Casa Bella renovations kick off with group effort

Mar. 28—With representatives from Ector County ISD, the City of Odessa, Parks and Recreation Department, city council, Odessa Parks Foundation and ECISD Board of Trustees on hand, ground was broken for the redesigned Casa Bell a Park Monday.

Casa Bella is located at the corner of University Boulevard and Maple Avenue. Students from the nearby campuses of Burnet and Dowling elementary were on hand, as well, because they helped determine what the park is going to look like. They also got to turn the dirt with ceremonial shovels that were almost as big, or bigger than they were.

"... It's been a great project for the City of Odessa for the Odessa Parks Foundation, as well as at ECISD," Patton said.

The project is expected to take about 90 days to complete.

Brett Felker, chairman of the Odessa Parks Foundation, said the nonprofit organization was established in 1996 to assist in improving the city's park system. The installation of the new playground at Casa Bella Park is a product of the City of Odessa Utility Bill Dollar donation program, which was created in 2007. This is the program in which citizens can elect to add $1 to their monthly water bill and those funds are used for park improvements and enhancements," Felker said. "This playground will be the 24th that has been upgraded due to the dollar donation program."

"The average cost of each playground pipe project in the past has been approximately $180,000 each, which has resulted in a total of $4.3 million in capital improvements to the park system at no additional cost to the taxpayers. The budget for this particular project at Casa Bella is $283,952. The final product is going to be something the community can enjoy and be proud of. And this project has been particularly fun due to the involvement of ECISD students and the Parks Foundation is glad to be a partner," Felker said.

Odessa City Council member Detra White stood in for the mayor at the ceremony. White said she was excited to see the project begin to come to life and thanked Patton and the parks department employees who keep all the parks going.

White noted that the students and parents from the two elementary schools helped with the equipment selection process.

"... That is just a gigantic step that Steve Patton has taken to involve our students in what is their part in their city to make it the best that it can be. Not only are you going to enjoy it, but as you get older, your families are going to enjoy it. ... ," White said.

She added that the parks department will be planting a tree at each of their campuses.

"... That is our way of thanking you and reminding you that this is your community and that you have played a very vital part in improving our community by making the improvements to this park. In addition, we are going to plant, again, another live oak tree at the ECISD administration building to commemorate their 100 years as Ector County Independent School District. We thank you immensely for all of the work that our administrators at the school district do and our principals, all the way through the staff (and) your teachers. This community would not be here if it were not for you and for the advancements that you make. ...," White said.

Superintendent Scott Muri noted that Monday was a "wonderful example" of how "we do this work together." Muri said the district was approached by the parks department as part of its 100 year celebration that they could work together to create an opportunity that targets the children and families of Odessa.

"... What a wonderful gift it is from the City of Odessa, from the Parks Department, to recognize the importance and the value of creating spaces in which families and communities can live, work and play. So today, we are really pleased and proud to be a part of this 'together opportunity' because we truly feel that we all do this work together as one big community — city, county, hospitals and other governmental entities — as we come together to make life really fantastic for the families that we serve," Muri said.

Tommy Hawkins, owner of Hawkins Construction, said it will be about 90 days until the park is complete. They ordered many items in advance, so they are waiting until they get everything before starting.

Hawkins said they have done at least half of the parks that have been improved.

Edwin Alvidrez, an 11-year-old fifth grader from Dowling Elementary, said it was "very fun" because they got to learn about a lot of different things.

"We got to be one of the first to start the park," Alvidrez said.

Darey Morales, also an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Dowling, said it was a great experience to "enjoy and hear about how much it takes time for people to appreciate something that takes hard work."

"I think it's a very fun and good experience," Morales said.

Angel Guillen, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Dowling, said it was a cool experience "because we were able to get out of the classroom."

Guillen said it was also neat because they can tell people that they had a role in the renovated park.