County Commissioners meet about improvements to County Coliseum and Ascarate Park
EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso County Commissioners heard from their economic development department Wednesday morning about possible upgrades and improvements to two of El Paso's iconic areas, the County Coliseum and Ascarate Park.
The county hired a consulting firm to review the park and coliseum and recommend upgrades and improvements to spur economic development.
The firm recommended cosmetic and functional renovations to the coliseum; upgrading the Sherman Barn, a structure south of the coliseum, to a smaller music venue; and adding retail shops and restaurants on-site.
"Improving something that is so historical to us is very important. You don’t want it to start deteriorating, you want it to be a little bit better," County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said about the recommendations.
The proposed upgrades are estimated to cost $54 million.
The firm also recommended adding an outdoor, 5,500-capacity amphitheater in Ascarate Park. That project is estimated to cost around $24 million.
No decisions have been made on the recommendations. The county judges still have more questions that need to be answered, such as funding for the projects.
