Galveston's Stewart Beach may get big makeover

GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- The ocean waves and the sun may be enough for many beach goers, but what if you wanted to grab lunch or listen to a band, maybe even take your dog for a walk? On Galveston's Stewart Beach, none of that is really possible. In fact, the only other activity on the beach is a giant inflatable slide.

Perfect for kids, but not much beyond that.

"More activities, just fun things for the kids," said Brittney Gerard, who watched as her nephew slid down the slide. "There's just not much to do right now."

That's what some longtime Galveston boosters want to fix. Ralph McMorris, a local businessman, has begun championing a master plan for Stewart Beach ever since he got elected to city council.

"If you have a world class beach, your hotel occupancy will go up, your sales taxes will go up, the city will benefit," said McMorris.

McMorris and his supporters are showing people a 45 page presentation. The idea is big, and it's impressive. In the vision dubbed as "Ralph's Plan," more than 90 acres of Stewart Beach and surround areas would be redeveloped into a mixed use area. There would be a board walk, shops, restaurants, facilities, maybe even event space.

In order for that plan to become a reality, the city would have to purchase some land from current private land owners. It's unclear if that will be realistic. But Mayor Jim Yarbrough is willing to listen.

"It starts with a concept. I never known anything that would happen big that didn't start with some crazy idea," Yarbrough said.

The Galveston Parks Board is also working on its own set of plans. For now, it's uncertain just how grand the city, and its boosters are willing to go. Specifics will take months to hash out. There is the general sentiment though, that some progress and improvement for Stewart beach is long overdue.

As college student Julianna Saldevar put it, "I think it will be good to have like, stores, and more modern stuff."