Early on August 1, 2024, Coastal Bend Mom got word that the proposed Corpus Christi 2024-2025 fiscal operating budget includes removing the learning center at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve, and closing the Garcia Library next to Kaffie Middle School.
If you have followed us for a minute, you know how much we LOVE our libraries and Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve! Coastal Bend Mom CoCo and the #TeamOTwins have hosted a multitude of playdates, mom mingles, and Mom’s Walk & Talks at these local gems and we were stunned to see that they might be on the chopping block.
Social media comments showed how much these local spots mean to so many of us in the community, so Coastal Bend Mom worked to rally some families to speak to local news about why these community spots should be saved.
Marissa Ackerman, a local mom and advocate for the special needs community said,
“Many of our special needs community lack access to public resources and amenities offered by the city that supports autism and related disorders. Many parents on the Southside and surrounding areas depend on programs given by our local library (Garcia,) to give our children exposure to sensory safe, and community driven activities, and have bonded with the very impactful library aides and staff. In addition, the same can be said for Oso Wetlands Learning Resource Center. Our son, Jacob, in fact has found many times himself able to connect with staff as they share with him some free activities that relate to the habitat animals. Our call to action is for the city to think about the communities around them, and how it impacts diverse groups in their area, especially the Southside, where it is lacking any amenities at a high property tax rate.”
Another thing to think about, is that the Garcia Library has been used as a safe space for many students from the surrounding schools. They use the library’s resources to do homework, learn, and interact with their peers in a space where negative outside influences are removed.
Soon-to-be twelve year old Trey Alsop, a local student and regular visitor to the Library and Oso Preserve, asked the community to remember that “if they close the library and people lost their job, then that would make them at risk to be homeless”.
Wise beyond his years, Trey is right – closing the Garcia Library and the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve would require 15 people to lose their jobs, which could increase their risk of food insecurity and homelessness, which is already a growing issue in the Coastal Bend.
When we join together,
COASTAL BEND MOMS MAKE WAVES!
Do you have input for this article? Reach out to us at info at coastalbendmom.com – we will continue to update as new information becomes available.
General Information
The Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library is on Brockhampton Street and is next to Kaffie Middle School. It is one of the newest libraries in the public library system, and opened its doors in 2009.
Along with books, the Garcia Library provides the community with public computer access, printing and photocopy services, wireless internet, voter registration cards, events for all ages, and more, all for FREE.
We at CBMC often focus on changes that will affect families with children, but the closing of the Garcia Library will also affect seniors. The Garcia Library is in the middle of many neighborhoods in Southside Corpus, which allows those with limited transportation to walk to the library to use it services. If this library closes, community members will have to figure out transportation to the next closest library, which would be Flour Bluff, or the Neyland Library on Carmel Parkway.
As KIII News reports, the suggestion of closing the Garcia Library was NOT a library board decision, but a suggestion from city staff. This library originally had a contract with Kaffie Middle School, but CCISD pulled out of the agreement last year.
Currently the city plans to close the existing Garcia Library and build a new one, but that would be up to voters to agree to Bond 2024. In a breaking story on KIII this afternoon, the headline reads: City No Longer Planning to Close Garcia Public Library
The Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve learning center is a place where families, student groups, visitors, and more, can go to see interactive exhibits, live animals, and nature artifacts. The learning center hosts scouting programs, homeschool days, summer camps and classes, as well as classes for kids like craft and storytime. Entering the learning center is FREE, and many of the classes and events are free, or low cost.
The Budget
The proposed budget can be read here. A few highlights that relate to families are:
Positive
- Allocating money for the Bill Witt Aquatic Center (435K, 28 positions)
- Allocating money for the Cole Park Splash Pad (25K)
- Adding 3 school sites for After Hour Kid Power
- Funding for Art Museum, Museum of Science and History, Botanical Gardens and the Texas State Aquarium ($1.3M) from Hotel Occupancy Tax
Negative
- Reduce programming at Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve Learning Center ($443K, 6 position)
- Close Garcia Library ($648K, 9 positions)
“Our call to action is for the city to think about the communities around them, and how [closing the Garcia Library and Oso Bay Wetlands learning center] impacts diverse groups in [that] area.” – Marissa A.
How You Can Help
Let your voices be heard! Show up, speak out, flood their inboxes with your reasons WHY we need these local resources. Participate in community input session. There are 6 upcoming sessions this month, at a wide variety of locations. Voice your concern!
Sign petitions
Petition for saving the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve
Petition for saving the Dr. Clotilde P. Garcia Public Library
Make Your Voice Heard
- Email the city manager
- Email your city council member
- Attend city council meetings
RELATED READING: https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/coastal-bend/lets-read-coastal-bend-libraries-round-up/
