Boat Launch At Offat's

[kenny]

I noticed yesterday that there was construction equipment and crew working at the ramp on 61st. It's all dug up and there's bulkhead material. It's past time to fix that damage from Ike. Anyone know the scope of the job?

[ROGUECUSTOMRODS]

Yea kelso has the job. Looks like one of their cranes broke down last week cause it was at his house boomed down. Looks like it might be minimal construction unless fema money is being spent

[kenny]

Copied from the OB.Posted: Saturday, October 10, 2015 12:15 am

"It’s official: the long-awaited construction of a park and boat ramp on 61st Street in Galveston is set to begin in about six weeks.
In mid-September, the commissioner’s court approved a contract with J.W. Kelso Co. to perform work at the park, which is now officially named the Lee and Joe Jamail Bay Park. On Thursday, the county gave the go-ahead to begin work.
However, the company requested a the six-week delay because it’s waiting on materials, county spokeswoman Brittany Rainville said.

The $6.7 million project will consist of three parts: the 61st Street boat ramp on the north side of the bridge, the park on the south side of the bridge and a pedestrian bridge connecting them. New construction also will include a parking lot with 23 spaces, 500 feet of new fishing piers, landscaping and a new pavilion with picnic tables. It’s expected to be complete by fall 2016, Rainville said.

The park has been in a state of disrepair since Hurricane Ike in 2008, but plans for renovations to the area preceded the storm. In 2007, the county received a state grant for repairs and upgrades to the boat ramp, but the hurricane struck before it could be constructed.

The project has seen multiple delays. The county and the city had to come to an interlocal agreement to conduct the project because the park and the nearby boat ramp have historically been managed separately.

The county also had to officially rename the park after the Jamails and make sure that didn’t run afoul of rules for federal projects. It was renamed after the Jamails’ foundation, The Lee and Joseph D. Jamail Foundation, which donated $2.38 million to the city of Galveston to renovate the park. The county also extended its bidding period in order to allow more companies to review the project and submit bids.

The renovations of the park are to be paid for jointly by the city of Galveston and Galveston County.

The money for the project includes local funding, disaster recovery money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state grants and donations."

[H.Maier]

good place for the novice to invade. oughta be a hoot watching that action when it opens. gonna stay away. far, far, away.

[kenny]

It's always been a great place to launch, until the ramp got so bad it was iffy whether you'd lose a wheel or not. I'll be interested to see how many ramps/lanes they build. It's never been as bad as the dike or Causeway bait, but it's just fine if you stay far far away!

I had a memorable morning launching there to go fish Campbell's years ago. I motored away from the ramp and was maybe 200 yards out when I put it on a plane WOT. Damnedest thing, The binnacle arm broke off at the base. So I'm looking at the throttle in my hand thinking WTF. Then I jerked the quick disconnect.

[planohog]

Im afraid , after its all fixed nice , it will be infested with people that make you afraid to park there.

[kenny]

No, you're think about the dike. The location has too much visibility, and the city's not going to let tourists coming into town see that.