October on the Far East Side: What's Happening at The Beast While Phase II Goes Up

Beast Urban Park on Jason Crandall Drive is the biggest public amenity on the far East side, and it is still only half built. Its first phase put most of the money into a pool, a gym and a water park. The fields and courts you can see going up now will turn it into an outdoor park, and the latest public target for finishing them is Spring 2027. Until then, most of this fall's outdoor activity happens on the edges of the far East side. The season then comes back to The Beast for one afternoon on October 31.

What Phase I Built, and Why It Feels Like an Indoor Park

The Beast opened in 2021. The City describes the first phase as a recreation facility with an indoor 50-meter pool and diving well, a warm-up pool, a gymnasium, fitness areas, a community room and an outdoor water park with a surfing machine. El Paso Matters reported that the first phase cost about $38 million. It was paid for mainly through the quality of life bond voters approved in 2012. The Eastside Natatorium alone has bleacher seating for about 800 spectators, enough to host tournaments.

Look at where that money went. Here is what The Beast offers on a regular October day:

• The Beast–Eastside Regional Recreation Center: the City lists a gym, an indoor track, a swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, a weight room and a pickleball court.
• Eastside Natatorium: a 50-meter competition pool, a 25-yard leisure pool and diving springboards, with lap and recreational swimming during operating hours.
• Oasis water park: the Oasis lists the Flash Flood Rush surfing simulator, slides, a climbing wall, a lagoon, a lazy river and a children's splash area.

For pickleball players, that one court at the recreation center is it for now. The courts going up outside are a separate project.

Swimmers may want to check hours before heading over. The natatorium was scheduled to close for about three weeks starting Monday, July 27, so crews could install 176 new overhead LED fixtures. The City noted the closure could run longer if crews ran into unforeseen conditions. The City's aquatic centers page lists regular hours, but we haven't seen a formal reopening notice. A quick call before you pack a swim bag is worth it.

What the Fencing on Jason Crandall Is For

City Council awarded the Phase II construction contract, about $11.7 million, to Gracen Engineering & Construction on January 6, 2026. The City describes the full enhancement budget as about $15 million. The City scheduled the groundbreaking for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and KFOX reported the ceremony that day. KTSM's coverage gives the date as Thursday, March 19. The City's own announcement is the stronger record.

KTSM reported that Phase II adds 15 acres, which the station compared to more than 11 football fields with end zones. According to the City's announcement, those acres will hold:

• Four diamond fields with dugout shelters
• Ten pickleball courts
• Two handball courts
• Two sand volleyball courts
• Two basketball courts
• Bleachers, bike racks, more parking and food-truck parking
• Landscaping, shade canopies, fencing and restrooms

The City's January contract announcement also lists walking paths in the project.

Set that list against Phase I. The first phase spent about $38 million on a building, a natatorium and a water park. The second spends about $15 million on open-air courts, fields and shade. When it's done, the City says the complex will cover 92 acres and become the largest park in its inventory. In practical terms, the City's recreation center listing shows one pickleball court today, and Phase II adds ten more along with four diamond fields.

City Rep. Ivan Niño of District 5 spoke at the groundbreaking:

"It's said to be the largest urban park once it's completed. This has been a vision for over 20 years."

Niño also told KTSM that work would take about a year, with completion expected by Spring 2027. We haven't seen a revised date since. For planning purposes, assume the fields and courts won't host anything this fall.

Until Then, Fall Happens at the Edges

With the new courts still behind fencing, the far East side's outdoor fall happens farther out, toward the edges of town. El Paso Matters' 2026 fall guide lists these close to home.

El Paso's Farm Land Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch at 1100 Nuevo Hueco Tanks Blvd. runs 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3 through 25. The guide says the maze takes about 45 minutes on average. Admission is $12.95 plus tax for ages 12 and older and $9.95 plus tax for ages 3 to 11, and kids 2 and younger get in free. New this year is a $14.95 unlimited ride ticket for ages 3 and up, which doesn't include pony rides. Active-duty military members and teachers get $1 off admission with ID. The ticket booth is cashless.

Forbidden Acres Haunted Trail at 13161 Tobacco Road runs Oct. 1 through 31, Thursday through Sunday. Hours are 8 to 10:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays and 8 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. General admission is $28 and a fast pass is $48. This one is cash only, with an ATM on site.

Ramirez Pecan Farm at 13709 North Loop Drive in Clint hosts a two-day pumpkin patch and painting event in its orchard, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18. Admission is free. Pumpkins and painting kits are for sale, and the country store sells butter pecan ice cream, biscochos, pecans, pecan pie and fresh breads. Pecan-smoked barbecue will also be available. To enter the decorating contest, post a photo of your pumpkin with #RPFpumpkin2026.

For a walk without a ticket, the City's project page describes the Tierra del Estes Paved Trail. It runs next to Rainbow Vista Park at 3001 Rich Beem Blvd., makes a 1-mile connection between Rich Beem Boulevard and John Hayes Street, and has dog-waste stations. The same page lists an all-abilities swing set, a walking path and benches at Ranchos del Sol Park, 1100 Ted Houghton Dr. It also lists a metal playground shade canopy at Carlos Bomach Park, 12420 Nina Pearl Dr. For families who need field space today, the Richard A. Castro–Eastside Sports Complex at 14380 Montwood Dr. took its new name in January 2026. El Paso Matters describes it as 15 soccer and football fields plus a championship field, an inclusive playground and sheltered picnic areas.

New Stops Between the Maze and Home

Several new food and drink spots opened this year along the routes to these outings. Some openings are confirmed. Others we know only from announcements.

Confirmed open:

• 7 Brew, a drive-thru at 12220 Eastlake Blvd. The El Paso Times reported a planned opening on Monday, Sept. 14. The location page lists daily hours and has customer reviews dated that same day.
• Pokeworks at 14011 Pebble Hills Blvd., its second El Paso location. The El Paso Times described it as recently opened in mid-September.
• La Reina de Michoacan at 9917 North Loop Drive in Socorro. The same El Paso Times report said it opened Sunday, Sept. 13. It sits on North Loop, the road out to Ramirez Pecan Farm.

Announced, but we haven't seen a post-opening report:

• Dion's Pizza at 3154 N. Zaragoza Road. The El Paso Times reported a planned 10:30 a.m. opening on Thursday, Sept. 24, with Pebble Hills High School arts and athletics students expected to attend.
• Slim Chickens at 3152 N. Zaragoza Road, announced as El Paso's first location with an opening set for April 21, 2026.

October 31 Brings It Back to Jason Crandall

The month ends where it started. El Paso Parks and Recreation will host free Halloween Carnivals from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, with costume contests, games, candy, jumping balloons and music. The Beast Urban Park at 13501 Jason Crandall Drive is one of the participating sites. So is Marty Robbins Recreation Center at 11620 Vista del Sol Drive.

At this year's carnival, families at The Beast will be next to the construction for the courts and fields, which are expected to be finished by spring. If the Spring 2027 timeline holds, the ten pickleball courts and four diamond fields will be open at the park by next October.

Questions about how The Beast's expansion and the new spots along Eastlake and Zaragoza are changing everyday life on the far East side? The team at Center Real Estate follows these East El Paso projects closely and is happy to talk them through with you in English or Spanish. Contact Us.