Galveston Bay Park would complement proposed coastal barrier

Additionally, miles of artificial islands would be built along the wall. These would give residents easier access to Galveston Bay, which normally can be accessed only with a boat, Blackburn said.

“This has the chance to really open up Galveston Bay to the public,” he said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a $26 billion plan to build various protections along the coast, including a series of gates between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. One of the projects includes building a gate system where Clear Lake and Dickinson Bay meet Galveston Bay.

Blackburn said Galveston Bay Park could eliminate the need for the Clear Lake and Dickinson Bay gate systems but would complement the rest of the Army Corps’ plan. Even with the gates between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula, communities on the west side of the bay are at risk of flooding, but Galveston Bay Park could mitigate those risks, Blackburn said.

The SSPEED Center is working with the Corps on the project, and the Corps has officially indicated the park would work with the coastal barrier project. The idea is to have multiple lines of defense, Blackburn said.

The park will go through another round of studies to determine feasibility. The Port of Houston, city of Houston and Harris County have all committed to contribute funding for the studies. If the project is feasible, local governments will consider ways to permit and fund the project, Blackburn said.

Blackburn said he supports the coastal barrier project and reiterated the park is not a competitor to the barrier.

“I think it is a needed project,” he said of the barrier project. “We need protection as soon as we can.”