The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP), City of Port Aransas, and the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory identified an opportunity to protect important wildlife habitat while providing appropriate public access to one of the most popular birding sites in Port Aransas called Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond.

Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond and the adjacent grassland area support one of the few remaining natural freshwater ponds on Mustang Island. The habitat is an important stopover for migrating neo-tropical birds during the fall and spring, and provides nesting habitat for waterfowl and other birds during the nesting season.

The City of Port Aransas acquired the pond and adjacent area to accommodate growing public use of the area. The objective is to protect the natural wildlife habitat in Port Aransas, while providing enhanced public access. Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond is equipped with a butterfly garden, boardwalk, observation deck and interpretive signage.

One of the priority issues listed in the CBBEP’s Bays Plan is to maintain and expand tourism and recreational opportunities in a way that enhances the local economy while protecting the environment. Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond is an excellent example of how partnerships among agencies, city government, and the public can be beneficial to both the ecology and the economy.