EPWU stormwater project to accommodate skateboarders

El Paso Water Utilities has a major project in development to control flooding in central El Paso, specifically along Interstate 10.

“Most of that was built years and years ago without any sufficient stormwater infrastructures,” said Alan Shubert, Vice-president of Operations for EPWU.

To help alleviate flooding, EPWU is reinforcing drains and building new ponding areas.

The latest project is Pollark Park, which will not only serve as a ponding area for stormwater, but also a skatepark.

Construction is underway on Pollard Street between Fort Boulevard and Sacramento Drive.

The stormwater project resulted in a partnership between EPWU and the El Paso Skatepark Association.

Shubert said members of the association reached out to EPWU asking to make the ponding area skater-friendly.

“Whenever we get the opportunity, we like to make things dual-use facilities,” said Shubert.

Pollard Park will have paved slopes, cemented curbs, sidewalks and landscaping and expected to be complete in May 2016.

The park isn’t the first of its kind, the Van Buren Dam at 4012 Alabama Street was also transformed into a skatepark that helps control stormwater.

Several parks across the city are also used as ponding areas when El Paso is hit with severe storms.

Shubert jokingly said El Paso could always use an extra skatepark.

“I don’t know that they’ll ever be able to build enough of them (skateparks). There’s so many skaters out there. You build a skatepark and it’s almost immediately covered with skaters.”

The project will cost $996, 127.