On Monday at 5 P.M., we are celebrating one of the coolest projects ever. Please join us.
In 2004, the voters authorized Open Space Enhancement money for District 2. Working with the neighborhood, we decided to use this money to improve two large drainage ponds, one of them the Van Buren Dam on Harrison and Alabama. Through a community design process, we developed a plan that includes a hiking trail around the drainage pond, landscaping, trees, park benches and fitness centers located along the trail.
The pièce de résistance though is the public art. I used to get kids who would come and knock on my door at home and say, "Hey miss, we want a skate park." We didn't have any money for a skate park, and we couldn't use the open space money for this because of the way it was authorized by the voters. What we did have was public art funds and a brilliant local artist named Willie Ray Parish, who doesn't mind kids skating on his art. He created the first ever (at least in El Paso) skate art called "Sky Boulder."
By the way, we are going to be looking for a name for the park. Van Buren Dam doesn't cut it. If you have any ideas, let me know.
The Celebration is on Monday, May 11 at 5 P.M. at the Van Buren Dam on the corner of Harrison and Alabama.
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6 comments:
How about The Top, as in
You're the Top, you're the Tower of Pisa, you're the smile, on the Mona Lisa.
I should probably take a closer look before commenting, but I don't at all share your enthusiasm for this project. I can't get excited about blowing up the mountain into decorative rocks that are then used to replace the natural vegetation. If folks in the community other then quarry operators are developing such atrocities, they shouldn't be given such freedom on future projects.
El Paso suffers from the mindset that there are two, and only two, landscape options: grass for sports or rocks. The city was in a great position to change that thinking with this project, but instead produced what is in my opinion an epic failure.
As for names, call it the "Franklin Mountains Memorial Park sponsored by Cemex". This is where your mountains went.
I visited the site this afternoon. Some suggestions:
*Relocate trees planted too close to the power line.
*Invite the schools next door or some other community organization to paint a mural on the large wall in the drainage area
*Create a volunteer maintenance group and/or stock up on glyphosate
I have to agree. Too often I think you are more enthusiastic about YOUR ideas and what YOU want and not what the people of your district want. You need a self check
I have to agree with Mathew. you are often very enthusiastic about YOUR ideas and thoughts and NOT those of people in your district. Selfish
Lisa and Mathew,
I noticed you both offered criticism, but no ideas of your own on how YOU could make this district a better place to live in.
Empty criticism from the back seat helps no one and accomplishes nothing. Self check that.
frank
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