EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A proposed 6-acre multipurpose deck plaza over I-10 in downtown El Paso received a $20 million pledge from the Fred Loya family, one of the largest financial commitments to the project so far.
The donation also brings a new name: the Fred Loya Family Deck Plaza.
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“You can’t stop the growth in El Paso … So let’s become better, not just bigger. That’s what it means to us,” Fred Loya Jr. said.
Even with the new pledge, the project remains far from fully funded and still needs millions more before construction can begin according to the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation president, Tracy Yellen.
RELATED: El Paso City Council approves nonbinding MOU, joining county in supporting I-10 deck plaza
Julia Spencer reports on Fred Loya family pledges $20M to El Paso deck plaza, project renamed in their honor (Credit: KFOX14)
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation said $74.15 million has now been committed, putting the project more than a third of the way toward its funding goal.
Project leaders said the next priority is securing funding from El Paso County for retaining walls.
After that, the foundation said it will seek funding for the deck structure itself and park amenities.
“We have other asks into the state, federal government that will continue that progress towards getting to that goal. So again, it’s a step at a time. The next step is the retaining walls and then the cap structure,” said Yellen.
The project has faced pushback from some taxpayers over its more than $200 million price tag, with critics questioning whether taxpayer money should go toward a downtown park instead of needs such as road repairs and basic infrastructure.
RELATED: El Paso leaders weigh funding options as I-10 deck plaza deadline nears
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said he does not want the cost to fall on local taxpayers and believes additional private donors will come forward.
“I’ve said all along, you know, I don’t believe this should be on the backs of the taxpayers. You know, we need to do public private partnerships, go out and get additional funding, and we’re going to continue to do that,” Johnson said.
In honor of the Fred Loya family, downtown buildings and the Star on the Mountain were lit green Wednesday night.
The foundation said it will continue pursuing state, federal and private funding.
There is no announced construction start date and no timeline for when the remaining money could be secured for the Fred Loya Family Deck Plaza.
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