HARLINGEN — A $3.75 million makeover for one of the county’s most popular South Padre Island parks is ready for visitors.
E. K. Atwood County Park, better known as Beach Access 5, will hold a ribbon-cutting to show off the improvements on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
“The new improvements include an elevated plaza structure with five pavilions and picnic tables, restrooms, community rinse stations, two new dune walkover structures with interpretive signs, four designated parking areas for food truck concessions and other associated improvements,” said Joe E. Vega, county parks director.
“The parking area has ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking and is constructed using a pervious paving system that is environmentally friendly,” he added. “The parking lot’s unique construction will reduce storm water run-off by allowing rainwater to infiltrate through the pavement and subsoil beneath, resulting in much cleaner run-off water making its way back into our water ways and groundwater.”
The park is one of the most popular on the Island, and receives approximately a half-million visitors annually.
Vega said three food truck concessionaires have met requirements for fixed-place selling and those applications have been forwarded to the county Commissioners Court.
“The parks department is in the process of executing agreements with the three vendors,” Vega said, and those applications will be presented to commissioners for approval in March.
E.K. Atwood Park is the first project of a $20 million investment in coastal park improvements that Cameron County is undertaking.
Funding for this project comes from bonds and paid by beach user fees. The beach user fee was increased to $10 in January 2016 to pay for improvements to gulf-side amenities at Isla Blanca Park, Andy Bowie Park, Cameron County Beach Access No. 3 and E.K. Atwood Park.
“It’s a great addition to the Cameron County parks system,” Vega said. “It’s going to bring more people to that area, and we’re very excited with all the improvements going on in the coastal parks on South Padre Island.
“We’re doing all the necessary improvements to continue to provide services which are needed not only for this generation but for many generations to come,” Vega said.
WHAT: Ribbon-cutting for new amenities at South Padre Island park
WHERE: E.K. Atwood County Park, better known as Beach Access 5
WHEN: Tues., Feb. 27
TIME: 11 a.m.
Elevated plaza structure with five pavilions
Picnic tables, restrooms, community rinse stations
Two dune walkover structures with interpretive signs
Four designated parking areas for food truck concessions
ADA-compliant parking lot
