Members of the Upper Valley Neighborhood Association fear that an industrial park and planned development near the Keystone Heritage Park wetlands could threaten the area's wildlife and an archaeological site there.

Carol Miller, the association's president, said that she wants to see the city agree to a land swap with a developer who plans to construct an apartment complex on the south end of the Keystone site. Miller said she and other association members would like to see that site turned into a nature park that would include nature trails.

"We have a beautiful map designed by an architect that shows what the park would look like," Miller said, adding that the park would have a greenhouse and baby bird infirmary.

The association recently organized a cleanup of the site in conjunction with the Great American Cleanup. The cleanup yielded tons of trash and unwanted items such as tires and couches. Miller said that the portion that lies south of the Keystone site is actually being split up into three parcels available for sale. One section has been sold and may become the site of the apartment complex, while the association is trying to save the other two parcels, Miller said.

Julie Baldwin-Muñoz, spokeswoman for the city's Engineering and Development Services department, said that a programmed project addressing the nature park is not in the works, but that it didn't mean discussions weren't under way about the park.

Miller said she's also concerned with work being done on the north end of the Keystone site, where developers Keystone Dam Ltd. are building Keystone Industrial Park. Miller said construction crews are "dewatering" the site, or draining water from the area to decrease the high water table, and poses a risk to birds raising their young in the area.

South-West city Rep. Beto O'Rourke said he hopes to meet with residents in the area and the developers.

"I need to find out who the players are so we can sit down and see if there's any opportunities to work on something," O'Rourke said. "It is privately-owned land, so we have to make sure we're respectful of these folks' property rights, but certainly if there's something we can do as a community I'm open to trying to help."

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.