The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 129

Til TIT I I THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1995 Ml WEST TEXAS 'Surprising San Angelo' slogan fits city on the move Tt 3 ft. I- I ViiIii'i I Texas town bridges its past and future. By Kathryn Straach DALLAS MORNING NEWS an Angelo, Texas The i dust is flying out in West Texas, but this storm doesn't involve tumbleweeds. Instead, the whirlwind takes the form of progress and renovation In a town doing its level best to live up to its slogan: "Surprising San Angelo." Perhaps I am particularly surprised, having spent the first 20 years of my life as a resident here. The town of nearly 90,000 is pulling together its assets, adding a little pizazz and creating a real gem in the heart of town.

After all, San Angelo is known for one of its gems the Concho pearl found only in the waters surrounding the town. The city is revitalizing roughly a $ix-block area from the town's historic Fort Concho, across the river to its downtown district, all connected with a greenbelt area, walking paths, shops and such. For the past couple of years, the project was loosely called "the mercado." A couple of weeks ago, the city officially dubbed it "El Paseo de Santa Angela," or the "Heritage Trail." The idea for the project took root in 1992 when the city brought in a Regional Urban Design Assistance team. The group of volunteers offered suggestions and city leaders ran with them. "It is amazing that San Angelo has done something so quickly," marvels Rick Smith, columnist for months later, she unexpectedly died, which motivated friends and family to see that the statue, be cast.

Garland Weeks, a sculptor and friend of Beck's, completed project. The statue is of a freshwater mermaid holding a mussel shell containing a Concho pearl. It has a rounded tail, the distinguishing factor of a freshwater mermaid, according to the artist. The topless mermaid stirred a little controversy in this somewhat conservative town (perhaps she should wear a pearl-studded camisole). Only a few weeks ago, some prankster covered her with a bra.

My father-in-law thinks she is too muscular and too old to be a mermaid. New museum building Other plans for El Paseo de Santa Angela call for the Museum of Fine Arts, currently at Fort Concho, to build a new facility along the banks of the river. The river also features the River Stage (the town's sesquicenten-nial project), a children's playground and an amusement park with a turn-of-the-century carousel. City officials hope restaurants and businesses will build along the river. On the other side of the bridge lies the historic downtown area.

Concho Avenue, San Angelo's first street, features restored buildings with shops and restaurants, a 100-year-old saddle shop and Miss Hattie's, a former bordello. The former "gentlemen's parlor" occupied the second floor and is now a museum, showcasing the historic rooms. Playing off the theme, Miss Hattie's Parlour, a lingerie and candles-and-such shop, is on the first floor. Before you go Information: Contact the San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, 500 Rio Concho Drive, San Angelo, Texas 76903; (915) 653-1206 or (800) 375-1206. Annual events: Fiesta del Concho, June 16-18.

In a recent controversy, city officials moved this festival from the river to the fairgrounds, but a public outcry moved it right back. Fourth of July Pops Concert, River Stage, July 3. BalloonFest '95, Sept. 1-3, Mathis Field. Roping Fiesta, Nov.

4-5, fairgrounds. San Angelo Stock Show and PRCA Rodeo, March 2-10, 1996. local pecan growers. Connecting this south side of the river with the downtown area on the north side is a pedestrian-only bridge, the first project of El Paseo de Santa Angela. Celebration Bridge was completed and dedicated July 4.

1993. The bridge curves across the river with messages in stones purchased by hundreds of local citizens. Its multilevel concrete columns offer places to sit and ample opportunity for kids to play. The bridge even has built-in games, such as checkers, tick-tack-toe and hopscotch. Fishing is allowed.

Added last summer at the foot of the bridge in the river is "The Pearl of the Conchos," a statue created by Jayne Charless Beck. The local artist won a Museum of Fine Arts contest with her design idea in September 1992. Four Knight-Ridder Tribune of the Conchos statue and Celebration Bridge are part of the in San Angelo, Texas. eral of the structures between the fort and the river. Plentiful parking lots were being completed during a recent visit.

