Commissioners designate April 26 as Celebrate Trails Day, praise Paso del Norte Trail and local conservation partners
Loading...
Summary
The Commissioner's Court adopted a resolution declaring April 26, 2025, Celebrate Trails Day in El Paso County and heard remarks from Paso del Norte Trail and Frontera Land Alliance representatives about trail investments and upcoming projects.
The El Paso County Commissioner's Court on April 21 adopted a resolution designating April 26, 2025, as Celebrate Trails Day in El Paso County and recognized local trail-building and open-space partners.
Commissioner Coronado read the resolution and noted recent county investments in hike-and-bike trail projects, particularly in the Upper Valley. Representatives from Paso del Norte Health Foundation's trail initiative — including Jana Renner and Alex Zanello — told the court the Paso del Norte Trail is a long-range vision for a roughly 70-mile connection across the region and that stakeholders have secured about $55 million for roughly 25 miles of additional segments in the next five years. Renner said about seven miles the county will construct in the Alamo Alto area (from Fabens to Tornillo) are in design.
Speakers from the Frontera Land Alliance — Scott Cutler, Janae (director), and open-space manager Rocio Ronquillo — thanked the court for the resolution and described local open-space protections and trail stewardship. Gilbert Moreno (Frontera Land Alliance) and other community members emphasized trails' mental- and physical-health benefits and their role in regional stewardship.
Nut graf: The resolution recognizes community partners and encourages residents to use trails on April 26; the court also heard updates about secured funding and near-term construction plans for several trail segments.
The court approved the resolution on a motion from Commissioner Coronado, seconded by Judge Ricardo Samaniego; the motion carried. Court members and partners discussed stewardship agreements, potential alignment work on Diana Avenue and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) collaboration on river-trail stewardship in the Upper Valley.
Ending: The court encouraged continued partnerships among the county, Paso del Norte Trail, Frontera Land Alliance and municipalities to deliver trail connectivity and trail stewardship work.
