Rebuilding the Park
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Welcome Center (Formerly Nature Center)
Updated 04/16/09
Rebuilding began in the Nature Center because it is to be used as the Welcome Center when the north side reopens on March 21,2009 for weekend general public visiting and the schedule of activities listed in the "Activities, Events and Meetings Schedule" link on the left. The entire contents were removed, and the walls were stripped up to 4 feet to get rid of mold and dampness.
The walls have been closed and finished, the floor has been carpeted, a wall has been opened to increase floor space by 2/3, a display case and its mandibles has been rescued and restored and a new sand box for the shell display has been built. Other displays will be rebuilt and developed as the resources become available. Bear in mind that all work has been done by volunteers and through contributions received. If you have some free time to volunteer or some loose change to contribute toward developing more displays, just go to the "Volunteer Opportunities" and "Become a Park Friend" links on the left and let us know.
The first board meeting in the new Welcome Center
The FoGISP ladies are working resolutely to get the Welcome Center ready for the March 21 reopening.
The Texas Toadflax carpets the prairie South of FM3005 for the first time in anyone's memory. This is probably a product of the controlled burn and the salt water flooding killing off other inhibiting plants. This surely is another sign of recovery and spring on the way.
The birds got skittish when I paddled too close on March 8, but they seem to be confident about the recovery of the park.
Re-opening day March 21. 2009
The morning sun illuminated the Welcome Center, flags flapped in a cooling breeze, the banquet (hot dogs) table was ready, the stage was set, the renewable energy foundations sat quietly across the road, and a blanket of Texas Toadflax wafted lazily behind them.
Inside the Welcome Center awaited contribution box, reception desk, rebuilt and newly built displays and audio and visual equipment. Most popular is likely to be the redesigned seashell sand box.
At 11:00 am our visitors and park and visiting TPWD staff listened to the reminiscences and visions of Victor Pierson, mayor of Jamaica Beach, past presidents Mort Voller and Tom Linton and our present president Shirley Foster. Justin Rhodes of TPWD Region 4 and Scott Boruff, Deputy Director of TPWD assured us that the park will be completely rebuilt. The most touching moment came when Shirley introduced and acknowledged one of the greatest friends of FoGISP and of the park. Kathrine G. McGovern now has her own room in our Welcome Center with a plaque above the door.
However, a most reassuring and rewarding omen is the return of kayak fishermen to Como Lake and Dana Cove. Likewise fishermen are coming back to the marshes by the observation tower and hikers are returning to the footbridges of Clapper Rail Trail.
By April 14. 2009 all debris and loose pavement had been removed from the beach and the former RV camping areas, and dunes had been rebuilt in front of the RV areas.
Not all facilities had been razed in the RV areas. RV spaces bordering the east/west park road, the pavement leading to them and two RV area restroom/shower buildings servicing them were salvaged.
In the headquarters area trucks were filling with the final debris removal loads and with sand for dunes fabrication. The beach had been fully revitalized.
On the bay side, the fishing school shelters had been rebuilt, the RV camping area had been restored, and the camping shelter area was restored for tent camping minus the razed enclosed shelters.
In early May, the Texas Toadflax has died off, but the fields around the Nature Center and the west shore of Oak Bayou are now a sea of yellow.
During the month of May, workmen from other parks will be restoring power pedestals, water supplies, Picnic station roofs and other utilities to prepare RV sites on both sides of the park
The tent camping area on the north side has newly planted fledgling shade trees waiting for campers.
All electrical pedestals in the 20 north side RV stations are up and waiting for the electric company.
June 17, 2009 - Readying the entire park for reopening
Beginning June 18, 2009 both sides of the park are open from dawn to dusk for day usage of the beach and bay attractions. Entry fees will be collected. from all visitors. Overnight camping will also be available on the bay side as described below. Call 512-389-8900 to reserve camping space and to get rates for entry and camping spaces.
On July 3, 2009, camping facilities on the beach side as described below will also be available.
Bay Side
The shoreline of Oak Bayou was literally untouched by the storm. The once lush brush and trees on the west shore are bare from the controlled burn last summer, but the coastal prairie grasses under them are at least knee high and growing.
