Public can learn more about proposed ‘deck plaza’ project over I-10

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — The community is invited to learn more about the proposed project to build a “deck plaza” over Interstate 10 in El Paso’s Downtown corridor.

An open house meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30 at the Center for Civic Engagement on the 17th floor of the Blue Flame Building, 304 Texas Ave.

The public can learn more about the findings of the Phase 1 Feasibility Study for the project.

“The goal of the study is to explore the feasibility of creating a space that reflects El Paso’s rich heritage and culture, reconnects adjacent neighborhoods to enhance livability, provides economic opportunity, and facilitates a shared sense of community for the binational region. The study is funded through a federal transportation grant awarded to the City of El Paso, which has not made any determinations related to next steps, and matching funds from the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation in the Paso del Norte Community Foundation,” a news release said that announced the open house meeting.

Planners from Stantec will be on hand to review the renderings and cost estimates for the proposed deck plaza developed based on input from community members and stakeholders through a series of public meetings held from February to April last year, the news release said.

“Projects like the Deck Plaza provide us with opportunities to dream big, and this and other public meetings help us gather extraordinarily valuable feedback from the community,” said Joaquín Rodríguez, the City’s grant funded programs director. “This study allows us to understand how we can collectively improve our urban environment to better serve our residents.”

“Great public spaces reflect their communities,” said Tracy Yellen, CEO of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, which formed the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation to support the development of the proposed project. “We are excited for Stantec to share the proposed design for the Deck Plaza based on input from the public last year to create a vibrant and engaging community space for the greater Downtown area and region as a whole.”

To learn more about the design study, visit downtowndeckplaza.org.

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