"What we are trying to do is make it even more appealing for people in and around our community to come and visit more often," President Garrey Carruthers has said. "By placing grass and trees east of Aggie Memorial Stadium, we'll create a place where families can have picnics, play games or just relax and enjoy the scenery."
The five- or six-acre public park would cost between $2.8 million and $4.2 million, depending on which plan and options are chosen. The money will come from state appropriations through the university's renewal and renovation fund, Facilities and Services Executive Director Tim Dobson said.
The park will include the grass student tailgating lot and field, along with additional grass fields, a walking path, restrooms and picnic and barbecue areas between Stewart and Wells streets. The area may even include workout stations, similar to those in the median on Engler Road, said Bud Jones, NMSU's manager for landscaping, grounds, mechanics and signs.