EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso County commissioners are set to get an update Thursday morning on several voter-approved bond projects, including a major slate of upgrades planned for Ascarate Park.
The Ascarate Park project remains in the design phase, but after months of community input, the county is narrowing its scope.
The bond project includes more than $31 million in renovations, with plans for parking improvements, walking trails, lighting and a new outdoor festival stage.
The county is also beginning the process of finding a construction manager at risk, a company hired to help with construction and final design.
According to agenda documents, the county hopes to begin putting out proposals starting this summer, with the goal of awarding the contract by January 2027.
FULL PRESENTATION:
RELATED: County awards design contract for Ascarate Park upgrades
County outreach on the project drew more than 1,400 votes on design options, along with hundreds of people attending three community meetings.
Through that input, residents identified the lake as a priority.
Lake plans focus on water quality, fishing access and shoreline improvements.
Upgrades to the lake are not part of the bond project, but they do have funding from previous tax notes totaling about $13.5 million.
The discussion also included the duck pond.
The presentation says some community groups support future amenities in that area, while fishing groups would prefer to keep the duck pond as an option.
The presentation says repair costs for the pond are unknown, while removal could lower maintenance costs and refocus improvements on the main lake.
The county’s dashboard tracking bond project progress lists the Ascarate Park project as slated for completion by fall 2029.
You can find that dashboard here.
RELATED: El Paso County bond projects advance as commissioners get update, seek community input
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