News Release

Exciting Projects and Positive Changes Continue at Chamizal National Memorial in 2018

Date: February 3, 2018
Contact: Anne Doherty-Stephan, 915-532-7273 x124

Superintendent F. Gus Sanchez is happy to share news about some of the recently completed, ongoing, and upcoming projects staff are engaged in to enhance visitor experiences at Chamizal National Memorial. “There is so much behind-the-scenes work that takes place in national parks to keep them running and create safe, positive, enjoyable opportunities for our visitors. I want to share some of the important work that my team is doing every day that is often invisible to the public,” said Sanchez.

Beginning Tuesday, February 6 through March 2018, the Cultural Center will be temporarily closed for maintenance projects, including the installation of new air handlers that run the building’s heating and cooling systems. This will create a more comfortable year-round indoor environment for staff and visitors alike. The Memorial’s Cultural Center includes the Museum, Interpretive Exhibit Hall, Western National Parks Association Park Store, Visitor Center, restrooms, and Theater.

During this temporary closure, all visitor services will be available in the Administration Building, located next to the Cultural Center. This will include visitor information, museum exhibits that share the Chamizal story, our 4-minute orientation video, purchase and issue of Federal Recreational Lands Passes (America the Beautiful, Senior, Access, Military, and 4^th Grade), and restrooms. Visitors will also be able to request escorted access to shop in our Park Store. Another temporary closure to enable us to complete important projects is the temporary the Franklin G. Smith Gallery.

Current projects include the design and development of our new permanent Museum exhibits scheduled to be installed in 2019, a complete inventory and reorganization of our Museum and Archives Collection, repainting and restriping our road and curbs, repairing and resurfacing the Gallery floor, repainting the Theater stage in preparation for El Nuevo Siglo Festival scheduled for April 7-14, planning for National Junior Ranger Day on April 21, and more.

Some of the recently completed projects include restoration of the “Nuestra Herencia” mural by original artist Carlos Flores and son Marcos, replacement of the south-facing doors on the Cultural Center and the addition of new electric openers to both sets, creation of new outdoor exhibit panels for our pilot xeriscaping or native plant landscaping plots to be installed in the coming year, and replacement of our irrigation system well pump with one that is more water and energy efficient to help us meet our conservation mission while maintaining the existing non-native turf on the grounds.

Other exciting projects coming up include updating the brochure and exhibit panel for the restored “Nuestra Herencia” mural, planning and creation of additional outdoor exhibits around the Memorial grounds, an El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail exhibit, and others.

Wondering where the money is coming from? It’s coming from a variety of grants and other special projects funding.

Please visit our website at www.nps.gov/chamizal for alert updates and to learn more about Chamizal National Memorial, El Paso’s national park. We hope you’ll visit again soon and experience some of the exciting changes happening here.

For questions or more information, contact Anne Stephan at [phone] x 124 or via email at [e-mail].