Cameron Park now boasts ‘A Cultural Center of Hope’

CAMERON PARK, Texas – There is a new hope at La Esperanza Park and Centro Cultural.

The recreational facility has gone through a complete makeover and become the first all-inclusive public park in Cameron County.

Some of the new additions include playground amenities, changing rooms for anybody, an outdoor trail and picnic stations with BBQ areas, fitness equipment, soccer field improvements and even a butterfly garden and an aquatic splash pad.

County and state officials said the project was a joint effort to benefit the whole community.

The park, on Gregory Avenue, is located in Cameron Park, or an unincorporated area off Paredes Line Road.

Long known as one of the oldest and largest colonias in South Texas it has a population estimated at more than 30,000 people.

Joey Lopez, county commissioner for Precinct 2, said the park had a full facelift.

“We are already getting calls from people wanting to use it,” he said. “Things like this don’t happen overnight. It’s the result of team work.”

Lopez, whose precinct includes Cameron Park, said he hopes the community will take advantage of the park and encouraged everyone to take care of it.

Joe Vega, the county’s park director, said La Esperanza is the first “universal” park in South Texas and their goal is to make every other such facility the same.

By that he meant the park system will be able to accommodate all people, including those who are physically challenged. 

County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., gave an overview of the park dating back to 1988.

He said a project like this can’t take place without the assistance of the state and applauded Texas Parks & Wildlife for its support.

“It’s now an all-inclusive park,” he said. “As the name at the entrance reads, this is ‘A Cultural Center of Hope.’ ”

Representatives from several state and federal elected officials addressed the crowd to emphasize the importance of having a park like La Esperanza.     

Norma Torres, a longtime resident of Cameron Park, said her children have been using the facility for many, many years.

“It was a nice park to begin with,” she said, “and it’s a lot nicer today.”

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