What do El Pasoans want at the old ASARCO site? Everything!

I checked out the Open Design Studio at 2400 N. Oregon today where urban planners are putting together a plan for the ASARCO land and several other areas of the city. It's open all week and the public is welcome to stop by and share ideas with the designers.

First of all, how cool is that? I think it's a great concept.

The only rules is that because of the soil contamination, the ASARCO site cannot support residential development, schools or hospital and you can't plant trees (becaus of the roots). This leaves a lot of room for imagination and El Pasoans have certainly taken advantage of it. The plans for the ASARCO land have the feel of the Willy Wonka factory.

"And left, we have the chocolate waterfall; now right, we have the Mining Industry Museum, and the rock climbing wall, and the sports arena, and the solar panel manufacturing plant, and an artist colony, and a dog park, and the marshmallow trees."

I kid.

Here's a picture of the master plan: