EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Students at The University of Texas at El Paso will soon have a new place at the center of campus to study, socialize, or relax as the university moves forward with plans to restore the arroyo beneath the former Liberal Arts Building site.

UTEP President Heather Wilson and Vice President for Business Affairs Col. (Ret.) Brendan Gallagher, Ph.D., unveiled plans for the restoration of the arroyo at a celebration event today.

According to the university, with the removal of the Liberal Arts Building, the arroyo it sits on will be fully restored, extending the landscape architecture of Centennial Plaza across the arroyo and up to Texas Western Hall.

“The arroyo will be restored to its natural beauty, with adjoining gardens that are as beautiful as the rest of our campus,” Wilson said.

Plans for UTEP’s Arroyo Park include a large pavilion and gathering area reflective of Bhutanese architecture that offers seating and shade, a bridge spanning the arroyo to connect Texas Western Hall to the Union, installation of an owl sculpture from the home of artist Tom Lea, Chihuahuan desert landscaping and plants, and a tree grove outside of the newly completed Texas Western Hall.

Additionally, the university said the overall style of Arroyo Park will match Centennial Plaza, reflecting the Bhutanese-inspired architecture of the campus.

“We are designing this park to meet the needs of our growing campus community,” Gallagher said. “It will offer a space for students to study and relax, all while enjoying the natural environment around them.”

The design of the restoration and Arroyo Park was completed by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, which has served as UTEP’s landscape architect for more than 25 years and designed Centennial Plaza.

“This project stands as a testament to UTEP’s dedication to reconnecting students with the vital, historic arroyo that courses from the Franklin Mountain watershed. By restoring both the ecological health and cultural significance of this sacred path, UTEP reinforces its mission to bring together people, place, and culture in meaningful ways,” said Christine E. Ten Eyck, president of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. “The newly constructed bridge—linking Texas Western Hall and the Student Union—beautifully embodies this vision. Not only does it serve as a practical passage, but it also symbolizes the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering connection and honoring the unique landscape that shapes the campus experience.”

Arroyo Park will be completed in two phases, with the southern half closest to Texas Western Hall scheduled for completion in 2028. Phase two, the northern half, will begin at a later date for better integration with the Union renovation project. The project is expected to be fully completed by 2031.

Texas Western Hall, the newest learning complex on campus, opened in January 2026 to replace the aging Liberal Arts Building.

Funds from the $110 million construction project, supported by the Texas Legislature and The University of Texas System Board of Regents, were set aside to complete Arroyo Park.

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