Letter to the PSB

February 16, 2009



Ruben Guerra, Chair
Public Service Board
P.O. Box 511
El Paso, TX 79961-0001

RE: Mayfield Wildscape

Dear Mr. Guerra:

A very beautiful natural feature of our neighborhood is the Mayfield “Wildscape”. It is located at the end of Memphis, Frankfort and Savannah avenues and sits below Mayfield Terrace, a street that borders the Franklin Mountains.

For almost twenty years, several neighbors have tended to this “park”. They have kept it clear of debris and even painted rock signs identifying different plants. It is home to several species of birds. Foxes frequent it and even the Franklin Mountain female cougar has been spotted there.

Recently, utility work was contracted by the City. Workers carelessly damaged much of the brush and some of the trees. They littered the area with their spent lunch materials and water bottles. We reported this problem to City Manager, Joyce Wilson, who immediately saw to its cleaning and reparation by the City Streets Department. Three new Desert Willows were planted.

Our wildscape is currently zoned as a median. Parks and Recreation declined oversight.

Currently there are a number of lines drawn showing where water lines run through the Mayfield Wildscape. We are concerned that work may be done on it that will further damage this lovely natural area. We do understand that there is always the possibility that you will need to do something with the existing water lines. However, can any work ever done there be done in such a manner as to minimize damage to the wildscape and would you help us restore the natural setting in the event that you have to work there?

We are aware that PSB values open space and that it has helped to preserve much of the natural environment around the City. Would you please work with us in preserving this beautiful natural open space referred to by neighbors as the Mayfield Wildscape? Representatives of our Neighborhood Association would be more than glad to meet your representatives at the site and show you just what we mean.

Sincerely,



Susie Byrd
District 2 Representative

On behalf of
Lynn Coyle, President, Newman Park Neighborhood Association
Jim Tolbert, Secretary, Newman Park Neighborhood Association

Mayfield Wildscape Reborn

Last Tuesday (1/27/09) three new desert willows were planted at our Mayfield Wildscape. In an email to Daryl Cole (Director of Streets), Brent Pearson (City Arborist) and Jim Tolbert, Mandy Chew wrote:

"We are so grateful for your help in restoring this little corner of nature to our neighborhood. It had been neglected for so long . . . I feel as if it has been reborn with the addition of the new trees and the TLC recently given to the remaining trees and shrubs. Please be assured that we will take good care of these new additions and will continue to protect it for the birds, roaming creatures and future generations to enjoy, as have we."

Mandy and David Chew

Parks and Recreation Department Director Nanette Smejkal did not want to consider the area as a new park. Streets Department Director Daryl Cole sent an aerial view to City Manager Joyce Wilson showing the designation of the area as a median. Of course, our "median" is a natural wildscape that sports a variety of native vegetation along with birds such as quail and dove and visiting foxes and the Franklin Mountain female cougar.

In an email to Representative Susie Byrd today, I suggested that this median at the end of Savannah, Frankfort and Memphis avenues and below Mayfield Terrace be given a new designation of "Wildscape". If created, a wildscape designation may present the opportunity to preserve such areas more deliberately.

No matter what, City employees and contractors hired by the City need to know that littering and destruction of natural areas will not be tolerated. No response has ever been made to the idea that severe penalties will be meted out to those City workers and contractors who destroy or mar the environment.

Of course, this is the City where, if a contractor grades outside of spec (for example, piles dirt on top of an arroyo), the fee assessed is a whopping $50!