SURFSIDE BEACH — More than a year after Hurricane Ike’s wind and storm surge left Stahlman Park useless, the popular structure is set to be rebuilt.
Engineers are expected to complete structural plans for the park this week with construction bids to begin next week, Mayor Larry Davison said. That will put crews in line to finish construction in March, in time for the village’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities and the kickoff of the tourist season.
The village is due about $680,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on top of $200,000 from flood and windstorm insurance claims for the structure’s construction.
Village officials plan to build a green Stahlman Park, including the installation of a reverse-osmosis treatment system to reuse water and a low-dose irrigation system to use rainwater and gray water for landscaping.
The village has the money from insurers in hand, but has not yet received the FEMA money, Davison said. FEMA allocated the money for the rebuilding in June, which then was sent to the state for disbursement.
Village Secretary Lisa Bailey said she has inquired about status of the money, and the village should have it in hand within two weeks.
But if the delay continues, the village would borrow the money, Davison said.
The park, a once-popular rental property on Bluewater Highway that had an elevated view of the beachfront, was damaged beyond repair when the storm barreled through Brazoria County on Sept. 13, 2008. Crews leveled the structure this summer.
Nathaniel Lukefahr covers Surfside Beach for The Facts. Contact him at 979-237-0151.