EL PASO, Texas -- Gloria Villaverde has been hiking in the southern tip of the Franklin Mountains for eight years. The land is known as the Palisades and is already used by many people for hiking and mountain riding. Villaverde said every once in a while she's been told she's trespassing. A vote to purchase the 202-acre piece of land in Central El Paso will change that.

"I know my kids and my kid's kids and the general public will have it at their call whenever they want to go out there. It's definitely historical," said Richard Martinez, the chairman of the Public Service Board.

The Public Service Board approved the $2.5 million-purchase by the Stormwater Utility. The acres was private land and it's taken decades to get to this point, according to Ed Archuleta, president of the utility. This will be the first purchase with the 10 percent of stormwater fees set aside for open space acquisition.

By buying the land the utility will be able to make improvements to the arroyo in order to prevent flooding in the Kern Place area.

"We're trying to do something for the stormwater, that's really why we're getting involved in this. That's why we believe in this. And if we can help out in having some open space, that's great too," said Martinez.

The 200 acres serves as the gateway to the Franklin Mountains State Park and by buying the land the utility could prevent several arroyos from development.

"A lot of us who come up here and enjoy what El Paso has to offer outdoors don't want to get arrested we just want to enjoy what's in our city," said Villaverder.

Palisades Joint Venture is selling the land and the sale is expected to become final in about 60 days.