Parks Legado

The Ector County Commissioners Court met Monday to discuss the Parks Legado Project, and whether or not they want to participate in it. After more than an hour of discussions, the project began to take a different direction.

It was originally proposed that Ector County would enter into a 381 Agreement, or a Tax Rebate Agreement. But after analyzing everything...the county decided it's more of a retail project, and it's not something they need to be involved with. However, they do want to be involved, so they switched their focus to the construction of a major thoroughfare.

"It was a large compromise on everybody's part. It was a completely different direction than we anticipated to take," Susan Redford, Ector County Judge, said.

"I think it was a compromise, but I think it was very wise on behalf of the county commissioner's because they made a choice that, not only falls right in line with their guidelines and beliefs, but it also really helps us amplify and speed up the process of the project," Collin Sewell, a local entrepreneur, said.

Ector County will now be involved with the project by helping with the construction of Tres Hermanas, a road that will serve as an access point for Parks Legado.

“We will contribute some of our time and some of our funds to assist with the building of that road," Redford said.

But not everyone at the meeting was in favor of the project. Some came out to voice their opinion on why it should have never been considered.

"It will take our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to finish paying this off. And to me that is stealing. To me it's a sin, and not only do I love my descendants, but I do not want to steal from them, and that's what this is...it's stealing," Katherine Smith, who is opposed to the Parks Legado Project, said.

"I think anytime you start a project of this size or anytime anybody takes on a major opportunity like this, there's always people who are going to disagree. There's people who aren't necessarily going to believe the way you believe, and I think that's very normal and that's a great reason we get to live in this country," Sewell said.

Tres Hermanas is Spanish for "three sisters" and, in this case, represents the three sisters in the Parks family, whom have owned the land for decades. Construction is still expected to begin later this year, and concerning the vote that was taken Monday...Sewell said, “It definitely solidifies all of our plans as we go forward."