Galveston Bay Foundation plans new headquarters in Kemah



The following photo gallery explains why the water along the Texas coast doesn't appear as blue as water at other locations. Pelicans in upper Galveston Bay.

The following photo gallery explains why the water along the Texas coast doesn't appear as blue as water at other locations. Pelicans in upper Galveston Bay. Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Galveston Bay Foundation plans new headquarters in Kemah 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

The Galveston Bay Foundation plans to build a new 20,000-square-foot headquarters on about 30 acres of coastal land in Kemah.

It will be the 40-year-old foundation's first home on the bay it strives to protect through conservation work, education and fundraising. The foundation has previously leased office space in the Clear Lake area.

"This could really be transformative for us to move to the bay," said Bob Stokes, president of the foundation. "It'll be a destination. We hope we'll have tens of thousands of visitors annually."

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He said the group aims to create a parklike atmosphere with indoor and outdoor classrooms for school visits, plus walking trails, ponds and a pier. Eventually the group would like to host boat tours of the bay.

The foundation bought the land in June 2016, and is now raising money to build the new facility, where an estimated 30 people will eventually work. The foundation expects the new headquarters to open operations in about three years.