Civil Municipal - Feb 2024

million project, supported by state government and municipal funds, promises to be a multifaceted space offering panoramic views of the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande, destined to host various events. “We want to create spaces where people want to do a variety of things,”Mayor Perea explains, highlighting the diverse amenities, including a skate park, that cater to different interests. Beyond the parks, Mayor Perea touches on a broader initiative to interconnect the city’s scattered landscapes. The development of the river trail along the Rio Grande is a crucial project aiming to beautify the area and foster connectivity. This trail bridges Sunland Park with neighboring El Paso, enhancing accessibility and inviting more people into the city’s fold. SUNLAND PARK’S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT Sunland Park’s ongoing evolution into a vibrant urban center is perhaps most visibly encapsulated in the development of its entertainment district. Brimming with enthusiasm, Mayor Perea unveils the latest advancements in this area, a project that promises to enhance the city’s cultural and recreational landscape significantly. “We have inspiring news for our entertainment district,” he begins, marking a significant milestone with the recent groundbreaking of an entertainment venue. This development, set to be completed within the next year, is part of a broader vision to establish Sunland Park as a premier entertainment destination. The city’s collaboration with Independent Nation is a strategic move to bring this vision to fruition, leveraging existing attractions like the Sunland Park racetrack and casino and an amusement park recently acquired by Traders Village. “This will also be an amusement park expansion,” Mayor Perea notes, indicating the project’s scope.The proximity of Cristo Rey Mountain, a site attracting over 30,000 pilgrims annually, and the Rio Grande offers a unique natural setting that complements the artificial attractions.“We have water running through the middle of our city,” he points out, an element that has been underutilized but holds immense potential for development. 102 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 02