ASI and Fresno community hope to improve ‘Sin City’

By Kelly Lucus | January 29, 2008

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El Dorado Park, more commonly known as “Sin City” to most Fresno State students, is finally getting the attention it needs.

The City of Fresno, Associated Students Inc. (ASI), Fresno State, Stone Soup and several other faith and community organizations have teamed up to improve the declining neighborhood.

They are hosting a neighborhood meeting on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church on Barstow Avenue, and have invited anyone who lives in the area to attend. This meeting will be the beginning of planning for the revitalization of El Dorado Park.

“This is the time and place for students [and residents] to discuss their visions and concerns,” said Juan Pablo Moncayo, president of ASI.

The meeting on Saturday is the first of two meetings regarding the development of the economically underdeveloped area. The idea of the meeting is to get a grasp of what residents of the surrounding area would like to see happen.

“This is just a sliver of the big picture,” Moncayo said.

The big picture involves strategic planning committees in Fresno and rebuilding El Dorado Park to be a safer and more productive contribution to its residents and the surrounding area.

The second meeting will present residents with three different plans composed from the ideas presented at the first meeting. From there, discussion will be closed to the public and the city will take over.

The extent of time the project will cover depends on what residents want to see happen to the area. Addition of streetlights, new pavement on the roads or a park could be done relatively quickly, said Josh McDonald, chief of staff for ASI. If it is renovation of the buildings and new landlords they are looking for, it could take longer.

El Dorado Park is located between Bulldog Lane and Barstow Avenue on the north and south ends, and Millbrook and 6th avenues on the west and east ends.

Located so close to campus and the popular Bulldog Stadium, the decline of the neighborhood affects more than just the residents. This is a unique and moving project

that reaches out to the public in efforts to improve the community.

El Dorado Park is an area with an increase in crime such as reports of cars being broken into, people being attacked and things being stolen, according McDondald.

If you are a resident living in the Bulldog Apartments, Campus Place complex or anywhere in the area, you are encouraged to attend the meeting and let your voice be heard. The organizations will also be providing a continental breakfast and lunch.

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Comments

One Response to “ASI and Fresno community hope to improve ‘Sin City’”

  1. Tiny on January 30th, 2008 10:26 pm

    This seems like a problem for the city to figure out—–not Fresno State. If my student activity funds are used to provide lighting for some slumlord’s dwelling I would have to argue that is misappropriation—–Get the city in there. And the place between Bulldog Apts and Campus Place should be zoned for student housing. I’ve nearly been robbed there three times——–why is that still zoned for low-income Fresno families?—–they are a major problem as well.

    Moncayo—-you have many spots on campus that need repair or fixed lighting—–there’s your focus.