Plans & Goals:
There are 19 goals and 36 strategies in the Barrio neighborhood plan. The six themes include:
Infrastructure
One example of Infrastructure is to renovate 918 S. Houston into a pocket park, La Plazita Park. Lot funding is provided by the City American Rescue Plan Act, which the BNPC board voted to use for this project.
Neighborhood Identity & Amenities
Neighborhood identity and amenities include the first Barrio monument to be moved to the pocket park and a 2nd monument is in the works. Park planned to be completed in 2024. We recorded the history of the Barrio in a book called Amarillo Barrio Historical District: Past, Present, and Future, which was published in 2018. A colorful outdoor historical mural was painted at the 10th Avenue underpass where five Barrio historical sites are featured on the south side and Center City sites are on the north side. A Barrio historical map was designed and distributed in 2019, which includes 12 churches, 23 historical sites, and 18 business and organization sponsor logos. Fifty street toppers and nine oval signs were installed in December 2020 to welcome everyone to El Barrio at the main corridors.
Neighborhood Health
The city HD mobile vaccine clinic invited to events for free or low cost to our community.
Neighborhood Safety
Neighborhood safety is very important to our residents. Internet safety classes are offered to our community for children (3rd -5th), parents, and senior citizens by Mary Bralley. Daytime and evening classes are available. All classes end on 11/10/23.
Residential Development & Maintenance
Beautify El Barrio is one project to help address residential development and maintenance. Two annual clean-up projects of streets and alleys are conducted by student and adult volunteers during the fall and spring. Recently, we cleaned the Tri-State Fairgrounds with the XCEL Energy employees.
Non-Residential Development & Maintenance
The streetscape project, completed in 18 months from the fall of 2024 to May 2026, included ADA accessible sidewalks, crosswalks, driveways, curbs, benches, elm trees, decorative lighting, bike lanes, bushes, two crosswalk signals at 10th S. Arthur & 10th S. Ross, bike racks, and monogrammed brick pavers installed around the decorative lighting on the south side of 10th South Houston.
The second project is La Plazita Park, located at 918 South Houston, which will include a half-circle covered metal stage, speakers, and sound system, food truck parking spaces, an ADA accessible restroom, parking spaces, east sidewalk, & entrance ramp, trees, flowers, 3 benches, seating and 4 tables, artificial turf, 4 light poles, 6 bike racks, at least 150 monogrammed brick pavers, two sponsor monuments, and a new black decorative fence.
