b'C o m m u n i t ynative bird species. The effort included the implementation of Texas Wildscaping, a TPWD program that encourages harmony between de-velopment and the natural habitat. Paved trails will provide public ac-cess to the preserve, a welcome addition to the North Padre community.For many, life on North Padre Island is all about boating access to the most productive inshore fishing waters on the Gulf Coast. A total of sev-en new bridges are being constructed that will connect the islands of Whitecap NPI, and in the case of the Commodores Drive bridge at the north end of the community, will provide new boating access to Laguna Madre via the Cabana Street canal. High tide clearance under the bridg-es is reported to be twelve feet, providing ample clearance for most pleasure craft including virtually all bay boats.In time, the Whitecap Yacht Club will emerge in the communitys Mari-na District, to be situated in the middle of the development where the canal system connects to Lake Padre and the Gulf under the new Don Patricio Bridges. The most advanced and automated dry-stack boat stor-age facility of the Texas Coast will set at the heart of the marina, and the yacht club will provide an elegant setting for residents and guests, withAbove: Rendering dining options, a pool and pool bar, and space for private events. of Whitecap Yacht Coastal Bend residents and visitors have watched the immense changesClub with drystack to the landscape of North Padre Island that have come with the creationstorage facility in of Whitecap NPI, while most are just learning about details of what laybackground; Right: ahead. Of greatest significance will be the tremendous economic impactRendering of bar and to the area in the form of construction jobs, spending by new buyers andpool at yacht club; guests of Whitecap NPI, along with the emergence of new businessesFar Right: Boating with new employeesand perhaps most of all, the expansion of our taxaccess to Whitecap base, spreading the burden for existing property owners. NPI canal system.62THECOASTALBENDMAGAZINE TheCoastalBend.com'