Four Corpus Christi city parks are getting some shade. At its Tuesday, Feb. 22, regular meeting, the City Council approved installing 20 shade structures at Labonte Park, four at Parker, two at Billish, and one at Lindale. The shades will cost just under $300,000 with the money coming from the city’s General Fund. Installation should be completed by October 2022.
Shade was one of the main requests from a 10-year Master Plan community survey taken in 2020. 
“Continuing to improve our city parks is a priority for this council,” Mayor Paulette Guajardo said. “The shade structures will beautify parks and will serve to enhance the quality of life for all residents.”
During the council meeting, at-large member Mike Pusley questioned Parks and Recreation Department Interim Director Dr. Dante Gonzalez regarding the integrity of the structures during flooding, especially those at Labonte Park. 
“We took that into high consideration,” Dante said. “These structures are galvanized steel, intended to be in this type of environment.” 
He said department staff asked the vendor a number questions and were given supporting documentation on the structures' durability. 
“I assure you that these structures are intended to have a lifespan of about 65 years,” Dante said.
Made of galvanized steel with a powder-coat finish, the structures will provide considerable protection against the elements, especially at Labonte and Billish parks, which are both subject to flooding.
Pusley thanked Dante for going through the hurdles of investigation and called for approval.  In January, the City Council approved the purchase of playground units and play structures for 14 city parks included in the Bond 2020 program. The voters approved Bond 2020 Proposition B-Parks, which included $3.5 million budgeted for park improvements, part of the 10-year Parks Master Plan Needs Assessment. 
The 14 parks scheduled for improvements are Academy, Brookhill, McNorton, Cuiper, Sam Houston, Sherwood, Temple, Douden, Retta, Windsor, Brandywine, Brighton, Captain Falcon, and Crossgate. Work will begin in March with anticipated competition in May. 
The Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department oversees 187 parks on more than 2,100 acres of developed and undeveloped open land.