|
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
|
join in celebrating the grand reopening of Galveston Island State |
|
Park, which is taking place on March 31 and April 1, 2023, during |
|
the centennial year of Texas State Parks; and |
|
WHEREAS, Along with many other areas on the Texas Gulf |
|
Coast, Galveston Island State Park suffered catastrophic damage |
|
in 2008 as a result of Hurricane Ike and its aftermath; the Texas |
|
Parks and Wildlife Department has worked diligently since that |
|
time to restore the park, and with the aid of state and federal |
|
funding, the valuable assistance of partners including Friends |
|
of Galveston Island State Park and Texas Master Naturalist, and |
|
the dedicated efforts of numerous volunteers, the park was able |
|
to reopen for limited access just six months after Hurricane Ike, |
|
and today celebrates its grand reopening; and |
|
WHEREAS, Throughout the park's restoration, the Galveston |
|
Island State Park Beach Redevelopment project has served to focus |
|
and lead recovery efforts while working to conserve and protect |
|
the park's natural and cultural resources; the redevelopment |
|
project was realized through $10.6 million in funding provided |
|
through the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resources Damage |
|
Assessment Phase III Early Restoration program by its Texas |
|
trustees, and the project's funding leveraged money from the |
|
state's sales tax on sporting goods to design and rebuild the |
|
park with the goal of preservation and greater resilience against |
|
extreme weather events; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Galveston Island State Park Beach |
|
Redevelopment project has demonstrated Texas Parks and Wildlife |
|
Department's ongoing commitment to conserving the endangered |
|
Coastal Prairie habitat located within Galveston Island State |
|
Park, and the department's concerted efforts to restore and |
|
protect our state's natural resources continue to ensure that |
|
Texas residents and visitors and future generations of Texans |
|
will have the opportunity to experience and enjoy the state's |
|
treasured outdoor spaces and its enduring natural beauty; and |
|
WHEREAS, In celebration of the successful efforts and hard |
|
work of all who have contributed to the park's restoration, Texas |
|
Parks and Wildlife Department invites the public to attend a |
|
ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 31, to commemorate the |
|
park's reopening and welcomes visitors to the park on Saturday, |
|
April 1, to join in a day of celebration and to enjoy the park's |
|
unique natural setting and its numerous recreational |
|
opportunities; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
|
Legislature, hereby recognize the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
|
Department and the Galveston Island State Park Beach |
|
Redevelopment project and extend to all in attendance at the |
|
grand reopening of Galveston Island State Park best wishes for a |
|
memorable and enjoyable celebration; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
|
honor of this special occasion. |