Grant to open trails in barrier island park
Funds will make the Big Reef nature area more accessible for visitors to observe animals and plants in a natural setting
With the recent award of a federal grant to improve a natural area on the east end of Galveston Island, planners hope to provide greater access to a little-known attraction and boost fundraising for a much larger project.
The Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council received $136,000 from Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for trails in Big Reef Nature Park as part of $5.25 million in federal grants for trail projects across the state.
“Folks come out and enjoy our attractions and the beach itself, but there’s not a great natural side to offer,” said Diane Olsen, president of the tourism council. “This area showcases animal and plants in a quiet and peaceful setting.
“In building these trails we will be able to open that up for guests to appreciate.”
The award comes in the wake of a $50,000 grant from the John P. McGovern Foundation, which with the $136,000 will fund 1.5 miles of trail, observation deck, benches, interpretive signage and parking, providing access to an approximately 60-acre area between Boddeker Drive and the Ship Channel.
“We hope with this grant people will pay more attention to what’s happening to the East End Lagoon,” said Jeri Kinnear, who is spearheading development of the 640-acre East End Lagoon Nature Park and Preserve.
“They’ll come in and enjoy (Big Reef ), and they’ll want to
see more and hopefully that will help raise more funds.”
Big Reef encompasses coastal wetlands and prairie and beachfront, providing a habitat for a variety of birds, including herons, terns and black skimmers. Following an assessment and impact study, Olsen said she is hoping the improvements, designed to retain the area’s natural side while providing a comfortable experience, will be completed by next summer.
“It’s a beautiful piece of land,” she said.
“We don’t want to change too much, but we want to make it muchmore accessible and more exciting to visit.”
Big Reef is the first step in what is hoped will be development of the adjoining East End Lagoon in a partnership that includes the nature tourism council, the city of Galveston, Texas A&M-University at Galveston, Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees and other community partners.
The city’s East End La- goonCommittee, formed in 2005, was created to raise funds, plan and coordinate the project.
A study determined it would take close to $20 million to develop the whole area, which when completed would feature a nature center, miles of trails, observation decks and other amenities.
Kinnear, the committee chair, said this first step to enhance Big Reef, though dwarfed by the price tag of the East End Lagoon project, is encouraging.
“This is some of the last vacant land of coast on a barrier island, where people can see and participate in a barrier island,” she said.
“This will be a big plus not only for Galveston but for the whole region.”
Created to support and develop educational and recreational activities around nature in Galveston, the nature tourism council is a key player in making the island’s natural resources accessible to visitors and residents for current and future use.
The council works with agencies and nonprofits to sponsor and coordinate such events as Galveston Feather Fest, an annual four-day birding and nature photography festival; the breakfast with the cranes, celebrating the winter return of migrating sandhill cranes to the island; and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
For details, www.GalvestonNatureTourism.org and www.eastendlagoon.org/channel.