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finally recieved an answer about whats going on with the state park from tpw:
Mr. Stone,
First let me apologize for the delay in response. E-mail enquiries are routed through Austin Headquarters and I personally just received this today.
Living on the island and being familiar with the park, you realize Hurricane Ike was like no other that ever struck the area in that it literally destroyed a majority of the facilities and infrastructure at the park. It is premature to determine the associated costs or when the park will be restored, however, strategic planning and initial cleanup has begun.
The gulf side of the park received catastrophic damage, destroying all camping areas, headquarters building, portions of the road system and all underground utilities. We are currently working with contractors and FEMA to acquire estimates for removal of the facilities and infrastructure and are working with design teams in Austin to draft a new master plan. Our next daunting task will be acquiring funding to provide the cleanup and rebuild.
The park did reduce staff, however, maintained a skeleton crew to provide security, volunteer coordination and clean-up. For now, the crew and volunteers are focusing on the bay side of the park with a goal to restore limited public use by this spring. This will be contingent on continued volunteer support.
In mid October, we did work with the Galveston Bay Foundation to coordinate 200 plus volunteers to assist with cleanup on the bay side. The group did make a visible impact with the debris removed.
I agree that Galveston Island State Park is extremely popular and one of a select few across the state that actually turns a profit. For the fiscal year 2007, the park generated $1,166,000 in revenue and had an operating budget of $751,500.
If you would like to visit the park and meet with the staff, you may contact Hans Haglund, Park Police Office/Project Manager. If you have any further questions for me and would like to discuss personally, do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Justin Rhodes
State Parks Division
Region 4 Director
281-471-3200 ext. 223
Mr. Stone,
First let me apologize for the delay in response. E-mail enquiries are routed through Austin Headquarters and I personally just received this today.
Living on the island and being familiar with the park, you realize Hurricane Ike was like no other that ever struck the area in that it literally destroyed a majority of the facilities and infrastructure at the park. It is premature to determine the associated costs or when the park will be restored, however, strategic planning and initial cleanup has begun.
The gulf side of the park received catastrophic damage, destroying all camping areas, headquarters building, portions of the road system and all underground utilities. We are currently working with contractors and FEMA to acquire estimates for removal of the facilities and infrastructure and are working with design teams in Austin to draft a new master plan. Our next daunting task will be acquiring funding to provide the cleanup and rebuild.
The park did reduce staff, however, maintained a skeleton crew to provide security, volunteer coordination and clean-up. For now, the crew and volunteers are focusing on the bay side of the park with a goal to restore limited public use by this spring. This will be contingent on continued volunteer support.
In mid October, we did work with the Galveston Bay Foundation to coordinate 200 plus volunteers to assist with cleanup on the bay side. The group did make a visible impact with the debris removed.
I agree that Galveston Island State Park is extremely popular and one of a select few across the state that actually turns a profit. For the fiscal year 2007, the park generated $1,166,000 in revenue and had an operating budget of $751,500.
If you would like to visit the park and meet with the staff, you may contact Hans Haglund, Park Police Office/Project Manager. If you have any further questions for me and would like to discuss personally, do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email.
Sincerely,
Justin Rhodes
State Parks Division
Region 4 Director
281-471-3200 ext. 223
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