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PARK BOARD UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2010
New Park Board of Trustees Members Make Plans for the Future

The Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees welcomed five new members to the board in July. Miguel Aleman, Rusty Legg, Shane McDermott, James Yarbough and new chairwoman, Sheryl Rozier joined board members Dr. Craig Brown, Ernest Conner, Lauraleigh Gourley-Vogel and Melvin Williams.

The Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston is a governmental entity created by the Texas Legislature in 1962 for the purpose of directing all of Galveston’s tourism efforts. The Park Board is responsible for promoting the Island’s diversity and natural resources’, serving as the overall umbrella for Galveston’s growing tourism industry. The organization strives to make Galveston Island one of the top tourist destinations in the state.

New board members entered their term working to balance the 2010/2011 budget and have big projects on the table for the coming year. This year’s priority for the current board will be resolving FEMA project worksheets, including the issue of reluctance from Congress to obligate funds to rebuild in V-Zones.

“This is one of the largest challenges facing the board this year,” said Lou Muller, executive director of the Park Board. “Until this is resolved we can’t build the infrastructure for projects such as Apffel Park.”

The Board has also agreed to apply to FEMA for the reallocation of funds from a number of other projects that will not be rebuilt to create improved projects. Funding from Baja Beach Club, the Big Reef Walkover and picnic areas of Apffel Park will be reallocated to create new or enhanced projects. A major project in the works would be an RV Park at Seawolf Park.

The Park Board operates, maintains, and improves beach parks placed under its jurisdiction as well as manages the Island’s 32 miles of beaches. The Park Board also manages Seawolf Park, operates the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, oversees the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort and manages the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Park Board does not receive property tax or sales tax support. The organization is primarily funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) and beach user fees collected from the beach parks. Texas legislature requires that a nine member board be appointed on alternate years for two-year terms and a City Council representative appointed annually. For questions or information, call 409.797.5151 or visit www.galvestonparkboard.org.