Illegal East Side Dump Cleaned Up; Park Project Still In The Plans

By Martin Bartlett

EL PASO — City officials say the cleanup of an illegal medical waste dump near an East Side neighborhood is finished.

The dump was located in an area near 11510 Cheryl Ladd, not far from the intersection of George Dieter and Trawood.

An ABC-7 I-Team investigation first alerted local officialsaboutthe sitein 2004. An inspection revealed it was loaded with medical waste, including mercury and needles with rusty syringes.

The city took over the land after the former owners of the property failed to payback taxes on it. Officials said they wanted to clean up the dump and turn it into a park.

“It being a park would be like a dream come true, but the most important part is that we don’t have the medical waste any more. It’s a blessing,” said Robert Barragan, a resident who lives near the area.

The Environmental Services Department initiated a clean up in response to community concerns, officials said. The site has now been turned over to the El Paso Parks and Recreation Department, which is considering the idea of creating the park.

At this point, there are still no funds from the city’s budget allocated to the department to begin construction of the park.

“We’re working on a feasibility study. That’s the first step so we can declare it a park, maybe do a pocket park so we can get some amenities for the people who live out there,” city Rep. Eddie Holguin said.

Holguin said he plans to take steps to allocate money to begin with the park project once a study is complete. He alsosaid he hastucked away about$250,000 that have not been used for other park projects in his district. “It will be enough for basic improvements if the area is declared a park, he said. “I have no doubt that we can accomplish this. I can placea park there.”