EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso County officials said on Sunday evening, July 19 that they have “paused” any decisions about the duck pond at Ascarate Park and will hold at least three more community meetings to gather public input.

“Nothing has been decided,” said Betsy Keller, El Paso County chief administrator. “We understand why people care deeply about the duck pond, and Commissioners Court wants the community to know there is still plenty of time to influence what happens next. We are listening, and we encourage everyone to share their ideas before any decisions are made.”

As part of the ongoing public engagement process, the County has been hosting a series of community meetings since July 8 to present conceptual ideas, answer questions, and gather input from residents about the park.

Three of the public meetings have already been conducted and three more are upcoming. The next community meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, at the Ascarate Park Pavillion, 6900 Delta.

The Commissioners Court requested additional public input on the proposed improvements to Ascarate Park and the duck pond after residents expressed concern with the initial design proposed by the design team which gave an option to eliminate the pond in exchange for other improvements. The proposed changes are part of a broader, multimillion-dollar improvement project for Ascarate Park.

The County said it is continuing to work with residents and stakeholders to finalize plans for the park, which are being funded through the 2024 voter-approved Capital Improvement Bond and other capital funds allocated to the lake improvements.

As part of that planning process, engineering and environmental assessments identified several challenges affecting the duck pond, including water quality, algae growth, water loss, and long-term maintenance needs, the County said.

Those findings will be part of the ongoing public discussion as the County works with the community to determine the best path forward, the County added.

Community members are encouraged to attend one of the remaining public meetings to share their perspectives, ask questions, and learn more about the conceptual plans. Residents may also provide comments during future Commissioners Court meetings or submit feedback directly to the commissioner representing their precinct.

Here is a schedule of upcoming community meetings on the Ascarate Park project.

• Wednesday, July 22 – 6:00 p.m. | Ascarate Park Pavilion
• Wednesday, July 29 – 6:00 p.m. | Ascarate Park Pavilion
• Thursday, Aug. 6 – 6:00 p.m. | Ascarate Park Pavilion (Special Commissioners Court Meeting)

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the El Paso County Commissioners Court will be at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27 in the County Courthouse building, 500 E. San Antonio Ave.

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