Parents: City charging everyone, including players, to enter Eastside Sports Complex
Some El Paso parents fear they will not be able to afford to watch their children play soccer at a brand new park with pristine soccer fields.
They are being told everyone – from parents to children to the soccer players themselves – have to pay an entrance fee, per person, to enter the new Eastside Sports Complex. The park is located at 14380 Montwood Blvd in Far East El Paso.
Crystal Garcia is a property owner whose family will have to pay the taxes to pay for debt the City acquired, via the quality of life bond, to build the park. Garcia’s family will also have to pay soccer club fees so her children can play in the team, buy her children’s soccer equipment, and on top of all this, pay to enter the park to watch her children play.
“It’s a big cost that a lot of people – we weren’t aware about until now, and parents weren’t aware about it as well,” said Garcia in regards to the fee she needs to pay to enter the park.
The Eastside Sports Complex, which cost taxpayers $23 million dollars, opened last month.
Assistant City Manager Ted Marquez told ABC-7 the cost to maintain a quality field is expensive and that is why parks and recreation is charging parents an entrance fee.
The fee to enter the park is per person, not per vehicle like at the County’s Ascarate Park. It is $5 per adult and $2 per child.
Marquez told ABC-7 parents were told about the fee earlier this month, they would have to pay to enter the park.
Parents told ABC-7 they are concerned they will not be able to afford to watch their children play. A family of six would have to pay $18 dollars just to get in to the park to watch a game.
Garcia has four kids. She says the cost to watch her children play the entire season is expensive.
“It adds up. It’s a big cost. It would be around $760 dollars just for my family alone to go watch all my kids play,” Garcia said.
A soccer coach fears parents will simple drop off their children at the park and opt to stay outside while their children play.
“They might be like, ‘oh, we’re gonna drop you off, go play and then we’ll pick you up,’ and not even watch their kids play,” said coach Hugo Ornelas.
A possible cost saving measure is to play in another field, where parents don’t have to pay to enter the park.
Deputy City Manager Ted Marquez told ABC-7 his department is working on a plan top reduce the fee and will submit a proposal to El Paso City Council within the next 30 days.
Marquez said parents in West El Paso also have to pay to watch their children compete at the new Westside Natatorium.
