Louisiana’s Sam Houston Jones State Park, which has been closed since 2020 because of Hurricane Laura, may reopen next spring, but it will have fewer forests, Louisiana State Parks Director Brandon Burris said.
According to a report, Four-fifths of Sam Houston Jones State Park’s trees were blown over or damaged beyond repair.
“It’s going to look different, but we’re going to work to tie the history of the area back to where it was,” Burris said.
Burris stated that crews had cleared 80 percent of Moss Bluff‘s 1,087 acres (440-hectare). In addition, they are working on rebuilding cabins, sewer, water treatment systems, bathrooms, the park’s entrance station, the pavilion, and other amenities.
Depending on the weather, the park might be reopened by the end of March or even early April, he added.
“We’re at a good pace now,” he said.
Burris stated that the state pays to remove the fallen and damaged trees and is trying to get reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Insurance coverage covered repairs to structures and buildings, he said.
Burris also expressed that the rainy spring and summer slowed tree clearing,
“It required very heavy equipment to get it cleaned up, and it just wasn’t working in the mud,” he said. “We had to wait 10-14 days for it to dry, only for it to rain again once we got the equipment back out there.”
According to Burris, about 20 state park employees who typically work on larger-scale maintenance projects at north Louisiana parks were brought in to assist.
The RV campground will be upgraded instead of renovated, with more parking spaces and a sewer system with hookups. RV facilities at most state parks were constructed decades ago and aren’t designed for modern recreational vehicles.
The government is working with The Nature Conservatory, an environmental group, to plant 5,000 new trees, covering about 20-25 acres (8 to 10 hectares) in the early spring. The park is fortunate enough to receive them, as Louisiana farmers were badly hurt this year by hurricane Ida.
Ten brand-new two-bedroom, one-bathroom cabins have already been planned as part of improvements utilizing the $16 million BP oil spill settlement in five of the south Louisiana State parks.
The concrete slabs for the cabins were laid a week before Laura’s landfall.
Each cabin will come with an entire kitchen, screened front porch, fireplace, and TVs in the porch, bedroom, and living room.
Meanwhile, a group on Facebook named SHJSP Recovery Initiative has attracted more than 700 people keen to help restore the park and provide updates on recovery progress.
What an exhilarating development for nature lovers! The park’s rebirth promises modern amenities and a deep connection to its history and environment. Also, the plan to plant 5,000 new trees signals a strong commitment to environmental conservation and the rejuvenation of the park’s natural beauty.
Isn’t it awesome news that Sam Houston Jones State Park is gearing up for a fresh start next spring? I can’t wait to see the park’s new look and improved facilities!