Cameron County Commissioners on Tuesday approved temporary closures of two county parks to allow construction work to begin and heard that Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission staff are recommending $2.25 million in grants to pay for major upgrades.

The court voted to temporarily close Verano McFarland Park and Laurels Regional Park for safety while contractors mobilize; work is scheduled to begin Jan. 20. County staff told the court the Laurels closure is expected to run from Jan. 20 through March 30, 2025, “or until further notice,” with phased reopenings where possible. Verano McFarland Park will remain closed until its work is fully complete, county staff said.

The closures come as county staff announced Texas Parks and Wildlife is recommending $1,500,000 to fund a Laguna Madre Nature Center at Verano McFarland Park and $750,000 for phase 2 improvements at Laurels Regional Park — a combined $2,250,000 being recommended for Cameron County projects. The court approved the temporary closures and accepted the announcements on the grant recommendations.

County staff described the planned work in detail. At Verano McFarland Park, the scope includes a splash pad, a covered basketball court, a new pavilion, low-impact-development trail work, solar lighting, renovated restrooms and improved lighting at a bird-watcher overlook facing Laguna Madre Bay. At Laurels Regional Park, planned work includes reconfiguration and lighting for soccer fields, conversion of a practice baseball field into a regulation field with lights, dugouts and bleacher canopies, construction of a covered basketball court, picnic-pavilion improvements and solar lighting along trails.

“Improvements are on the way … contractors are going to start mobilizing after January 20,” county parks staff said, and added that the parks were recommended to be temporarily closed “because of safety reasons” while the work proceeds. Staff said they will issue a press release after review by the county judge’s office to notify the public about closures and project timelines.

County commissioners noted the award recommendations were part of a broader round of successful grants in the region and praised staff and Parks and Wildlife for the funding outcomes. Staff said they will try to reopen portions of Laurels Regional Park in phases as each area is completed; Verano McFarland Park will remain closed until all work there is finished.

The court’s action was limited to approving the temporary closures and formally acknowledging the grant funding recommendations. No construction contracts were approved during the meeting; staff said a pre-construction meeting has occurred and contractors are preparing to mobilize.

County staff advised residents to watch for the formal press release with details about parking, alternate recreation access and phased reopening dates.