The city of Beaumont is moving forward with a plan to invest $700.1 million into infrastructure projects over the next five years.
The Community Investment Plan (CIP) outlines a series of infrastructure initiatives scheduled between 2026 and 2030. While many projects have been included in the document, their inclusion does not guarantee of future development. The projects are spread across eight categories, including:
- Water – $158.4 million
- Streets – $132.8 million
- Facilities – $107.6 million
- Downtown Development – $94.5 million
- Wastewater – $75.7 million
- Drainage – $51.1 million
- Parks – $42.9 million
- Recreation – $28.2 million
The city will predominantly focus on water infrastructure projects over the next five years, allocating $158.4 million. The largest singular investment – totaling $57.5 million – will be used to replace between 1% and 1.5% of water line and related appurtenances as part of the city’s annual waterline replacement effort.
Beaumont will spend another $17.6 million on the Lawson’s Canal Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project. The work will include designing, re-setting, securing, cleaning and installing air release valves on the existing raw water line and reconstructing and reinforcing more than 2 miles of the western levee. The city will use $10.2 million to make water and sewer capacity improvements through the Southeast Industrial Improvements project.
Street projects carry the second highest cost allocation in the CIP with $132.8 million planned for initiatives. While most of the project’s listed in the document are relatively small, Beaumont plans to spend the lion’s share of the funding – $72 million – on its Street Rehabilitation Program. Worked on annually, the city will repair curbs and gutters, concrete pavement, overlay asphalt, preserve asphalt pavement, repair brick sidewalks, mark pavement and conduct pavement condition and management studies.
Facility projects will receive $107.6 million over the next five years. From that amount, $61 million will be dedicated toward replacing the currently outdated police headquarters. The new facility would cover 106,000 square feet and incorporate ample space and modern technologies. The city plans to spend $11.2 million to build a multipurpose recreation/activity center at Alice Keith Park. The center would feature a basketball court, indoor racquetball court, weight room, activity room, restroom and locker rooms, administration area and site parking.
Downtown development will be a major focal point in the CIP compared to the previous year’s iteration, dedicating $94.5 million for projects. The largest investment – $49.6 million – will go toward the upcoming Multipurpose Sports and Community Facility. The building will feature:
- Eight full-sized basketball courts.
- Four outdoor sand volleyball courts.
- Four exterior pickleball courts.
- A state-of-the-art e-sports lounge.
- A versatile multipurpose turf field.
- A Hall of Fame Walkway.
The CIP also includes a $25 million allocation to renovate and convert the Civic Center. The project will modernize the space to function as a premier convention location, working in conjunction with a proposed hotel.
Beaumont will invest $75.7 million into wastewater projects, including a $32.5 million allocation to annually renew its collection system. As part of the renewal, the city will inspect between 3% and 6% of the system and replace or rehabilitate around 1% to 1.4% of the infrastructure annually. Another $4.5 million will allow the city to replace the 23rd Street Sewer Trunk Line, which calls for rehabilitating approximately 8,800 feet of the trunk line and repairing a cavity and a junction box.
The city has slotted $51.1 million to advance drainage infrastructure efforts. A total of $18 million will go toward the Citywide Ditching Program, enabling the city to clean and reshape drainage ditches, clean out culverts and replace and reset all culverts that are out of grade. Another $11.2 million will support the West Lucas Drive Storm Sewer Rehabilitation project, calling for soil stabilization around the storm line, point repairs where needed and to spray a structural cement liner on the inside of the line.
Out of the $42.9 million dedicated to support park projects, the most notable initiative will be the $25 million upgrades to Tyrrell Park. The transformation will include incorporating playgrounds, sports courts, a splash pad, amphitheater and labyrinth into the park’s design. Additional amenities include outdoor classroom spaces, nature trails, a natural playground area, a regulation-size cricket pitch and a perimeter walking trail.
The final $28.2 million will go toward recreation projects. The city will spend $19.7 million to renovate the Henry Homberg Golf Course. Plans include rebuilding greens, tee boxes, fairways, reconstructing bunkers, adding practice areas and creating better drainage infrastructure. Another $7.4 million will enable Beaumont to convert three softball fields at Athletic Complex 4 to baseball fields. Improvements will involve expanding the fields, upgrading the restrooms, dugouts, fencing, bullpens and relocating scoreboards and lights.
Photo by TexasExplorer98, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, from Wikimedia Commons
