Enhancement Projects for Funding Request

The City of El Paso will submit four projects for funding consideration that would expand pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes within the city. Funding is sought through the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Transportation Alternatives Program.

As part of the program, the MPO has made approximately $3.9 million available and is seeking projects that qualify for funding. For each project the City is proposing, the City will match 20% of the project cost.

The City of El Paso is seeking funding for four bicycle and pedestrian enhancement projects around town, like this one along River Bend. (City of El Paso)

The Resler Drive Buffered Bike Lane project stretches from Helen of Troy Drive southward to Belvidere Street, a total of 2.3 miles. It includes a minimum five foot bike lane with a three foot buffer, intersection striping, and green paint for intersection and “conflict areas.”

Weekly Edition, Issue 63

The Weekly Edition, Issue 63 has arrived! Take a look at the newest issue of our Weekly Edition, by clicking HERE. (Note: The newsletter will open in PDF format.)

In this edition:

• First Look: Sun Metro Streetcar Facility
• Infill Project to Bring Apartment Building to Magoffin Neighborhood
• City Selects Four Pedestrian/Bicycle Enhancement Projects for Funding Request

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New Two-Mile Linear Park for Lower Valley

Plans are underway to transform a usually dry drainage ditch in El Paso's Lower Valley into a recreational linear park. Officials are focusing on a two-mile portion for the new park.

Continue Reading on DevWire >>

The new linear park could be similar to Pueblo Viejo Park further east in the Lower Valley.