Hugo A. Sepúlveda 
Valeria Tokun Haga/THE RIDER
The Brownsville Parks and Recreation Department launched a public free Wi-Fi initiative at Southern Pacific Linear and Dean Porter parks for the public use of city residents.
This initiative will bring digital connectability to the entire city with a 5G network due to the collaboration between the city and Omni Fiber.
Sean De Palma, director of Parks and Recreation, said the purpose is for people to be able to be connected when they visit parks in Brownsville.
De Palma added Linear Park and Dean Porter Park already have the system built-in but are pending for the Wi-Fi to go live. Residents will have to build a profile that would allow them to login and have access to “high-speed” Wi-Fi in mentioned parks.
The department plans to go live this week, according to the director.
De Palma said the planning of this project has been going “very well” and is almost done. The technology built in the initiative is part of the Parks, Health and Recreation Master Plan.
He said the department is also adding cameras with “high-tech” and AI technology that would connect to the Brownsville Police Department to make the spaces safer.
De Palma added during the first phase of the initiative more parks would be added to the network within the next 18 months.
He said residents can expect high-speed internet, safety and functionality when visiting city parks.
Itzak Garib, a UTRGV nursing junior, said it was the first time he heard about the initiative but thinks public Wi-Fi is a good idea.
“It gets more people going to parks outside rather than just being stuck in a coffee shop and just staying there,” Garib said.
He added it is “nice” going out to a public park and having some nature behind you.
“Public parks with Wi-Fi, it’s actually a really great idea,” Garib said. “This would make me go out to a park more often.”
Israel Rios, a biology sophomore, said he was not aware about the city project but thinks it is “good” for people without internet access.
“It’s just another spot where people can have access to internet if they can’t afford it,” Rios said.
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