Loya family announces $20 million gift for proposed Downtown Deck Plaza

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Loya family announced a $20 million gift to the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation. The foundation said the gift will go into the proposed 6.5-acre park over the I-10.

According to the foundation, the proposed park would also be named after Fred Loya and his family.

"The future park will be named Fred Loya Family Deck Plaza, a tribute to Fred Loya Sr. and a family whose story is woven into the fabric of El Paso. Fred Loya Sr., who passed away earlier this year," the Foundation said in a news release.

The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation estimates it will cost a total of $239 million to build the proposed deck plaza.

Previous reporting by ABC-7 found that building out all the amenities and adjacent buildings could cost $412 million in total.

The foundation said the "transformational" gift will "mark a historic milestone in the once-in-a-generation opportunity to Elevate the 10 and create a community space for all in the heart of El Paso."

ABC-7 reached out to Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation CEO Tracy Yellen to learn where the proposed project stands now. ABC-7 also reached out to nearby businesses that would be impacted by the project's construction.

Watch the full story on ABC-7's evening newscasts.