Gulf,State,Park,Pier,expected, travel,insurance Gulf State Park Pier expected to open by summer
Torres del Paine is among the biggest of Chiles national parks, occupying almost 600,000 acres (242,000 ha) of land in the south on the border with Argentina. It is also among the most important, receiving a significant proportion of domes Like any American, traveling occasionally is just what I love doing and I bet you share the same stuff with me. But traveling does not mean that you would be safe. Escaping from our job and other stressful activities is just something that w
If you're ready for redfish or hankering to hang some tackle just for the halibut, the wait is almost over. Officials have announced that they expect the Gulf State Park Pier to be ready in May, just in time for summer visitors. The pier's completion has been a long time coming, but that somehow seems suitable because the pier is long -- at 1,512 feet, it will be the longest in the Gulf of Mexico. It will be 20 feet wide and 20 feet high and will be outfitted for the comforts of outdoorsmen of all ages and ability levels. The new pier is at 20800 E. Beach Blvd. in Gulf Shores. When it is completed, it will have two restroom facilities, a tackle shop and a concession stand with dining facilities inside and out. The entire structure is American with Disabilities Act-compliant, and it features special railings designed so anglers in wheelchairs can pull up and have a place to set their tackleboxes, bait and other items at lap-level or higher rather than having to reach down to the ground. A 65-foot octagon over the coasts second sand bar will offer prime fishing for cobia, king mackerel and tarpon, information from the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau states. Artificial reefs will be added to bring in more fish and will be accessible by boat. Some plans call for the remnants of the old pier to be used in creating the artificial reefs, but permitting issues have yet to be decided. Built in 1968, the original pier was a fixture of the Alabama Gulf Coast until it became a casualty of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Local and state officials took the opportunity provided by Ivan to overhaul a significant portion of Gulf State Park, updating and modernizing where possible, tearing down and rebuilding elsewhere.When officials realized a facelift to the aging pier would be as expensive as a new pier, they opted for a modern replacement. State-of-the-art engineering has enabled designers to create a structure expected to withstand a Category 3 hurricane. The design also is expected to dramatically reduce the time needed to made repairs after storm damage occurs because the damage should be mostly cosmetic and not structural. Safety is important, but anglers and others who will be using the new pier want to be able to appreciate its amenities. These include its size, as it is several hundred feet longer than its predecessor and is more than twice as wide across the octagon. The additional length is especially important on days when the Gulf is rough, because anglers can cast into deeper, clearer water where fish still will be swimming -- and biting. Local fishermen expect the additional territory to yield excellent results for highly desirable species of fish. At least one local expert has said he expects the new pier's size alone to be responsible for double the number of good days of fishing. It also is higher above the water. Picnic tables will be a welcome "site" for those who want to take advantage of the view and the warm breezes of the Gulf of Mexico, but the snack bar will have air-conditioned seating for those who come hungry, empty-handed and looking for a respite from the sun. Alabama requires anglers to be licensed for fishing, and those licenses will be available at the pier alongside bait, tackle and other necessities. Not everyone who uses the pier will be there for the fishing. Some will come to enjoy the sun or to watch for wildlife. Locals have reported seeing all types of marine life from the old pier, including whales and manatees. State and local officials visited several popular piers in the region as plans for the new Gulf State Park Pier were crafted. Having new safety and comfort features plus the best options other locales have to offer makes Gulf State Park truly a "keeper."
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