Two large open-air pavilions will be built for festivals and a farmers' market. There also will a plaza, reminiscent of plazas Mexico, says Marion Szurek, vice president of the convention and visitors bureau. Plazas are the social and gathering place in Hispanic cultures, a population that was well established in this area WISCONSIN For aviation aficionados, Oshkosh trek's a yearly pilgrimage brations ever held," said Tom Po-berezny, president of the EAA. "Bringing the people and the airplanes together it is quite difficult. It only happens on a significant anniversary date," said Poberezny, "and when 75- and 100-year anniversaries come along, one or the other is not going to be there." Oshkosh is the largest aviation event in the world.

Last year, ft: of San Angelo by 1880, she says. An Old Town section will feature a collection of pioneer buildings, including a bank building and ranch homes. In the center will be a large windmill, symbolic of the local ranching and farming heritage. The railroad's arrival in San Angelo in 1888 will be documented in the Santa Fe Depot, which will house a railroad museum. Shading the area will be pecan trees lots of them, provided by more than 12,000 aircraft were flown in and 2,584 planes were on display, as members of the EAA met during their annual convention.

From 8 a.m., when the gates open, until 11 p.m., there is a string of activities on the site. Along the flight line, neatly parked rows of airplanes are on display, grouped in careen in sickening loops, upside-down through luminous asteroids, before emerging three minutes later: green, hoarse and mumbling the question "Why?" It helps to have children with you, and on my recent visit I took my 7-year-old daughter and my son, almost 4. They reacted with such touching awe to the Disney experience that only the most miserable curmudgeon would have been left unmoved. Culture you back a spell. i broad categories.

The highlight of each day's activities is an afternoon airshow. "The daily shows begin at 3:30 p.m., give or take 15 minutes," Poberezny said. "We have the top aerobatic performers in the country." But the day's activities do not end with the airshow. Every evening at the Theater in the Woods, an open-air facility, there are spe Calling All Cruisers! 20-70 discounts on all major cruise lines 1 and destinations All About Cruises 4 (800) 329-3839 Discount Up To 50 Cruise Save 1-800-333-1888 Bonded and licensed EUROPE PEARL OF A BEAUTY: The Pearl El Paseo de Santa Angela project the San Angelo Standard Times and college colleague of mine. "It's going to be done by the end of the year, in time for Christmas at Old Fort Concho," he says.

The project has moved so swiftly and so successly that it was featured in the April edition of Architecture magazine. Finding the fort Buildings that hid the old fort have been bulldozed, as have sev Convention and Sport Aviation Exhibition is known to aviators around the world simply as "Oshkosh." This summer, from July 27 through Aug. 2, the largest variety of World War II aircraft assembled since D-Day will visit Oshkosh. "The focus is on commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II; it probably will be one of the last major cele a mountain For the company, it should herald a final easing of its Euro-miseries. These woes have already been improved by recent re-investment, some serious cost-cutting and, of course, a name change from EuroDisney to Disneyland Paris.

But it is with Space Mountain, an upgraded (i.e. more horrifying) version of its Florida and California rides of the same name, that Disney places most faith. achievements of past civilizations. Taste the sweetness and the spice that makes life such an adventure. Just call us toll-free at 1-800-433-3025 for a free Vacation Planning Guide on Evansville, Indiana.

msvifli And The Good Hints be in to Fly-in at the city known for overalls will be the world's biggest aircraft convention. By William Recktenwald CHICAGO TRIBUNE shkosh, Wis. The 43rd I annual Experimental Air craft Association Fly-In Disney moves By Robin McKie LONDON OBSERVER SERVICE London Disney engineers will wave their magic wands for a last time over their controversial Paris theme park and, on June 1, will open a rollercoas-ter of monstrous dimensions. This is Space Mountain, the final technological flourish intended to transform Europe's beleaguered pleasuredome. save Paris pleasure park Let the Good cial presentations.

"Jim Lovell will be here to talk about Apollo 13," Poberezny said. The evening presentations are not all aviation. Several feature musical groups, Poberezny noted, including Mike Snyder, a regular on the Grand Ole Opry. For more information about the event or about the EAA. call (414) 426-4800.

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