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PORT NECHES — The folks with Port Neches Chamber of Commerce are excited about the upcoming community rebuild of Tugboat Island.

The project is of such importance it was the topic of talk about the Chamber’s recent annual banquet.

Eric Sullivan, general coordinator for the project, recalled how his mother-in-law encouraged him to be part of the original construction of what was then the largest playground of its kind between Houston and Lake Charles.

Sullivan, a Nederland graduate, went in as a skilled worker volunteer then promptly, though accidently, dropped a 2X4 board on the head of Port Neches-Groves High School football coach. He joked during the banquet about whether he would return to the site after that incident.

Even then he knew what was occurring was something special — a community gathering over the course of 11 days in 1996 to build a park for generations of children.

Sadly the award winning playground was demolished in 2020 due to detonation and aging of the structure.

Port Neches resident Rita Morgan stepped up with the idea of raising $1 million for a new playground on par or better than the old one.

A million dollars is a lot to raise and then came Port Neches resident Ed Hogenson who pitched in a goliath amount thus allowing for the project to move forward.

Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs with work taking place Feb. 19 to 23 and Feb. 26 to March 2.

For more information on the project or volunteering, go to tugboatisland.com

Incoming Chamber President Terry Schwertner gave kudos to Sullivan as well as Chad Aycock and Chad Anderson with Indorama and are project committee members.

Also during the banquet officials recognized Ambassadors of the Year, Mallory Jordan and Holly Hebert.