Likewise the marshes were not altered by the storm. The bay side waterways are free of debris and open to paddling anywhere you want. Birds or at least the pelicans are back roosting on the remains of the marsh observation tower.
Fishing facilities and venue at Lake Como are well used on weekends, but now they will be able to fish anywhere in the park every day.
All 20 RV sites on the bay side are fully operable. All have water and electricity hookups and paved pads.
The ten (10) enclosed and screened camping shelters lost these structures as well as the electrical feeds. They have been reconstituted as tent site with [paved pads, fledgling shade trees and elevated hooks for gear and food storage.
Beginning Monday June 21, you can call 512-389-8900 to reserve these spaces and get rates.
Beach Side
All storm damaged facilities have been removed, and cleared to the ground. Dunes have been rebuilt at the edge of the beach.
The beach sand has been completely stripped, sifted and replaced. Volunteers planted appropriate grasses on all surfaces of the newly constructed dunes, and.sand holding vegetation has begun to grow on the dunes. 36 RV spaces stretched across all three RV areas survived the storm. Twelve (12) of them have electricity and all have water hookups and paved access and pads. Two (2) of the area rest rooms survived and have indoor and outdoor showers as well as restroom facilities. Plans call for these spaces to be available for reservation by July 3, 2009..
A protective fence is installed on both sides of the dunes to prevent people walking on them. Day use beach entry is at the east end of the dunes, and there is a small picnic area at this entrance . There is a gap in the dunes behind each camping area to allow beach access without walking over the dunes.
The freshwater swale has begun to recover, but rain is badly needed to support continued re-growth.
TPWD rangers and craftsmen feverishly worked to finish the entry deck and disabled access ramp to the temporary park headquarters.
August 1, 2009
Beach and Camping
The man made dunes are resplendent with lush green new growth. There is little evidence of growth of the grass species planted by volunteers most likely because of the lack of rain since the planting. Probably the growth is from seeds and roots in the dirt lifted from the formerly grassy areas that was used to form the dunes. This vegetation would likely be more tolerant of the dry conditions we have in the summer.
Camping in the limited beach sites is just as popular as before Ike, especially with the gulls. Each of the 3 camping areas has an access path to the beach which is lined by a fence to deter intrusion to the dunes and the vegetation
February 23, 2010
Access to the beach has been greatly improved. Instead of having to tromp through deep soft sand carrying all your beach gear, you now have a boardwalk almost from the parking lot to the more solid sand of the beach where you are free to roam in either direction over the 1-1/4 miles of beach. Two handicap accessible toilet facilities have been added to the entry as well as the showers and picnic area already there
Two wheel chair accessible toilet facilities have been added to the ground camping area on the bay side also.
The temporary headquarters building has been finished complete with wrap around decking with entry stairs at the front and wheelchair ramp entry from the rear. Inside are guest service counter and offices with park staff waiting to be of service.
March11, 2010
A group of Michigan University students spent their Spring Break doing volunteer work, and they spent a day at GISP. One result was a roof over the fish cleaning station. Although the station isn't enclosed as the original was, fishermen won't have to take home sunburned fish even if they might be wind burned.
Future Prospects
TPWD fully intends to rebuild the park at least as good as it was, but this can take 3 to 5 years. The legislature had approved full funding during this year's session, however it was stipulated that the money had to be spent or committed this year. That was not feasible because planning and bidding processes would take longer than that, so they asked only for enough to do the planning which could be bid and completed by the end of the year. They will go for the rest of the money the next legislative session, but that is 2 years away. Additionally, once appropriated, the money isn't available for spending for an additional year. That's 3 years down the road already. Tack on time to go for advertising for bids, for awarding contracts and for construction, and you're out another 2 or 3 years.
The planning process is under way, and it will include town hall type meetings across the state to get public advise on what the park should be. For first hand information on the redevelopment planning you should attend the FoGISP annual meeting where Walt Dabney, Parks Manager of TPWD will expound. See the home page for details.
This page will be in continuous construction along with the park. As work progresses, we will update the page to show you what's happening. This way we can update you frequently on the fruits of our joint efforts. Come back frequently to keep abreast.