El Paso County Closes Ascarate Park for Mother’s Day

In an effort to prevent mass gatherings on Mother’s Day, El Paso County is closing Ascarate Park to the public this Sunday, May 10.

The park was reopened last week for limited activities, but officials wanted to avoid a repeat of the social gatherings that took place there over the weekend, and so the decision was made to close it up completely on Sunday.

According to county officials, a total of 787 cars entered the park throughout the day on Saturday and 936 on Sunday. Word is most of the visitors were not there for the permitted activities and were instead gathering throughout the park in conflict with public health orders and guidelines.

With Mother's Day falling on the same day on both sides of the border this year, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego feared keeping Ascarate open could result in a potential repeat of the recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases and deaths that occurred after the Easter weekend.

A post on the county's parks and rec Facebook account stated that "the limited amenities, such as walking/biking trails, fishing, kayaking and handball" would be "available to the public once again on Monday, May 11 beginning from 6am to 9pm."

All city parks are also off-limits during Mother’s Day weekend and until further notice.