Ascarate Park revitalization will pave way for other family-friendly parks: Adrianne Moody

Adrianne Moody, Guest columnist / El Paso Time / Nov. 15, 2018

As a mother to two young children, I can tell you the name of almost every kid-friendly establishment in El Paso. We have all of the ingredients for a great city to raise a family. However, I believe there is always progress that can be made for younger children and those who may require extra attention and needs. I recognized the progress that El Paso continues to make toward creating family-friendly places and things to do, but I want to make sure that our momentum keeps going. That’s why I started Moms on Board.

It began as a Facebook group — where moms (and dads) could have a central place to ask questions, offer recommendations and get to know one another and everything our city has to offer from the far East Side to the far West Side and everything in between. We promote family-friendly activities and accommodations at establishments and facilities. Things you might not know about, like who offers free meals for children on Tuesdays or when Sesame Street Live! tickets go on sale. We also provide a forum for parents to recommend doctors, teachers and classes throughout the city.

I quickly learned that investments were being made all across our city, but people were unaware. As parents, we didn’t have one central place to communicate all of the great things our city has to offer — and what might still be missing.

My co-founder, Leyla Zeidan, and I watched as this community grew from a couple of hundred people to a couple of thousand. We realized there is a need in El Paso for parents — a channel where they can voice their opinions on how to make El Paso the best place to raise our children. That’s our goal. Through the power of community, we want to make this city great for our kids by continuing to promote investment in family-friendly businesses, museums, parks and more.

Like any small organization, we have short-term and long-term goals. Some of these goals include adding more shade area at parks, more water fountains, adding easily accessible public restrooms at parks and changing tables in restaurant bathrooms — little things that might not seem achievable, but when complete will help make the lives of parents easier.

What I am most excited about, though, is our new project with El Paso County — the revitalization of Ascarate Park. This means playground equipment for children of all abilities to play side by side without limitations. We look forward to turning Ascarate Park into a destination park for the region — a public space for everyone that represents El Paso. Bringing an all-inclusive Park, Dino Dig and Sensory Garden is just the beginning!

The Ascarate Park renovations will be made possible with the help from the entire community. The support from El Pasoans has been incredible. They understand the need to invest in the future — our children — and have come together to make this dream a reality. The county has offered funding and management fees, and we have applied for grants, in-kind donations and sponsorships from across El Paso. Moms on Board is also fundraising from our vast community to make sure this park is truly built by our families who will enjoy it.

We feel humbled to be taking on such a big project, but know our community is behind us, supporting us as we get started. Once complete, Ascarate Park will pave the way for other playgrounds and family-friendly parks across the city. Help us move El Paso forward and support the growth of our all-access park.

Adrianne Moody is co-founder of Moms on Board.