Washington Park

Readers continuously inquire about Washington Park and when it will reopen.
An increasing number are showing frustration and bitterness at the length of time it has taken to make the needed repairs and are asking who is responsible, as conflicting information has been floating around as to who is in control.

I, too, have become quite frustrated with the process, and to a large extent, the lack of information being given to the public.

Reliable sources at Galveston City Hall have told me the City Parks Board is in the process of taking over the park. 

Friday, I contacted Assistant City Manager Brian Maxwell telling him that readers of the Reel Report have been asking for answers as to what is taking place and when the park will reopen.

Maxwell’s reply stated: “The county is in the process of bidding out all of the improvements. Hopefully the bids will be reviewed and the project awarded and under construction by midsummer.”

While that news is somewhat encouraging, the fact remains that this vitally needed public fishing and recreational area has been closed too long.

Damage from Hurricane Ike forced the county to close the park and it has remained that way since.

Somehow, our public officials need to get the word that we are desperate for public fishing piers around Galveston. 

Many city and county officials have heard my complaints and, while offering sympathetic responses, still we are no farther along than we were following Ike.

Not only public officials but others as well are forgetting the fact that with each major storm or hurricane, public fishing piers are lost and many are not rebuilt.

The big losers in this catastrophe are our youth. A high percentage of the fishermen today were introduced to the sport as kids learning to fish from a pier or dock.

I am included in that category and I cherish my memories of fishing and crabbing from the numerous fishing and crabbing piers that were available when I was very young.

Let’s get the word out and push to improve this sad situation. Lots of other benefits to our community come from offering families a place to take the kids fishing and crabbing.