Keystone Heritage Park Threatened by Proposed City Industrial Development

Click image to enlarge. All of the color blocks are the new proposed development. Keystone Park is in the upper left side of the diagram. On the diagram, you can see both the wetland and the Garden. The archeology site is above the garden. 

The orange colored block, labeled CCS (in small letters) is a recycling site. Sanitation trucks, city buses and city work trucks will be a constant coming-and-going presence. Note that the entire site will be either roofs or pavement which estimates suggest may add as much as 10 degrees of heat in the summer. As you approach the garden, the recycling trucks, buses and city trucks will be in your line of sight and to your right. 

The City of El Paso is proposing a concentrated heavy industrial area directly next to the archeology site and Botanical Garden of Keystone Heritage Park.  To say the least, this will not be beneficial to Keystone - its gardens, bird sanctuary/wetland and archaeology site. 

Ketystone board members, benefactors and supporters believe that the presence of buses, sanitation trucks and other heavy city equipment will be a detraction to the serenity and beauty of the  Garden and discourage the eco-tourism that Keystone is trying to develop. The plan can proceed without the approval of City Council. 

The Keystone Board requests that people please contact those they know at the City – staff or elected representatives – and ask them to help protect the Park. Time is of the essence! 

Persons to contact:

Jane Shang, Deputy City Manager, shangj1@elpasotexas.gov
Matthew McElroy, Director of Planning, McelroyMX@elpasotexas.gov
Carlos Gallinar, Deputy Director of Planning, GallinarRC@elpasotexas.gov
Joyce Wilson, City Manager, WilsonJA@elpasotexas.gov
Your Mayor and/or City Representative

You can provide a link to this post in your message.

The Board of Keystone Heritage Park is charged with preserving and protecting all 52 acres of the park and for providing a sanctuary for the birds and animals.  The additional  noise and heat created by this development will have a negative impact on the birds that count on the wetland as a breeding area and may drive away some the rare species that have been spotted there. 

One wonders whether the City has done the necessary studies to understand the impact of the additional heat, vibration, air pollution and potential run-off on the 4000+ year old archeological site. This nationally recognized site has enormous historical potential and all El Pasoans should be actively engaged in its protection.