VICTORIA
Shelby Miller/samiller@vicad.com
The rocky sand beach at Pebble Beach in Riverside Park
PEBBLE BEACH PROVIDES WATERSIDE SPOT FOR FUN BY ELENA ANITA WATTS ewatts@vicad.com
Jami Hewankorn, 38, of Victoria, listened to music through her earbuds as she scampered down from the grassy bank at Grover’s Bend to Pebble Beach. Since the end of May, Hewankorn has brought her 7-year-old son and various friends to the beach on weekday afternoons to enjoy the river and the sunshine in Riverside Park. “It’s more refreshing, and I’d rather be outside,” she said. “I like the river, and to go any other place like this, you’d have to drive so far away.” In swimsuit and flip-flops, she made her way to the edge of the Guadalupe River where a large, blue umbrella provided shade and a low-sitting red folding chair reclined in the sun near the 16
DISCOVER 2019
water. She and family friend, Gage Majefski, 15, a student at West High School, had set up camp for the afternoon. Scattered around were noodle floats, bags and a soft-sided cooler. She regularly drops off her son at the boat ramp, and he tubes or kayaks a short distance to the beach. “I pull up, put up my umbrella, relax and listen to music,” she said. Hewankorn prefers the serenity of the weekdays to the busy weekends at the beach. Because of recent rains, the current was flowing faster than usual that Thursday, and the water was less muddy and more greenish-blue, she said. “It’s not hot like a lake,” she said. “It has a steady, cool flow of water.” Hewankorn said she sees some people who simply like
to walk around the river’s and swift current at the rivbend. er’s bend made the destina“Yesterday, I saw a lady tion so popular that the Vicwith two dogs sitting up on toria Parks and Recreation the bank listening to an au- Department decided to make diobook,” she said. “She it legitimate. moved once in a while to The department added a catch the breeze.” parking lot nearby, cleared The beach comprises of a a wide path to the area, and layer of river rocks over sand erected a park sign designatand provides an appealing ing the area as Pebble Beach. waterside spot for picnics Trash cans also were added, and barbecues, said Danielle and park staff and beach-goWilliams, assistant director ers alike urged people to use of the parks and recreation them. department. “Most people go out of “People swim, tie off with a town to enjoy a place like tube or float, barbecue, hang this,” Hewankorn said. “But out and fish,” she said. “And this is right here.” you need a valid fishing li IF YOU GO cense to fish.” Years before the beach PEBBLE BEACH Grover’s Bend in Riverside became an official feature Park, 107 Lowery Drive in the park, locals trampled a foot trail through a dense HOURS // wooded area to get to the 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily site and nicknamed it Pebble Beach. The shallow water More information: Free, 361485-3200, victoriatx.org
