|
LAPORTE
A vibrant community, award winning schools, state-of-the-art library, spacious parkland, easy access to Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, downtown Houston, a municipal government willing to partner with business for success, the hometown of nearly 33,000 residents and many petrochemical industries. That’s La Porte, Texas.
The oldest incorporated town in East Harris County, located 25 miles east of downtown, Texas, La Porte continues to garner national accolades for its quality of life and municipal innovation. In 2004, Pat Summerall Productions designated La Porte one of the Best Managed Small Cities in the nation.
La Porte is a city with a vision. One vision is to be recognized a top municipal corporation in the State of Texas. In order to make our vision a reality, our City Council adopted an Airport Master Plan, a Comprehensive Plan, a Parks Master Plan, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Implementation Plan, a Northside Plan, a Zoning Ordinance, and a Bayfront Master Plan.
THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL
The Houston Ship Channel has been a catalyst for growth in Harris County since the first journey of a steamship up Buffalo Bayou in 1837. The ship channel plays a critical role in today's community as well. We generate jobs and opportunities that allow businesses to flourish. Economic studies reveal that ship channel-related businesses support more than 287,000 direct and indirect jobs throughout Texas while generating nearly $11 billion in economic impact. Additionally, more than $649 million in state and local tax revenues are generated by business activities related to the port. It is projected that the Port of Houston will continue to be an important factor as north-south trade expands.
EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY OF BATTLESHIP TEXAS
In 1948, the Battleship TEXAS became the first battleship memorial museum in the U.S. That same year, on the anniversary of Texas Independence, the Texas was presented to the State of Texas and commissioned as the flagship of the Texas Navy. In 1983, the TEXAS was placed under the stewardship of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is permanently anchored on the Buffalo Bayou and the busy Houston Ship Channel. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 1,200-acre San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site consists of the Battleground, Monument and Battleship TEXAS. These sites are located within minutes of downtown Houston and a short distance to the beaches of Galveston Island. Millions of visitors come to this area each year to enjoy the mild coastal climate and cultural and sports activities. Students and visitors alike are most fortunate to be able to experience history first hand through living history at the San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship TEXAS.
3523 Highway 134
LaPorte TX 77571
(281) 479-2431
Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
(Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.)
Battleship TEXAS
Adults (age 13 and above) - $10
Senior Adults (65+) - $5
Children 12 and under – FREE (When accompanied by a parent.)
Free admission not valid for school or youth groups
School and Youth Group Discounts are available.
Reservations are required
THE SAN JACINTO BATTLEGROUND & STATE HISTORIC SITE
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site holds a significant responsibility to preserve the proud history of the State of Texas and the United States. The famous Battle of San Jacinto that brought TEXAS its independence was fought on this site. Because of the great importance of the Battle to the course of history, the Battleground is of state, national and international significance, a fact that is attested to by the site's National Historic Landmark status.
The primary purpose of the 1,200-acre site is to commemorate the Battle and to preserve the Battleground on which Texan troops under General Sam Houston achieved the independence of Texas by defeating a Mexican Army led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna on April 21, 1836.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site consists of the Battleground, Monument and Battleship TEXAS. It is located within minutes of downtown Houston and a short distance to the beaches of Galveston Island. Millions of visitors come to this area each year to enjoy the mild coastal climate and cultural and sports activities. Students and visitors alike are most fortunate to be able to experience history first hand through living history at the San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship TEXAS State Historic Sites.
SAN JACINTO MONUMENT
The San Jacinto Monument is dedicated to the "Heroes of the Battle of San Jacinto and all others who contributed to the independence of Texas." The monument is a 570-foot shaft topped by a 34-foot star symbolizing the Lone Star Republic. The building incorporates a number of innovative engineering features not common during the period of its construction. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized this technology with the prestigious designation of State and National Historic Structure. The monument is listed as the tallest stone column memorial structure in the world, 15 feet taller than the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site: 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Thanksgiving day, Christmas eve and Christmas day.)
San Jacinto Monument/Museum of History : 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Thanksgiving day, Christmas eve and Christmas day.)
WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIRSHOW
October 21-22, 2006
Ellington Field • Houston, Texas
Come join us as we welcome back the USAF Thunderbirds to the 22nd annual Wings Over Houston Airshow! The USAF Thunderbirds will thrill you with their close formations, tight turns, and solo head-on passes. For the first time in US history, the Thunderbird team includes a female pilot, flying Thunderbird 3.
DINING
Denny’s, (adjacent) 0 mi.
Antonio's Italian Grill, 0.25 mi.
Gilley's Restaurant, 0.5 mi.
Las Hadas, 0.25 mi.
Skillet's, 0.25 mi.
McDonald's, 0.2 mi.
Domino's Pizza, 0.4 mi.
Waffle House, 0.5 mi.
Happy Cajun, 3 mi.
Flying Dutchman, 6 mi.
Luby's Cafeteria, 6 mi.
Pizza Hut, 0.25 mi.
Taco Bell, 0.25 mi.
Burger King, .025 mi
Jack in the Box, 0.25 mi.
