EPISD Board Trustee Dr. Hector Alvarez suggested a 1.8 mile trail be made in the area near the Eagle Pass High School, and eventually develop trails in different parts of the community that could connect to create a trail spanning the entire city.
“What we’re talking about is an area that covers Eagle Pass High School, across Second Street toward the softball complex, around the softball complex, toward Graves Elementary’s backyard, and it’s approximately 1.8 miles long. It basically would be a walking, jogging, cross country trail,” said Alvarez. “We know going towards the lake they have the walking area, going towards Flowers Street they have that walking and jogging area, so if you look at the big picture, there are different areas that are being used. If we had a master plan we would see how we can somehow interconnect all these trails and it would turn from a 1.8 mile trail to maybe a 7 mile trail, much like San Antonio has now, that go from park to park.”
Councilman Luis Sifuentes said the city would be looking into developing trails when coming up with the extensive master plan for Eagle Pass.
Mayor Ramsey English Cantu added that a trail along Veterans Boulevard is also greatly needed.
“I think it’s definitely an option we need to look at,” said Cantu. “[Cross Country runners are] great athletes, but I don’t know that they get the amount of attention that they should sometimes to help them out, and I think as a city and a district we can come up with something for those students and the community in general.”
Other goals EPISD hopes to accomplish soon are the construction of two new field houses, one at CC Winn High School and the other at Eagle Pass High School, along with updates for tennis courts across the district. Courts will be added to the Eagle Pass Junior High and the Student Activity Center; and courts at EPHS, Memorial Jr. High, and C.C. Winn will be resurfaced with the intention of hosting a district meet in Eagle Pass.
“When you do that, it brings dollars to the city,” said Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez.
Mayor Cantu shared plans to generate revenue for the city, including hosting the 2017 Babe Ruth World Series, the Postmaster Conference, and the construction of a gym in the southern portion of Eagle Pass made possible by an $800,000 grant.
“Tournaments that come in bring in a large number of tourists and large number of dollars, so it does benefit the community immensely,” said Cantu.
Other plans discussed for were to address flooding problems, as well as higher education facilities.