“I haven’t slept in days … I close my eyes and I see this” – Teresa Kennedy, President of Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee
After nine years of hard work, planning, calling, dreaming, reaching out to partners and just pure dedication, the first stage of the Barrio neighborhood renovation was honored with a ribbon cutting Thursday, April 16 in Amarillo. The group of community members stood in front of a new colorful mural done by Raela Ornelas.
Teresa Kennedy, president of the Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee, said, “We really started planning for this on March 8 of 2017. So, this is nine years of working on several projects, including 10th Avenue and Houston.
“We took seven blocks from Garfield to Ross Street, and renovated it with Fuller and Sons Construction being our contractor,” Kennedy said. “Their employees have been fantastic, working with the city, getting funding through TxDOT, the City of Amarillo, public safety, 2016 bond funding, along with the colorful benches, which were donated by different donors and have plaques on them with the donor’s name.”
Kennedy pointed to the bright blue coated bench and said it was donated by Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, and the one across the street was donated by the Mary Bivins Foundation.
“We’re just out here to celebrate everything right now,” Kennedy said. “So, what you’re seeing are things that didn’t exist — street lamps, colorful benches, matching trash cans, trees on the north side along with widened sidewalks, eight feet wide bike lane, and all of it ADA accessible,” she said proudly.
The City of Amarillo said a major portion of the $6.1 million funding was secured through a TxDOT Transportation Alternatives grant written by the City of Amarillo Planning Department. The city said the project reflects years of planning and collaboration to enhance safety for all users in the Barrio area while encouraging reinvestment, tourism, and cultural identity through thoughtful planning.
“You’re also seeing new businesses that have jumped on board,” Kennedy said, “and this is a brand new mural (of El Barrio) on this building. We went from nine empty buildings to one,” she reflected.
Kennedy said that they had done a lot of renting, leasing and buying in order to make a change in the neighborhood. “I’m excited,” she said. “I have not slept for the last two nights ‘cause I close my eyes and I see this.
“But I’ve seen this reality for a long time — the dream became a reality.”
The project doesn’t stop here, though. They are just getting started, according to Mary Bralley with Window on a Wider World, who helped with the mission. Bralley said the community began in the area where the new park will be when Hispanics were brought in legally to work on the railroad.
Next project for the Barrio
“The next project is right behind this metal fence,” and she pointed at a huge vacant lot on the north side of 918 Houston. “This area will be La Plazita Park.”
Bralley said they needed to install brick pavers paid for by sponsors and then add asphalt and artificial turf.
“There will be a performance stage, food truck spaces, a portable toilet and sink facility with parking in the front, all ADA accessible,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy added that there would be some flowers and seating with some trees that belong to them to take care of. “All kind of events can happen here,” she said. She explained that the city purchased it with their ARPA funds and deeded it to the Barrio. The finished pocket park will be 175 feet long by 140 feet wide, with free WiFi during the day.
There will be room for five food trucks and other vendor parking and space, along with night parking spots, two handicapped places on the east side and two donor logo monuments with solar lights and landscapes around them.
The entire area of renovation contains 9,900 square feet of one level, and will have 88 accessible sidewalks; ADA accessible crosswalks on Arthur, Roberts and Ross Street; 52 lamps with banner arms on both sides; and Lacebark of Chinese elms, Pistachio trees, and Thornless Honey Locust trees, now blooming on the north side of 10th Avenue.
Along with the eight-foot-wide bike lane on the south side of 10th will be bushes and seven round bike racks, according the group.
There will also be six trash cans with matching benches hosting donors’ names, and pavers with sponsors’ names on the south side of Houston Street.
The metal building at the back of the lot will have an outside mural to be painted by an artist in June and will have tall pole lights. There will also be a covered metal stage with five speakers for music and entertainment. Along with all that will be four tables with bright yellow umbrellas, artwork signs and a black decorative metal fence.
La Plazita will have one entrance for vendors and one for the public and plans to have at least 100 donor monogramed bricks, according to the Barrio group’s Vice President, Raul David Rosas.
The group is selling brick pavers for $150 for smaller ones and $250 for larger ones with names engraved on them.
As part of the celebration, the group offered flavored teas, taquitos, queso and chips for the large crowd that turned out.
Several car enthusiasts showed up with their classic cars and trucks and moved them into what will be La Plazita Park. A metal building in the back had artwork done by several Sanborn students, of what would have been a colorful crosswalk. The original plan for a crosswalk did not fall under TxDOT requirements, so the idea had to be scrapped but the artwork will be preserved.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Barrio neighborhood in Amarillo celebrates new streetscape
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
