El Paso Zoo is converting an underused Chihuahuan Desert exhibit into a behind-the-scenes breeding center for smaller endangered species; construction begins June 1. The space won’t be open for tours.

City officials say a peer‑mentor program, staff coaching and pavilion repairs are the backbone of a plan to restore the El Paso Zoo’s national accreditation. The city is also moving quickly on a director search and construction timeline.

Texas Parks and Wildlife added 1,054 acres to Franklin Mountains State Park, extending protection to Martin Luther King Boulevard and securing trailhead access.

Fort Bliss will convert part of Underwood Golf Course into a tournament-ready youth sports park with 10 turf fields and family amenities, officials say. The plan aims to keep weekend tournaments local and boost jobs.

El Paso broke ground on a $15M Phase II expansion at The Beast Urban Park, adding fields, courts and event amenities across roughly 650,000 square feet.

Biocontrol releases cut Arundo in spots, but funding fights and tangled agencies have left the giant reed choking the Rio Grande. Coordination and long-term monitoring remain the missing pieces.

El Paso County will hold a March 24 community meeting to review survey results and new renderings for Ascarate Park. Officials will present visuals and gather feedback before design advances.

Federal maps and filings indicate roughly 111–112 miles of a proposed Smart Wall through Big Bend National Park, prompting outcry from locals and conservationists. Critics warn of lasting harm to wildlife and tourism.

State biologists are investigating an outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis that has blinded some Barbary sheep across a 30‑mile stretch in the Trans‑Pecos. The outbreak touches Jeff Davis, Presidio and Brewster counties.

El Paso Zoo provides care for an anemic and underweight bald eagle found near Silver City, examining it for infections and toxins while cautiously rehabilitating it.

More than $7.6 million in lottery-backed grants will fund parks, trails and land protection across Southern Colorado, from Alamosa to the Pikes Peak corridor. Projects range from ADA playgrounds to a large San Luis Valley conservation effort.

El Paso City Council voted Dec. 16 to rename Fortaleza Park to Trotter Memorial Park in honor of two Fort Bliss children who died in the Ruidoso flash floods. The move formalizes a neighborhood memorial.

The century‑old Mexican Canyon Trestle near Cloudcroft reopened after Forest Service crews replaced decking and improved visitor access at the overlook. The site is open with limited facilities.