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Beach Park open, debris now cleared
By MIKE PROBST, Editor & Publisher
The last of the public's visual remnants of Hurricane Ike's northeast Texas landfall last Saturday was removed with the reopening of the Rockport Beach Park. That was supposed to take place Friday, according to Rockport Parks & Leisure Services Director Tom Staley. The park was closed as the storm approached due to high tides. The five-foot tides brought in a lot of debris, making the beach unsafe for public use.
Staley said the decision to shut the beach at the entrance to the park was made because “once you let people in the gate you lose control (of where they are going).”
The debris which washed onshore was varied. Everything from coconuts and a ship's unused flare, to wood from ripped up piers/decks, large creosote poles, and wood with protruding nails.
A 20-yard container was placed on the beach to aid workers in the cleanup effort.
Visitors to the park are urged to use caution because there is no telling what might still be in the water, out of sight.
“We don't know what might be in the water unless it's protruding,” said Staley. He said when the tide is low his staff will remove any visible obstructions.
Staley said the primary reason for keeping the park closed through yesterday was to allow city employees to fill in large holes in the beach after the debris was removed.
As of Wednesday there was no major damage to any of the jetties, but there could be some minor damage around the boat ramps. That area remained under water much of the week.
Staley said water was about three inches deep in the maintenance shop which is located on the ground floor of the Saltwater Pavilion. He also noted the beach area around the saltwater pool is eroding. Staley said there is no apparent explanation for the erosion.
Another concern the city had regarding the park was the presence of snakes which land on the beach after swimming across from San Jose island, especially after storms.
“We thought we might run into a lot of snakes nestled in the dune line,” said Staley. “We made a sweep of the dunes and under the pavilions. They like to get up near the pavilions, especially after spring storms. We get them early in the morning when we do our daily beach sweeping.”
The Adopt-A-Beach set for Saturday, Sept. 27 could have a higher-than-normal attendance due to Hurricane Ike's destruction of beaches located further north on the Texas coast.
“It would have really been nice to have had it last weekend,” joked Staley.
He noted there are a lot of people interested in helping clean beaches up and down the coast this year.
“We usually get calls from people who want to help and who are going to be in town the weekend of the Adopt-A-Beach cleanup,” said Staley. “We'll just have to wait and see how many people show up.”
Staley said the decision to shut the beach at the entrance to the park was made because “once you let people in the gate you lose control (of where they are going).”
The debris which washed onshore was varied. Everything from coconuts and a ship's unused flare, to wood from ripped up piers/decks, large creosote poles, and wood with protruding nails.
A 20-yard container was placed on the beach to aid workers in the cleanup effort.
Visitors to the park are urged to use caution because there is no telling what might still be in the water, out of sight.
“We don't know what might be in the water unless it's protruding,” said Staley. He said when the tide is low his staff will remove any visible obstructions.
Staley said the primary reason for keeping the park closed through yesterday was to allow city employees to fill in large holes in the beach after the debris was removed.
As of Wednesday there was no major damage to any of the jetties, but there could be some minor damage around the boat ramps. That area remained under water much of the week.
Staley said water was about three inches deep in the maintenance shop which is located on the ground floor of the Saltwater Pavilion. He also noted the beach area around the saltwater pool is eroding. Staley said there is no apparent explanation for the erosion.
Another concern the city had regarding the park was the presence of snakes which land on the beach after swimming across from San Jose island, especially after storms.
“We thought we might run into a lot of snakes nestled in the dune line,” said Staley. “We made a sweep of the dunes and under the pavilions. They like to get up near the pavilions, especially after spring storms. We get them early in the morning when we do our daily beach sweeping.”
The Adopt-A-Beach set for Saturday, Sept. 27 could have a higher-than-normal attendance due to Hurricane Ike's destruction of beaches located further north on the Texas coast.
“It would have really been nice to have had it last weekend,” joked Staley.
He noted there are a lot of people interested in helping clean beaches up and down the coast this year.
“We usually get calls from people who want to help and who are going to be in town the weekend of the Adopt-A-Beach cleanup,” said Staley. “We'll just have to wait and see how many people show up.”
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| Missed school days will not be replaced |
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Sandra Cruser wrote on Sep 18, 2009 2:54 PM:
" How many will comment for this little girl. No family to hold her and her life taken away. This is a ridiculous accident. People drive like they are the only ones on the road. Enforce the laws. "
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