Current Projects
Beach Nourishment
The EDC’s principal ongoing project is Beach Nourishment since 1998. Working in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office, the EDC ensures the use of beach-quality sand dredged from the Brownsville Ship Channel is placed on the Town’s beaches to combat erosion. Beaches are widened and additionally, an offshore berm has been created to reduce future erosion by minimizing wave action during stormy weather. The Beach Nourishment process occurs every one-two years. The last completed cycle was in March 2010.
South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center
The South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is the South Padre Island wing of the World Birding Center (nine unique sites that offer visitors of the Rio Grande Valley interesting and one-of-a kind nature adventures). The Birding & Nature Center is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the birds of South Padre Island and its environs: the flora, fauna and natural environment of South Padre Island, the Laguna Madre Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, South Texas, and Northern Mexico generally with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness.
The South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is located on the north end of Town, just south of the South Padre Island Convention Centre on the west side of Padre Boulevard. (6801 Padre Blvd.) The Center offers a variety of programs and tours for the novice to the more advanced naturalist; for the individual to the family; for school field trips to more individualized group requests.
The new facility includes a 10,000 square foot Visitor’s Center with exhibits that take visitors on an educational voyage from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, through the dunes on our beautiful beaches and into the Laguna Madre Bay. These exhibits teach you about the island ecology; the interactions between the location, the plants, and the animals that all intertwine into what is South Padre Island. The Nature Center also features an auditorium showing a documentary film by Richard Moore – the Outdoor Naturalist, and a five (5) story observation tower that our visitors can get to via the elevator, or via the swirling outdoor circular staircase -- what better way to view the wetland landscapes and wildlife? Other than, perhaps along the 3,262 linear feet of boardwalks and five (5) bird blinds that run along and through the wetlands close by.
Should you find yourself wanting a memento to remember your experience the gift shop is open for eco-friendly shopping and has many beautiful treasures for sale.
The SPI Birding & Nature Center has rental space available for meetings and events.
South Padre Island is a haven for birds and birders, as well as all nature enthusiasts. The impressive diversity of birds during a migration “fall out” is a spectacular viewing experience and the observation tower at the new Birding Center is great place to be during both the spring and fall phenomenon.
Birding is the most dynamic growth sector within the outdoor recreation market and the new South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center provides both experienced and novice birders an exceptional facility with state-of-the-art exhibits and interpretive materials. The Center provides scientific educational opportunities to Valley schools, locals and visiting families, allowing them to learn about our area. Mostly the SPI Birding and Nature Center hopes to teach everyone what a healthy and thriving ecosystem is, how important it is to our existence, and how to protect and preserve our nature.
A Sales Tax Revenue Bond in the amount of $5.2 million was used for the construction of the facility. Grants were received totaling $1.25 million and over $200K was received from the community donors.
Grand Opening took place on September 26, 2009.
We are a non-profit organization created by the Town of South Padre Island’s Economic Development Corporation in response to the researched desires of our residents and visitors.
As one of the nine World Birding Center sites located within the lower Rio Grande Valley, our primary goal is to provide excellent, one-of-a-kind birding opportunities coupled with interpretive tours of our site and educational opportunities to learn about birds and birding here on South Padre Island. But we don’t just talk about the birds on the Island; we also have fabulous fish, dolphin, plants and other animals to talk about.
The mission of the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center is to provide educational opportunities for our residents and visitors to learn about birds, flora, fauna and the natural environment of South Padre Island, the Laguna Madre Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico with an emphasis on conservation and environmental awareness.
Since South Padre Island is a sand bar located between the Gulf of Mexico (on the east) and the hypersaline Laguna Madre Bay (on the west), we feel we are located in a pretty special place with neat and interesting plants and animals – and we want to share our love of this special place with you, your family, and your friends.
For more information, please visit: www.spibirding.com
Second Causeway
The consulting firm of Wilbur Smith Associates was retained by the EDC in February 1999 to provide a feasibility study for a much-needed second causeway toward the north end of town, near the Convention Centre. The Queen Isabella Causeway, the only access to our island, is often crowded and congested, and is the only evacuation route in the event of a hurricane.
Currently, development of this project is under the direction of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA). The Second Causeway will be a toll road. According to the CCRMA schedule the ground breaking will occur in 2011, and construction completed in 2014.
Second Causeway Project Development Plan
Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority - System Map
Comprehensive Plan
In 2002-03 the EDC worked with the consultants from Wallace Roberts & Todd to develop the Comprehensive Plan for the Town. Phase One included community input through forums and written responses. Approximately 400 citizens were involved in this important step of the process with the end result being a Vision Statement for the Island for the year 2020. Another deliverable from WRT was a Community Enhancement Plan for the Town to be used for building design guidelines. The Board of Aldermen asked the EDC to cease their work with WRT due to expense and the City Planning Department will receive proposals for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Completed Projects
Completed projects include the bay front Tompkins Channel which allows small craft to safely and comfortably navigate from its point of origination along the Queen Isabella Causeway alongside the Laguna Madre to the north of Town and also the Randall Travel Marketing comprehensive travel and tourism study.
