Phased-in improvements upgrading a popular El Paso Park in the Upper Valley North section of the city are expected to take around 10 years to complete.
Located at 651 Gomez Road about 13 miles to the northwest of downtown El Paso, the Mary Frances Keisling Park was opened around two decades ago and features soccer fields, playgrounds, and walking paths.
But city officials have long thought that the park, surrounded by acres of open space, could be more.
After months of study with an emphasis on public input, the City of El Paso has now approved a master plan for the park calling for the building of a community center, sport courts, dog park, children’s play features, and desert gardens.
The public input process, which started last spring, eventually included comments from nearly 1,000 residents.
Altogether, it is thought that will cost around $126 million to complete all the upgrades and improvements recommended in the master plan.
Improvements to the park will be taken on by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, with funding expected to come from a variety of sources including bonds, the city’s general funds, and grants.
By Garry Boulard
