el paso park stabilization project may launch later this year

An unusual project designed to mitigate on ongoing erosion issue in an El Paso park could see work sometime this fall.

The Tom Lea Upper Park at 900 Rim Road on the north side of the city has for decades been plagued with erosion issues.

Because the park is located on a hill that slopes downward towards the adjacent Schuster Avenue, debris, stones, and even rocks have sometimes been swept away during particularly heavy rainfalls, creating what city officials say is a safety hazard.

Two years ago the city contracted out with a designer to come up with a design plan to mitigate the erosion and sloughing without taking away from the natural and aesthetic elements of the surrounding space.

The project, which has been the subject of several public input meetings, was originally budgeted at $9.3 million, to be paid for out of the El Paso’s 2018 capital plan funds, but is now expected to come in at under $8.5 million.
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The park, which offers a stunning panoramic view of El Paso, is named in honor of Tom Lea, a nationally-known author and muralist whose artwork incorporated a variety of southwestern themes.

​By Garry Boulard

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