City Council Approves Erosion Protection Project at South Bay Park

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — At today’s regularly scheduled City Council meeting, the Council approved a FEMA grant application for erosion and flood mitigation at South Bay Park.

The grant is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.

South Bay Park, on 5 acres along Oso Bay, has basketball, baseball, a shaded playground, a pavilion, a walking trail and picnic tables. Existing shoreline protection installed in the mid-90s is no longer effective and has forced the closure of public viewing areas.

The $2.9 million project would replace that infrastructure with a 50-foot-wide sand beach stabilized by rock at either end and with a concrete revetment. Access to the beach will be provided with a concrete ADA pedestrian ramp. The project will also replace two storm drains to improve stormwater runoff and provide additional erosion protection.

“This grant will allow for continued maintenance of this community park and protect it for years to come,” said Robert Dodd, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department. “Working with the federal government is a smart way to fund substantial improvements and reinforces the City’s commitment to park projects like this.”

Project costs for this will be shared between FEMA and the City. The grant request of about $2 million will be matched by the city at 25 percent, with an additional $295,900 from the City’s Type B funds.

Construction is expected to begin in April 2028, and completion is scheduled for May 2029.

For more information, media representatives can contact Bryan Quitania, Senior Public Information Officer, at 361-826-3884 or by email at BryanQ@CorpusChristiTX.gov.