By ALEXANDREABAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.
According to Jon Wilson, South Padre Island Assistant Public Works Director, the installation of a drip irrigation system at the pickleball courts, located at 610 Padre Boulevard, is underway.
Sod is also being installed, despite it being “hard to get in the Valley,” according to Wilson.
This information was given to the Parks and Keep SPI Beautiful Committee at its meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The pickleball courts have remained open during these updates, and Public Works has been operating around the pickleball players. Wilson says there have been no problems so far, and that Public Works is planning to rent a sod cutter to remove extra grass. Two more pickleball courts are set to be constructed, but that work has not yet begun.
At Thompkins Park, an abandoned golf cart was the tool of damage caused to the soccer field during Spring Break, according to Wilson. Tire marks are currently cut through the grass as the result of spring breakers executing “doughnuts.” The golf cart has since been reclaimed.
“There doesn’t seem to be any big damage,” assured Wilson.
Near the entrance to Thompkins Park, Wilson says large amounts of rainfall have caused damage. The public works crew has added kiddie mulch to the affected area in order to alleviate the flooding. He mentioned installing the more permanent fix of a drainage system, with hopes of constructing this during the summer months, without having to close the entire play area.
Wilson says the public works team has been performing regular maintenance on Thompkins Park, even adding a fresh coat of paint to the rims of the basketball hoops.
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