South Padre Island staff report multiple coastal grants, Restore Act project to begin construction

At a recent South Padre Island task force meeting, city staff outlined progress on several coastal grants and projects, including finalized and newly awarded Coastal Management Program (CMP) grants, engineering work to make multiple beach accesses "shovel ready," and a Restore Act construction start.

Christina, a city staff member presenting the grants update, said two of three CMP Cycle 28 grants are closed and the Neptune Circle improvements are finalized but awaiting documentation to complete closeout by the end of the month. She said the Neptune Circle work included a permeable parking lot, an ADA pathway from Gulf Boulevard to a new ADA dune walkover and a permanent restroom.

Christina said CMP Cycle 29 funded engineering and design for three beach accesses — Harbor Circle, Blue Water Circle and Daydream Circle — and staff has received preliminary designs and plans to discuss design options at the task force meeting in October. She said CMP Cycle 31 awarded funding for ADA beach-access engineering for Gulf Circle (No. 3), Surf Circle (No. 7), Treasure Island (No. 11) and Poinsettia Circle…