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City staff and youth leaders outline plan for a new Sunland Park community center; CDBG application planned
Summary
City staff presented a two-part plan to house youth programs near-term in an 8,000 sq ft shell building and design a Phase 2A multigenerational facility; youth leader Cecilia Pon Provenencio urged investment in mental-health supports and hands-on programs. Staff said a CDBG application and county participation are being pursued and the council will consider formal action in July.
City Manager Mr. Infante told the Sunland Park City Council on June 6 that staff are pursuing a two-part approach to expand youth services: in the near term, identified programs would move into an 8,000-square-foot shell building under a facility-use agreement planned for about August; longer term, staff will pursue a Phase 2A design for a multigenerational facility that could be built over a 30–36 month planning-to-construction timeline.
“Part one is to move some of the program needs that had been identified ... to the space where crew is currently occupying. That should be around August of this calendar year as we're finishing up the 8,000 foot shell building,” Mr. Infante said, describing a near-term facility-use agreement to identify times and dates for programming. He said staff will submit the larger project for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding consideration and that the county has discussed possible participation. He told the council the item would return in July for formal consideration and action.
Cecilia Pon Provenencio, who identified herself as a youth programs leader and director of a local promotora effort, urged the council to prioritize a community center to address mental-health challenges, bullying and a shortage of safe spaces for young people. She described youth programs teaching leadership skills, food-sustainability through community gardening and civic engagement training: “Our youth are our future ... investing in them is one of the most important investments we can make,” she said.
Councilors responded with support, linking the proposal to prior investments in the sports complex and praising the emphasis on mental-health resources and arts opportunities for young people. Councilors thanked Ms. Pon and staff and confirmed they would work on funding and intergovernmental coordination; Councilor Buriaga was credited with coordinating recent meetings with county commissioners.
What happens next: staff said they will return to council in July with a formal agenda item, pursue the CDBG application this month and work to finalize a facility-use agreement to move programs into the shell building in late summer.
Why it matters: advocates and staff framed the proposal as a way to expand mental-health supports, provide safe after-school alternatives and create jobs and training through community programming. Funding hinges on grant awards and county cooperation; timelines were described as approximate.
