Corpus Christi leaders approved a FEMA grant application to fund a $2.9 million shoreline project at South Bay Park aimed at erosion control and safer public access.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi City Council has approved a FEMA grant application that could bring major shoreline improvements to South Bay Park along Oso Bay.
During Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting, council members approved the City’s application for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. The proposed project is designed to address ongoing erosion and flooding issues that have impacted the waterfront park for years.
South Bay Park spans about five acres and includes basketball and baseball facilities, a shaded playground, picnic areas, a pavilion and a walking trail. However, city officials say the shoreline protection system installed in the mid-1990s has deteriorated significantly.
“The existing shoreline protection system has exceeded its functional life,” said Robert Dodd, Director of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department. “The retaining wall has experienced settlement, separation, displacement and soil loss, which caused major cracking and collapse in portions of the adjacent concrete pad.”
Because of the damage, the waterfront concrete pad that once provided access for activities such as bank fishing has been fenced off due to safety concerns.
If approved by FEMA, the $2.9 million project would replace the aging infrastructure with a new 50-foot-wide sand beach stabilized by rock groins and a concrete revetment system. Plans also include a vegetated articulating block mat revetment to better protect the shoreline while creating a more natural transition between the park and Oso Bay.
Unlike the original shoreline system, the new design is intended to improve both erosion control and recreational access.
“The proposed improvements emphasize resilience, drainage improvements and public accessibility,” Dodd said.
The project also includes the replacement of two storm drains to improve stormwater runoff and provide additional erosion protection.
City officials say accessibility is another major focus of the project. Current shoreline protections do not include ramps or safe access points to the water. Proposed upgrades would add ADA-accessible ramps and gently sloping shoreline access to allow safer entry for kayaking, paddleboarding, wade fishing and other recreational activities.
Environmental concerns tied to the project have already been addressed through coordination with federal agencies. According to Dodd, the City received permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and consulted with the National Marine Fisheries Service and NOAA to ensure protection of aquatic habitats and shoreline ecosystems.
Funding for the project would come through a combination of FEMA and City contributions. The City is requesting about $2 million in federal funding and would provide a 25 percent local match along with an additional $295,900 from Type B funds.
Construction is expected to begin in April 2028 with completion projected for May 2029. Officials say the shoreline will require long-term maintenance, including periodic sand replenishment and inspections of revetments and shoreline structures following storms and erosion impacts.
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