b'Coastal Bend CommunityThe plan to redevelop North Beach and fix its drainage problems is centeredThe second component to the North Beach Redevelopment Plan is a series of on a grand canal that would be cut through what is now Burleson Street to Corpusbreakwater islands to be created right off the beach in Corpus Christi Bay. For de-Christi Bay and would extend approximately one mile north to south, roughly wherecades, especially since shipping activity at the Port of Corpus Christi grew signifi-the grass median between Timon and Surfside Boulevards is now, and running atcantly in the 1970s and 80s, erosion of the beach has been a costly, ongoing prob-least 60-feet wide at its most narrow and wider as required for a marina. The north- lem. The porous river sand that is used to repack the beach each year erodes quickly, ern section of the canal would feature an island and pedestrian bridge system thatand the new, higher Harbor Bridge and deeper ship channel will bring in larger will provide canal front, public park space. The southern end of the canal will beships with more powerful wakes that will erode North Beach at an even faster and navigable for pleasure boats and will include plentiful marina and docking facilities. more dramatic pace. The new breakwater islands, referred to as Bird Islands, will A waterfront entertainment zone, not unlike the San Antonio Riverwalk, willalso provide new birding and wildlife habitat that is much needed in the northeast also be constructed along the southern section of the canal, providing an ideal set- corner of Corpus Christi Bay, which has been almost entirely sacrificed to industrial ting for hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops and music venues. A distinct advantage thatdevelopment connected to the port.the North Beach canal will offer versus the Riverwalk, for example, will be publicScientists and conservationists associated with the Texas State Aquarium and marine access that allows boaters to visit from anywhere, spend the day, weekendthe Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M Corpus Christi have endorsed the idea or longer, arriving and departing all on the water. Fishing trips, sunset cruises andand are involved in the planning and design of the breakwater islands. At least half both leisure and business-oriented boat tours will operate from the marina, and willof the planned islands will be restricted from human occupation, except for eco-tour include sightseeing vessels offering trips to the beachs other new feature. boats that will bring through birdwatchers and other visitors.TheCoastalBend.com THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINEFall 2019 53'