HomeMy WebLinkAboutpalms project for COPARepurposing the Palms at Pleasure Island
By: Palms at Pleasure Island Advisory Committee
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Palms Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee
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1. Repurposing the Palms Golf Course
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Repurpose 9 holes of the former golf course into an accessible greenspace, integrating areas for hiking, picnicking, and other community activities, while revamping its ecological landscape
into a vibrant habitat for native and migrating bird species to thrive. This will also create an opportunity to incorporate green infrastructure elements to the property to protect
current and future developments in the surrounding area from flooding and storm surge.
OBJECTIVE:
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Why repurpose the Golf Course?
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?
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Repetitive Storm Damage
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It's safe to assume that Pleasure Island has not seen its last storm.
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now
Before Ike
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KEY RESOURCES
City Owned Property
Existing Golf Course Infrastructure (pathway, pump station, ponds)
Existing Ecology
Event Center Plans (club house)
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Onsite Bird Blind
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“The Port Arthur area offers birders beautiful coastal scenery as well as some of the most exciting bird watching anywhere. Thanks to its location smack in the path of two migratory
bird flyways—the Central and the Mississippi—Southeast Texas is a birder’s paradise.”
-Port Arthur Convention and Visitors Bureau
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Birding in SETX
Port Arthur generates around $6,141,828.00 annually in revenue from tourist who are interested in birding, without a state-of-the-art birding location. (“tourists” defined by visitors
outside 50-mile radius).
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Community Engagement
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On October 9, 2024, members of the Southeast Texas Urban Integrated Field Lab visited the City of Port Arthur to conduct an in-person community survey to collect resident’s input on
Pleasure Island and its future.
There were nearly 200 Participants.
Locations:
County Court House
Empowerment Church Food Pantry
Central Mall
Woodrow Wilson Early College
The YMCA
Gulf Coast Health Center
City Hall Building
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What are your favorite memories of Pleasure Island?
Respondents looked fondly back on Pleasure Island as a location for fun gatherings with family/friends and recreational activities.
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Community Survey Summary
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Residents highlighted the need for revitalized recreational spaces, such as updated parks, expanding water activities, and restoring Pleasure Island as a year-round destination.
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Increase Recreation & Engagement Opportunities
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Current Conditions
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Next Steps:
Hydro Axe invasive growth & Land clearing.
Kill potential invasive new growth.
Update and reroute Pathway (ADA).
Rehabilitate pond pumping system and update irrigation.
Add restroom facility.
Add signage and wayfinding materials.
Plant at least 400 native trees and native grasses / develop opportunity zones.
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This is a preliminary design and does not yet reflect the layout of amenities or designated zones, which will be developed throughout the 5-year tree planting program.
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PROJECTS IMPACTS
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Provides recreational space for locals and tourists
Enhances community engagement and well-being
Creates outlets for youth activity
Offers educational opportunities (Birding, wildlife, environmental protection)
Offers space for cultural and social activities
Encourages physical activity
Reduce stress and improves mental health
Offers a natural environment for relaxation
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Community Impacts
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Protects wildlife habitat
Promotes biodiversity
Promotes tree canopy health
Provides protection from pollutants, flooding, and heat island effect
Provides protection from storm surge and coastal erosion
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Environmental Impacts
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Economic Impacts
Boosts local economy through tourism
Creates opportunity zone for future developments
Attracts businesses and events
Increases property values
Protects Pleasure Island’s Infrastructure
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Imagine Pleasure Island
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Accessible
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Scenic
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Southeast Texas
Estuarium
Interactive & Educational
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Profitable
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THANK YOU !
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CITATIONS
Port Arthur. Port Arthur | Social Pinpoint. (n.d.). https://texastargetcommunities.mysocialpinpoint.com/port-arthur/port-arthur-home retrieved December 12, 2024.
“SETx-UIFL.” SETxUIFL, setx-uifl.org/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
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