PARKS & RECREATION AREAS
Evelyn Kennedy Park
600 San Jacinto Ave., La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 0.96 mi/1.55 km
Pfeiffer Park
1001 S Iowa Avenue, La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 1.05 mi. (1.7 km)
Law Enforcement-Game
281-4713202
105 San Jacinto Street, La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 1.14 mi. (1.84 km)
Little Cedar Bayou Park
S. Broadway St., La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 1.26 mi (2.04 km)
Sylvan Beach Park
400 N Bayshore Dr., La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 1.4 mi (2.25 km)
Fairmont Park
10200 Collingswood Rd., La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 3.75 mi (6.04 km)
Lomax Park
10500 N. Avenue P., La Porte, TX 77571
Distance to Hotel: 4.76 mi (7.67 km)
Wc Britton Park
3100 S Highway 146., Baytown, TX 77520
Distance to Hotel: 6.8 mi (10.94 km)
Armand Bayou Park
8600 Bay Area Blvd., Pasadena, TX 77507
Distance to Hotel: 8.77 mi (14.12 km)
ATTRACTIONS
Antique Stores, 0.5 mi.
La Porte Wave Pool, 1 mi.
Arts & Crafts Show, 10 mi.
Kemah Boardwalk, 10 mi.
National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals, 10 mi.
Houston Yacht Club, 15 mi.
Pasadena Strawberry Festival, 15 mi.
Sylvan Beach Park, 1 mi.
Norwegian Cruise Terminal, 3 mi.
Port of Houston, 3 mi.
Pasadena Convention Center, 5 mi.
Battleship Texas, 6 mi.
San Jacinto Monument, 6 mi.
NASA Johnson Space Center, 15 mi.
Pasadena Rodeo and Livestock Show, 15 mi.
George R. Brown Convention Center, 30 mi.
CITY of LA PORTE
La Porte, Texas, the oldest incorporated town in east Harris County, was incorporated on August 10, 1892. It had its beginning as a real estate venture by a group of developers and colonizers from Denver, Colorado. Although the group advertised the areas as being suited for agriculture, it was soon obvious that the temperature was too cold during the winters for citrus orchards and that the black gumbo soil was unsuited for truck farming. The town soon gained recognition as the home of Sylvan Beach Park and remained primarily a resort town until WW II and a series of hurricanes brought about the demise of Sylvan Beach as a resort. WW II and the coming of NASA and the Bayport Channel eventually changed La Porte into a bedroom community for industry.
Quality of Life
La Porte residents place a premium on their leisure time. The City offers over 240 acres of golf course and park space, six public pools, and a number of major recreational amenities. Sylvan Beach Park, a historical landmark in La Porte, and Seabreeze Park provide residents the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of Galveston Bay within minutes of home. Other opportunities are available along the Bayshore, including Bay Forest Golf Course. The course, considered one of the finest municipal courses in Texas is often the site for regional and statewide tournaments. Still other significant areas of interest are available in neighboring areas, including NASA, the San Jacinto Monument, museums, etc.
PORT of HOUSTON AUTHORITY
111 East Loop North • Houston, Texas 77029
P.O. Box 2562 • Houston, Texas 77252-2562
Phone: 713-670-2400
Bayport Container Terminal, Houston, TX
As the nation's leading port in foreign cargo handling, the Port of Houston needed to develop a new container terminal site to cope with the increasing volume of trade.
The Port Authority's current Fentress Bracewell Barbours Cut Container Terminal handles more than half of the container cargo within the Gulf of Mexico and 80% of the containerised cargo in Texas. It cannot be developed further due to lack of space. Moreover, between 1995 and 1997 the port experienced an average growth rate of 17.4%. During 1998, nearly 7,100 ships were processed at the port, with movement of 170 million tons of cargo. It was also in this year that 100,000 barges navigated the ship channel at Houston.
Project Rationale
Investment at the port in the past has resulted in significant returns. Since 1977, approximately $400 million dollars has been injected into Barbers Cut, with nearly $800 million returned yearly.
An Environmental Commitment
The Port of Houston Authority strives for policies and programs that allow nature and industry to successfully coexist. The Port Authority is committed to ensuring that PHA facilities are in compliance with environmental regulations. Moreover, PHA staff has been involved in a number of environmental activities, helping to develop programs for using dredge materials in a beneficial manner and for better management of dredge material disposal sites.
An Emphasis on Ecology
The port has developed and implemented award-winning programs that balance the needs of global trade and commerce with local environmental protection. For example, we redeveloped Redfish Island. This plot of land had been a favorite anchorage for boaters until it succumbed to subsidence. Working with the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Beneficial Uses Group — a coalition of federal and state agencies — and at the request of the community, the port led the efforts to rebuild that island. Today, it is again a favorite boating destination as well as a bird habitat and rookery. We also designed Redfish Island to encourage oyster growth, to re-establish itself as an oyster reef.
The port's modernization project to deepen and widen the Ship Channel was crafted with the preservation of Galveston Bay in mind. As project sponsor, the Port Authority worked with a coalition of state and federal resource authorities in developing the plan. The coalition also received input from environmental and bay interest groups. Our strategy focused on:
|
•
|
Dredge material is a resource
|
|
•
|
Only environmentally acceptable methods would be used for the dredged disposal
|
|
•
|
The plan would result in long-term "net positive environmental effect" on Galveston Bay.
|
Through these diligent methods, the material from the channel bottom has been reborn as the new Redfish Island.
|
|
