County Builds More Parks

COUNTY REPORTS — A new park in San Elizario is about to open, and it was made possible by taxpayer dollars.

The new park is named after Alexandra Flores, a girl who was abducted from a Lower Valley Wal-Mart store and then killed by her kidnapper.

The park is one of nine that Commissioner Miguel Teran has spearheaded to build, though the county goverrnment isn’t normally involved with such projects. Teran has said the county provides the seed money for the parks, and often the rural school districts take over the maintenance of them.

“The land is owned by the school district. They open the park, patrol the park, and use it during the day for their kids,” he said.

Still, there are detractors to Teran’s plans. Commissioner Dan Haggerty cast the lone vote on Monday against funding for the newest installation Teran has seen through — a ninth, to be built a few miles north of the Alexandra Flores park. “For us to be responsible now for an acre of land, graffiti, and everything that comes with it, it’s just crazy,” he said.

Teran admitted the county paid $400,000 in taxpayer money for the park that will soon be under construction, but he insists the money is a one-time fee, and the San Elizario School District will assume the care for it.

“The only reason cities exist is to do quality of life things,” Teran said. “There are no cities here. The only one they can look to is the school board or the county.”

Teran said the Alexandra Flores Park will be dedicated next week.