From the old Schlitterbahn to an $800 million development, things are moving forward at the Whitecap Preserve project on North Padre Island. We take an exclusive look at the progress and what’s still to come.
Big things are happening on the island as the Whitecap Preserve unveils a new wave of fresh amenities. Whether you’re a future North Padre Island resident or just a community member, there’s plenty for everyone to enjoy.
“I’m proud of a lot of things right now,” a developer shared. “Every day there’s something new popping up out of the ground. It’s really amazing.”
A Wave of New Amenities
This week, developers unveiled some of the key amenities of the project to city leaders, including Pelican’s Landing, one of the standout features.
“It really does, I think, put the island and our city on the map,” one official noted. “It’s looking really good. We’ve got the pool, we’ve got the splash pad for the kids, we’ve got a nice fitness facility.” Another location, called Heron’s Nest, is also coming along quite well.
Access for Residents and the Public
While perks like Pelican’s Landing and Heron’s Nest are exclusive to residents, there’s plenty for the public to explore.
“Honestly, these are public roads. We’ve got five miles of canals here that we put in. That’s all public access,” developers explained. “We do have a good collection of pocket parks, which are really neat to explore. And finally, last but definitely not least, we have the 30 acres of nature preserve.”
Preservation and Responsibility
Speaking of preservation, Councilwoman Paxton spoke on the steps being taken to manage resources responsibly, especially water use during drought conditions.
“With the pools, what we’re doing is basically if it was permitted prior, then we’re of course observing that,” Paxton said. “We want to make sure that those things are maintained to the project scope, that they are allowed to put water through those facilities… so there’s not damage or anything like that long term. We’re being very mindful for things that were not permitted or prepared prior to these drought restrictions.”
“Dessert First” Development
According to developers, there are lots up for sale and they could see their first residents as early as this spring. The project is unique because the amenities are being completed before people even move in.
“We actually put in the amenities and they’re coming to fruition now before people are living here. So that’s something you normally don’t see in a lot of projects like this. It’s almost like I like to say having dessert first.”
For more information on how to enjoy some of these public amenities, be sure to check out our website, KIIITV.com.