The 2012 quality of life bonds are funding the new Cheryl Ladd neighborhood park in east El Paso.
According to El Paso Development News:
New amenities planned for the park include a new multi-purpose field, playground areas, a canopy shelter, picnic tables, benches, bike racks, paths, rock walls, lighting and an angled parking lot. The picnic tables and parking spaces with be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
Aside from the multi-purpose field, other athletic improvements include a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and exercise equipment. Opposite the basketball court will be a “futsal” court. Futsal, from the Portuguese meaning “hall football,” is a form of soccer played on a hard-surface “pitch” which resembles a miniature soccer field.
The site’s landscaping plan includes an underground irrigation system, new grass, mulch, trees, shrubs, and boulders. The majority of landscaping will be focused on the park area closest to the parking lot, as the soccer field takes up much of the rear park space.
The park will be 6.3 acres in size and will cost $1.67 million dollars.
Plazas are expensive
On the other hand we have the San Jacinto Plaza project downtown. It will remodel for the umpteenth time the square block. That project will cost $4.5 million according to the city and over $7 million according to two of the contractors who bid it.
Who benefits?
The neighborhood park probably will be used by residents of the area. Who will enjoy the benefits of the plaza?
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
I still have fond memories of a Vibrant El Paso Plaza and look forward a nice Plaza for all.
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Street people, evangelists, pigeons.
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One of the local TV stations reported last night that millions of dollars have been approved for new athletic facilities at several EPISD schools. Sports is an interesting choice of financial priorities.
Part of the story was about how unfair it is that some schools have to share facilities. For example, poor Franklin feels like a step child because it plays its football games at the Coronado stadium. One Bowie kid said they never get anything because they are all Mexican.
In response to this embarrassing social injustice wrought upon Franklin, there are numerous cities across the nation where stadiums are shared by multiple schools.
Dee Margo then wrapped it all up talking about how smart it is that some of the Quality of Life Bond money is going to be spent for facilities to be used by EPISD, which will enable to EPISD to get even more facilities without spending its own money. He called it “leveraging”.
Unfortunately, Mr. Margo’s friends at Mountainstar don’t understand the concept of sharing assets for the good of the entire community. Only Mountainstar gets to use the new downtown ballpark. Anyone else who might want to use it has to pay Mountainstar a rental fee, assuming Mountainstar is even willing to let them rent it.
Maybe EPISD schools can hold some outdoor classes or concerts in the new and improved Plaza.
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