UTEP officials unveiled plans to transform the campus arroyo into a natural park where students can relax on new seating, shaded areas and tree groves.
The park will be reclaimed as green space once the Liberal Arts Building is removed and the arroyo it sits on is fully restored.
UTEP’s Arroyo Park will include:
Alex Contreras, a groundskeeper with more than 20 years of service at the University of Texas at El Paso, joined UTEP President Heather Wilson and Vice President for Business Affairs Col. Brendan Gallagher, Ph.D., as they unveiled rendering designs during an announcement Wednesday, March 4, on the UTEP campus.
Construction of Arroyo Park is planned in two phases. The southern section near Texas Western Hall is expected to be completed in 2028. Work on the northern section will begin later to allow coordination with the Union renovation project. The entire project is expected to be finished by 2031.
“This project stands as a testament to UTEP’s dedication to reconnecting students with the vital, historic arroyo that courses from the Franklin Mountain watershed. By restoring both the ecological health and cultural significance of this sacred path, UTEP reinforces its mission to bring together people, place, and culture in meaningful ways,” said Christine E. Ten Eyck, president of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. “The newly constructed bridge — linking Texas Western Hall and the Student Union — beautifully embodies this vision. Not only does it serve as a practical passage, but it also symbolizes the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering connection and honoring the unique landscape that shapes the campus experience.”
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP reveals plans to turn campus’ ‘historic’ arroyo into natural park
Reporting by Gaby Velasquez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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