Coastal Bend Regional Park Foundation

FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is a regional park?
2. What is a forested park?
3. Is the park designed to showcase the existing natural visitation?
4. Why is the park being described as an active-recreational use park?
5. What do you mean by an equestrian center?
6. How many buildings will the park have?
7. What security exists for the park?
8. Who is responsible for the park's upkeep?
9. Where will the park be located?
10. Does this park compete with other established facilities?
11. Will the park have a fee to enter?
12. What is the Coastal Bend Regional Park Foundation?
13. How can I be a part of the park?
14. What can I do to help?
15. Can I be a board member, advisor, or volunteer?

1. What is a regional park?
A regional park is one that serves many adjacent geographic areas to its outer boundaries. The Foundation's park is designed to serve the entire Coastal Bend community, and is the only large-scale activity park of its kind located south of San Antonio, Texas.

2. What is a forested park?
A forested park means trees! The park plan incorporates a large variety of tall and medium-sized trees, capable of proper growth in the South Texas region, and includes hackberry, cedar elm, ash, pecan, cottonwoods, oak and pines, to name but a few. The concept calls for a "forested environment," so as to create something unique, and complements the surrounding environment. Trees form a comfortable canopy of shade and are located around each of the main core activity zones and along the walking, hiking, biking, skating and horseback riding trails.

3. Is the park designed to showcase the existing natural visitation?
Yes. The forested environment includes different tall and medium-sized trees, but also includes native trees and vegetation. The park plan focuses on making the best of the assortment and mix, to ensure an enjoyable, quality experience for all visitors. Landscape specialists and researchers will choose the most appropriate vegetation and trees for inclusion in the park, the size of the proposed lakes and tributaries, the amount of topography modification, etc.

4. Why is the park being described as an active-recreational use park?
The Foundation seeks to enhance everyday use and enjoyment by the general public. Numerous outdoor/indoor activity centers and venues are contained within the park's geographical limits. Scenic lakes, modified topography, beautiful trees, and other vistas are designed to peak the visitor's interest. Trails, picnic spots, an equestrian center, camping facilities, youth areas, Scout World, birding zones, research facilities, sculpture gardens, archery/shooting ranges, and museums, are some of the planned uses. A large open, green space and amphitheatre can be used for major festival-type events, as well as to allow for sports such as lawn bowling, soccer, cricket, or perhaps a nice day of kite flying.

5. What do you mean by an equestrian center?
An equestrian center is included in the project, to allow horse owners to stable horses and hold various competitive events, as well as offer residents and visitors the opportunity to learn riding skills and participate in horseback riding. Trails around the perimeter will provide a number of riding trails much like Central Park in New York City, New York or Balboa Park in San Diego, California.

6. How many buildings will the park have?
The park's offices are located in a single building and contain a nature library, classrooms, gift shop, and concessions facility. Each of the seven core activity centers in the park includes one or more buildings to accommodate their respective missions. Ranger stations, maintenance structures, pavilions/ gazebos, and restrooms are located throughout the park.

7. What security exists for the park?
A large grand entrance to the park allows for photographic opportunities, but also enhances access control to the park. All other entry points will be severely limited, so as to maximize security both during and after operational hours. Park Rangers will provide to the day-to-day security needs and first aid assistance.

8. Who is responsible for the park's upkeep?
The park is preserved as a forest, not as a neighborhood park. Other than the main activity centers and trails systems, vegetation is permitted to grow naturally, to the greatest extent possible. The Foundation is responsible for overall management and maintenance, and various activity centers and venues operated by other organizations will be overseen and maintained by those organizations.

9. Where will the park be located?
The Foundation has tentatively identified a 1600 acre site, that appears to meet all of the required criteria for the park, such as access by the general public, proximity to water, present use and size, and economic feasibility. Water availability is the most important consideration, both with respect to the early watering of plants, as well as the projected lakes. University research potential and use is the second most important consideration in this regard.

10. Does this park compete with other established facilities?
Of course it does. The Foundation will establish a cooperative effort with other venues to ensure cross-promotion of all our area has to offer. Moreover, the Foundation is focusing on different uses not presently available in this type of setting in the Coastal Bend, as well as different user groups. Virtually every community of any size has several such projects which generally work in tandem with one another.

11. Will the park have a fee to enter?
As with many other similar parks around the nation, a small amount is charged per car at the park's main entrance. The gate revenues, together with rental incomes and various public/private grants, are used to manage, maintain, and further develop the park.

12. What is the Coastal Bend Regional Park Foundation?
In 1994, a group of citizens realized that although the Coastal Bend has an abundance of scenic water views, beaches, sailing, boating, fishing, and rangeland hunting, one attraction was sorely missing - a forested regional park with multiple outdoor activities and venues. The Foundation was established in the same year as a non-profit corporation for the sole purpose of establishing a forested regional park in the Coastal Bend. The Foundation consists of a Board of Directors, and is presently forming an Advisory Board which shall consist of 300 members.

13. How can I be a part of the park?
This project is a grass roots community effort and will take all of us working together to plan and perform all of the tasks necessary to establish the park. Your support is greatly appreciated. Click here to receive additional information.

14. What can I do to help?
Send a contribution to the Coastal Bend Regional Park Foundation, 600 Leopard Street, Suite 2100, Corpus Christi, Texas 78473. The Foundation is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Texas and is designated a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Your contribution is tax deductible.

15. Can I be a board member, advisor, or volunteer?
Yes! Go to the applications page, and complete the relevant form. We will contact you to discuss your participation.