KSI Specialties demolishes the bathhouse at I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Nueces County Coastal Parks plan to repurpose the column structure of the bathhouse into a new facility. According to Scott Cross, the director of Nueces County Coastal Park, the exact purpose of the new building has not yet been determined. Staff photo by Joshua Guenther
Improvements are expected at I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park in 2021.
A new observation deck will be added to Horace Caldwell Pier, the park office is going to be demolished and rebuilt and a boardwalk will connect the park to The University of Texas Marine Science Institute, according to Scott Cross, the director of Nueces County Coastal Parks.
“Once you get to the end of 2021, you’re not gonna recognize that section of beach as part of Port Aransas,” Cross said. “It’s just gonna be totally different with everything that we’re doing.”
The Horace Caldwell Pier expansion will resolve a previous obligation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department for Nueces County to construct a beach observation deck at Bob Hall Pier at Padre Balli Park.
“It’s basically the same size as what the concession stand is up there right now. It’ll be a 50 by 50 (foot deck). It’ll be connected with a catwalk, and it’ll be erected on the north side of what is there,” Cross said.
A photo illustration shows the new 50-by-50 foot observation deck planned at I.B. Magee Jr. Beach Park, on the north side of the Keepers shop. The construction of the deck is expected to be completed June 6, according to Scott Cross, the director of Nueces County Coastal Parks. Courtesy photo
The deck will be open to the public and serve as a dedicated space for “education outreach on coastal ecology” when it is completed June 6, Cross said.
The park office and bath house were damaged by Hurricane Harvey in August 2017, and according to Cross, they have been tied up in insurance litigation ever since.
“We’re using local funds to get that park office opened back up, and we’re not waiting on the insurance company anymore,” Cross said.
While there are not yet plans as to what the structure of the bathhouse will be rebuilt into, Cross said the park’s office building is expected to be completed in August.
According to Cross, construction will begin at I. B. Magee Jr. Beach Park in mid-January.
“ We’re restoring the stormwater retention pond in the RV park to enhance it with a migratory bird habitat and a boardwalk system that will connect over to the World War II gun display and also connect you to your facilities for youth education,” Cross said.
Additionally, Cross said he is working on a grant to add a new tent camping site alongside the RV area that was rebuilt after Harvey damaged the park.
The county park does not allow camping on the beach. In its place, the county currently offers RV sites with utility hookups.
Cross said that once these renovations are completed at I. B. Magee Jr. Beach Park, they will transition to projects at Padre Balli Park.
As a final improvement to look out for over the next year, Nueces County commissioners decided on Friday, Dec. 18, to completely tear down and rebuild Bob Hall Pier.
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