South Padre Island Woods

SPI Woods - Orca Circle

Richard Moore’s comments to SPI City Council:

Transcript of comments by outdoor TV reporter and film maker Richard Moore at the SPI 5-1-2024 City Council meeting:
 
Thank you.  My name is Richard Moore and I do promise to be brief. I thank y’all very much for letting me speak with you. You know the renovation of the convention center and the protection of the small parcel of old growth habitat are not mutually exclusive. I’ve spoken with my friend Raymond Gignac; he and I used to surf together before our hair turned gray, and Raymond assured me that he’s able to do it without destroying the old growth habitat.  He’s an excellent architect and will design a convention center per  your or the city council's wishes. 

Outdoor recreation is the number one attraction  to South Padre Island, and the annual spring and fall [song bird] migration attracts nature tourists from all over the world. Year  round this small vestige of old growth forest provides food and shelter for native birds, some which are rare and sought after year round. 

The economic value of outdoor recreation, birding in particular, is well documented. The old growth trees attract the birds, the birds attract the people, and the people bring the bucks to  stimulate the economy of South Padre Island. It is important to  understand that you cannot mitigate for old growth. I remember when  Will and Gill Carter, who happen to be in the audience this evening, began planting native trees decades ago at the convention center. It  has taken decades for that habitat to flourish. 

While landscaping  with new habitat is to be applauded, it can’t replace the old growth habitat. The bottom line is that renovation and preservation are not mutually exclusive; where birds thrive, people will prosper.

In closing, as you may be aware there’s a petition circulating and it is ever growing. It now has more than 1500 signatures from more than 40 states and 32 countries [Ed Note:  as of May 27 2024 that number is up to 2,533]. A common shared sentiment is, and I quote, “This is a critical Migratory Bird path for many birds.” Hopefully all  plans will be made in time given for citizen input. Thank you.

Photo courtesy of  Texas Country Reporter

The Issue (from a Facebook post by Justin LeClaire) -

Photos here include satellite imagery of the current format of the convention center and the plans proposed by the architectural firm that the City has hired for the redesign.   The plans clearly show (and the firm has admitted) to the central island area being wiped out for a new parking lot (to offset the loss of the parking lot further north due to building expansion), as well as clearing of a non-insignificant portion of the brush around the west and south sides of the building. This would clearcut the 1 acre in the central circle which is already more than half of the total brush habitat at the CC - and more may be taken on other parts of the property. It was stated at the city council meeting last week [week of April 15th 2024] that the firm and City wish to improve the habitat at this location, but this is a clear separation from that notion.  Please consider signing the petition to let the City of SPI know that NO upland trees/brush should be lost in this redesign of the convention center.

Plans Presented at the South Padre Island City Council Meeting, 17 April 2024

Current Satellite Image showing wooded areas

Proposed Remodeling

Potential Expansion (above and below)

Photos from Gignac Architects