ONLY ON ABC-7: City revamping Christmas display at Shawver Park

The Christmas decorations at a park in El Paso’s Lower Valley will return for a second year — this time, with even less flair, and lowered expectations.

East El Paso/Lower Valley City Representative Lily Limon is trying a new approach this year with the holiday display at Shawver Park.

The focus will shift away from a light display to one with 8 foot-by 8 foot wooden frame Christmas cards dotting the land around the gazebo, which will be decorated with string lights.

The shift in focus comes after the city ended up spending $25,000 on rented lights to decorate the park. The sparse decorations drew criticism from the community and even gained national attention.

“I think we went off with the wrong message because we called it Shawver Park lights,” said Limon. “If you say that, you anticipate lots of lights.”

Limon said the inspiration to create giant Christmas cards came from decorations found in other, smaller cities.

“(The cards will) be lit up by solar lights at night, the gazebo will be fully lit up and the trees heading into the gazebo area will also be lit up,” added Limon.

In 2013, the city ended up shelling out more than $11,000 of taxpayer money to pick up the costs to decorate Shawver Park that weren’t covered by donations.

This year — Limon used $1,000 from her discretionary fund.

“We get no funding from the city,” Limon told ABC-7. “There was no allocation in the budget that was allowed by my colleagues.”

Donated money from organizations including McDonald’s, Hyundai of El Paso, and Sierra Providence Health Network is making the displays possible. Limon said she anticipates more involvement as time goes on and the display gains traction.

“The expectation is small,” said Limon — a point repeated throughout the interview. “We’re not coming across flashy. We’re not coming across like, ‘Oh, this is the biggest event in the city,’ because it’s not.

“But this is a good way to start a tradition,” she said.

The Christmas cards will be on display at Shawver Park beginning Saturday, Dec. 13 starting at 11 a.m.

That day, Santa Claus will help light the trees and gazebo in a ceremony at 5:30 p.m.