Planning for the next phase of the Playa Drain Trail from Riverside High School to Ysleta High School will now begin thanks to the generous grant of $50,000 from Andeavor to the Paso del Norte Community Foundation (PDNCF). With Andeavor’s support, work on the final 1.93 miles of the 8.3-mile Playa Drain Trail from Riverside High School to Ysleta High School will begin.

Andeavor values the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others; we are committed to collaborating with community stakeholders to create cleaner, safer communities where we live and operate,” says VJ Smith, Government and Public Affairs Manager for Andeavor. “We are particularly proud to be involved in the development of the Playa Drain Trail that will provide recreational opportunities for residents of this region. When Andeavor acquired Western Refining and the El Paso refinery in June 2017, we also established our commitment to be a contributing member to the El Paso community.”

The Playa Drain Trail project is a partnership of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, Paso del Norte Community Foundation, City of El Paso and El Paso Water. The Health Foundation is contributing $2.5 million for the design and construction of the trail from Ascarate Park to Riverside High School. The City of El Paso is contributing $300,000 from the Quality of Life Bond for trail amenities like benches and shade structures, as well as lighting for the project. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will maintain the trail once completed. El Paso Water purchased the Playa Drain for stormwater management and is allowing for its public use as a trail.“We are grateful to Andeavor for their leadership and investment in this project,” says Tracy J. Yellen, CEO of PDNCF and the Health Foundation.

“Developing recreational trails is a high priority for our foundations. We are committed to making active living the easy choice for residents of our region.” The first segment of the trail from Ascarate to Riverside High School is scheduled to be completed in mid-September.

For updates on the trail, visit pasodelnortetrail.org.