ESPN El Paso Goes to Socorro, Texas for the Grand Opening of Bulldog Championship Park

It seems like just yesterday that El Paso's 'Boys of Spring,' the 2009 state champion Socorro Bulldogs baseball team, secured the final out at the Dell Diamond to bring the state championship back to far west Texas for the first time since 1949.

I know that Socorro is its own municipality, and a big fuss was made that the team's parade was held in Socorro instead of downtown El Paso, but a technicality didn't spoil the celebration or pride for El Pasoans.

On Saturday, Socorro opened its newest civic gem, the $3 million dollar Bulldog Championship Park.  Before the ribbon was cut to commemorate the official opening of the park, a cavalcade of cars and trucks made their way from the high school to the park.

Crystal Dominguez and I were in one of the trucks waiving at the many Socorro residents who lined Alameda and Buford streets.  The 'monster' Mando Media was also broadcasting his program, "Crunchtime," from a nice shaded area near the park's pond.

Once I finally got my first glimpse of the park, I was blown away.  It features state of the art playground equipment, an amphitheater, a pond, and a 'spray ground' to keep kids cool on hot summer days.

The centerpiece of the park, however, is the large bronze statue that depicts the dogpile the Socorro players made on the grass at the Dell Diamond after winning the state title back in 2009.

Here was the moment that the statue was unveiled.

The coolest feature of the park, especially for those under ten, has to be the spray ground.

For more pictures from the day, check out this photo gallery.