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County Park Shoreline Remains Top Priority

Posted on: Thursday, 15 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Allen Essex, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas

Jun. 15--BROWNSVILLE -- Continuing construction work to protect the shoreline of the Arroyo Colorado at Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park is the highest priority for the county parks department, Parks Director Javier Mendez said.

Cameron County commissioners on Tuesday discussed priorities for the annual application for state Coastal Impact Assistance Program funding.

Mendez also hopes to obtain funding for two more boat ramps and for enlarging the parking lot at Thomae Park.

County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said he thought it is futile to apply again for funding to create a county park at Boca Chica beach after several unsuccessful attempts to interest state officials in the proposal.

But Mendez said facilities are badly needed at Boca Chica beach directly east of Brownsville, and a shorter drive to the Gulf of Mexico for Brownsville residents.

"We've been shot down every time," Hinojosa said of previous attempts to get CIAP funding for facilities as restrooms, a nature center, a guard station and possibly jalapas (shaded picnic areas).

Boca Chica beach is state land, except for some small parcels of private land, commissioners said.

State officials have not responded to requests that land be leased to the county for a park, the judge said.

Commissioners also heard a request from Laura de la Garza, of the Texas Coastal Watershed Program, which is also applying for CIAP funding for a program to clean up the Arroyo Colorado.

Hinojosa and Commissioners John Wood of Brownsville and David Garza of San Benito are interested in the project.

Hinojosa said the county will back up the group's request with a $25,000 contribution "when the time comes," if the group's project is chosen for state funding.

Another project the county will consider is from the city of Port Isabel, which seeks $200,000 from the county to back its application for CIAP funding for a waterfront park on property behind Derry Elementary School, Jill A. Francisco, economic development administrator for the city, said.

The park, which would cost more than $1 million, will have walking trails, a bird watch overlook, public gardens, piers and a boardwalk, she said.

If funded by the state, the park will also include piers, a boat ramp, a kayak launch and an outdoor amphitheater for educational lectures and cultural performances, Francisco said.

County commissioners said such a park would be used by many county residents, not just citizens of Port Isabel.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas

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Source: Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas)

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