Soccer Fields to Replace Flood-Ravaged El Paso Neighborhood

It’s a pretty good location, right off the freeway, in the center of the city…

But these days, it’s really only the birds and the ants who call the once-thriving neighborhood of Saipan home these days.

Sitting off Gateway East near the Raynolds exit, most of the homes were wiped out by the floods of Storm 2006. The ones that survived were later bought and demolished by the City of El Paso.

All except for one house.

City Representative Emma Acosta says the city had trouble securing the title from the owner.

“Several generations of family had lived there, but no one really knew who had the title to it,” she told ABC-7.

But now that’s all settled and Acosta says the City has some major plans for the area.

Representatives unanimously approved the project Tuesday.

Atop their list: construction of a large, fenced-in retention pond.

And there’s more, says Acosta.

“Instead of just having a ponding area, we’ve actually created a green space.”

The $4.7 million plan also includes two soccer fields, a walking trail with exercise equipment and shaded canopies.

Acosta says the project is being paid for with 2009 Certificates of Obligation and money from the Stormwater fee.

Construction is scheduled to be complete by June of 2011.