Better Parks for Galveston

OCTOBER 2025 UPDATE!

Although Rosenberg School looks the same as when this website was created back in February, there’s been huge progress toward transforming it into a park! The needed $2.2 million price was raised ahead of deadline thanks to Project Rosenberg’s many generous donors and strong supporters! The money was transferred to a separate GISD account on July 7th as agreed.

The City’s specified contractor (Raba Kistner) collected soil samples (as required by City) around the school on July 15th. The results showed that NO further assessment or investigation of Rosenberg School property is recommended. (This was Exactly the expected result because of the clean Phase 1 environmental assessment.) However, it was an added expense of $11,390.63.

The next step is to have hazardous materials removed from Rosenberg School. Micro Air (which is GISD’s hazardous materials consultant) solicited bids from 3 abatement contractors, which have all previously worked for GISD. A contract with the lowest bidder, Omni Sitek, has been signed for just under $30,000. Micro Air will supervise the abatement and will handle all state and local reporting requirements at a cost of under $16,000. All of this is to say that Project Rosenberg is still actively raising funds! Donor letters for tax purposes will be sent to all donors prior to the end of the year.

The hazardous materials abatement is expected to be completed by Halloween. After that, Mr. Bryan’s contractor will be able to pull demolition permits and proceed with tearing down the school building. We hope to have demolition completed by the end of the year!

If for some unforeseen reason, the deal falls apart, GISD will refund the money less a fixed amount of carrying costs, and donors will be fully reimbursed.

We are getting close to our park! After the City has accepted donation of the land as a park, we will promptly apply to the City to name it Dr. Nancy Lefeber Hughes park. We are proceeding step by step! That said, we need to finish strong! Let’s go Project Rosenberg!

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We are "Project Rosenberg:" a group of passionate Galvestonians who are dedicated to enriching life on our island with a public tranquility garden. We want to reclaim a historic green space and turn it back into a park for all. It will be community focused with cultural and arts events, crop gardens for students, and even will give our neighboring Shriner's patients a safe green space.