Ground was broken Oct. 28 for the new Lake Livingston Community Resource Center at the corner of FM 356 and Onalaska Loop in Onalaska. The community resource center will serve as a disaster shelter and meeting/training facility, while also providing space for additional community services during times of need.
Onalaska is one of the few remaining areas in Polk County without a dedicated disaster shelter, and this project will help ensure that residents have a safe place to go when severe weather or other emergencies occur.
The community resource center is a Regional Mitigation Infrastructure Project made possible through the Texas General Land Office Community Development Block Grant Program.
“The long-term plan for the county was to get a shelter facility and emergency management facility to this area. The need for a shelter in Onalaska became especially clear following the tornado in 2020. It really drove home for us that we had to have a facility,” County Judge Sydney Murphy said, adding that there are complete houses that are currently still in Lake Livingston.
“I want to thank the people that handled the grants and contracts. They did all the heavy lifting. I want to thank the contractor, GLS,” Murphy said. “Mr. Pete Garland was willing to sell this piece of property which is a perfect site and will provide space for the game wardens as well as an emergency management facility.
Murphy also thanked the game wardens for their service.
“This is a chance for us to be centrally located,” Region III, District 3 Game Warden Captain Brandon Mosley said. “We have a lot of drownings. We’re appreciative of those that support us. We want to be able to help in a moment’s notice.”
Precinct 2 Commissioner Mark DuBose agreed.
“I’m just glad to be a part of it. This is my hometown. I think it’s a great development here for the game wardens and the community,” DuBose said.
“Thank you all for being here today. GLS will be managing the process and working with the contractor. This grant has been a long time coming,” Grants & Contracts Coordinator Jessica Hutchins said.
“This creates a training location for volunteer fire departments, game wardens, the rangers – they will have accessibility and accommodations. The people in the Onalaska community and Lake Livingston community will be served,” Murphy said.
She also thanked Thomas Supply for the use of the shovels and Lilley Construction for the use of the hard hats.
The project is expected to take 12-16 months with normal weather.
