GREGG COUNTY, Texas — The heat is here and East Texans are looking for ways to cool down. Whether it’s traveling to a local water park, the lake or even a river. If you live in Gregg County, you know the Sabine River isn’t far away. But what is few and far between are public access areas for the river.
The lack of access areas led to Gregg County receiving a grant for research on engineering a paddling trail project that would stretch for several future public access points on the river.
On Tuesday, a public forum was held at the Maude Cobb Convention Center where the public was invited to give their input. Discussions went back and forth about potential new locations for access points.
Kilgore resident Eduardo Aguilar says he loves to get out into the water and a project like this would benefit many East Texans.
"Having local access points makes it easier," Aguilar said. "I mean, where’d they put it? [FM] 2087 and all that stuff is closer to home and you can take that all the way down Lakeport."
When it comes to public access to the Sabine River, there are only two locations in Gregg County -- one in Lakeport and another in Gladewater. The intention of the public forum was to get input on how they can bring something like those public areas closer to the city of Longview.
"The response so far has been pretty overwhelmingly positive," said Gregg County Commissioner Precinct 2 Ray Bostick. "I think people are excited about it, and most of the people, a good portion of them already use the river for kayaking, boating and stuff like that."
People just like Aguilar who said he used to travel out of Longview with his boy scout group to enjoy a fun activity like kayaking.
"When we had to drive it made it hard," Aguilar said. "but when it was closer, it was easier. So we had more time to enjoy what we're going out to do instead of spending two hours in a car there and then two hours back."
Bostick said this project is still in the design stage where researchers are determining potential points of interest for access and the distance from current points of access as well.
"A lot of that land is privately owned so it's gonna be a lot of cooperation involved in development along those last lines," Bostick said. "After that is put together, the project is costed out, then it'll just be a matter of finding the funding part and executing the project."
Potentially bringing in a new attraction to the Sabine River located in various places in Gregg County.
Researchers are still wanting to hear from everyone in the county about this project. If you want to give your input a second public forum will be hosted at the Maude Cobb Convention Center Wednesday evening from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.