The Deck Plaza will be a 6.5-acre park constructed over the portion of I-10 that runs through Downtown El Paso. Community input has helped to shape the current vision of the site. The free public park will feature a variety of high-quality amenities, including an amphitheater, a field house, a dog park, a playground and much more! Based on the Downtown Deck Plaza Feasibility Study, the estimated total cost of the project is $207 million (in 2027 dollars). To view the budget included in the Feasibility Study click here.

The Economic Impact Study conducted by HR&A Advisors projects that the proposed Deck Plaza would generate nearly $1 billion in total economic output over 30 years. With an estimated 1 to 1.5 million visitors annually, the park is also poised to become a premier regional destination, drawing both residents and tourists to a vibrant new hub in the heart of the city.

The Economic Impact Study highlights the Deck Plaza is expected to serve as a powerful catalyst for affordable housing and neighborhood development, with a projected 1,707 new residential units projected within a half mile of the park, which will support the City of El Paso’s Downtown Uptown Master Plan that found demand for up to 10,000 new housing units by 2040.

Other examples of deck plaza projects which have been constructed or are under consideration include Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Halperin Park in Dallas, Hance Park in Phoenix, Reconnect Rondo in St. Paul, Minn., the Stitch in Atlanta, and Freeway Park in Seattle.

Proposed roadway infrastructure improvements to I-10 and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation’s advocacy for a Deck Plaza in Downtown El Paso are separate undertakings. However, if TxDOT makes improvements to I-10 through Downtown El Paso, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to weave the urban fabric of Downtown and Uptown back together with the addition of a Deck Plaza.

The footprint for the project will depend upon community input and plans for TxDOT’s Downtown 10 Project. The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation will not own the Downtown Deck Plaza Project or have the right to acquire any property. Questions about highway construction and any potential property acquisition and right-of-way processes should be directed to TxDOT.

The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation understands that the project is more feasible economically if it is built in cooperation with TxDOT.

Not at all. Transformational projects like the Deck Plaza require collaboration among the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to determine the design, amenities, cost, and funding sources. Community support and involvement are critical to bring the vision for a Deck Plaza to reality. Sign up for the e-newsletter for updates and invitations to engagement sessions.