Ribbon-cutting to be held today at La Paloma park

LA PALOMA – Juan Carlos Padilla has lived in the community of La Paloma for years.
In the four years that he has lived in La Paloma, there had never been a park where his three children could play.
This will change at 10 a.m. today when Cameron County holds a ribbon cutting ceremony for the La Paloma Community Park.
“I think it’s a good thing,” said Padilla, 43, as he took a break Friday from helping spruce up the park for today’s event. “My children are happy.”
The park, which is located on Leal Road, just off U.S. Highway 281, has a soccer field, a softball field, a basketball court, playground equipment, a pavilion and community center.
It also has a new walking trail.
The new park is obviously important to the residents of La Paloma, a community south of San Benito.
“I am so excited about the park opening. It’s an awesome feeling,” said Precinct 4 Cameron County Commissioner Edna Tamayo, whose precinct includes La Paloma. “I’ve been getting (positive) calls from the community about the park.”
Planning for the park was in the works for more than six years and basically started from with an advisory committee made up of area residents.
“Some (advisory committee members) didn’t believe me that it could happen,” Tamayo said. “They said it would take a miracle and my answer to them was miracles happen.”
Although the park is in La Paloma, Tamayo expects residents from other surrounding communities to not only attend today’s ribbon cutting event, but to use the park.
“I expect people who live on 281 to attend. It is something big for them, too,” Tamayo added.