Lake Pat Cleburne’s East Boat Ramp is scheduled to close July 20 and remain closed while construction is underway in that part of the lakefront project. The West Boat Ramp will remain open throughout the project, giving boaters and anglers an alternative place to launch.
The closure is part of a phased park and infrastructure project that began July 6. The City of Cleburne expects the work to take at least 18 months, with construction affecting parkland, roads and access across a roughly 27-acre area.
For lake visitors, nearby residents and drivers, that means planning around more than a single ramp closure. The city says people could encounter traffic impacts, construction noise, temporary closures and limited access to portions of the project area as work progresses.
Boat-ramp access during construction
The immediate change is straightforward: Visitors should use the West Boat Ramp after the East Boat Ramp closes July 20. The city has not announced a reopening date for the East Boat Ramp beyond saying that it will remain closed for the duration of construction activity in that area.
- East Boat Ramp: Scheduled to close July 20 for construction in that area.
- West Boat Ramp: Expected to remain open throughout the project.
- Construction schedule: Work began July 6 and is expected to last at least 18 months.
- Possible disruptions: Traffic impacts, noise, temporary closures and limited access within parts of the project area.
The city’s construction announcement provides the ramp schedule and general warning about phased disruptions. Because the East Ramp closure is tied to work in that area, visitors should not treat the broader 18-month estimate as a specific reopening date.
Where the work is happening
The project covers approximately 27 acres stretching from the boat-launch area to the dam. The park portion includes land at 1900–2500 Lakeshore Drive, while the infrastructure work extends along Lakeshore Drive and Harvest Hill Road.
That footprint matters even for people who are not launching a boat. Drivers using the nearby roads, residents around the construction area and visitors trying to reach other parts of the park may encounter changing conditions as different phases move forward.
The city has identified temporary closures and limited access as possible effects, but it has not provided a single list of every area that will be unavailable for the entire project. The stated impacts should therefore be understood as possible conditions tied to the active phases, not as a blanket closure of the full 27-acre site.
Road and intersection changes in the project
The infrastructure plan includes about 7,400 linear feet of roadway reconstruction and the reconstruction of three intersections. A single-lane roundabout is planned at Lakeshore Drive and Harvest Hill Road, one of the most specific changes drivers can expect from the work.
Other transportation-related elements include sidewalks, trails, traffic-calming features, drainage work and additional parking. Together, those items place the project’s effects beyond the shoreline and into the routes people use to reach and move around the lakefront area.
The city has not supplied a phase-by-phase traffic schedule in the approved project information. Drivers should allow for the possibility of traffic impacts along Lakeshore Drive and Harvest Hill Road during the extended construction period without assuming that every listed road or intersection will be affected at the same time.
What is planned for Lakeshore Park
The park work is intended to add loop trails, boardwalks, a swim beach and sand volleyball courts. Plans also call for restrooms, shade structures, picnic areas, parking, signs, landscaping and improvements to the boat ramps.
Those planned amenities explain the project’s broad footprint and why access may shift over time. The work combines recreation improvements around the lake with roadway, drainage, pedestrian and parking changes, rather than treating the boat-launch area as a stand-alone construction site.
The City of Cleburne says the Lakeshore Park improvements are funded through the 2022 and 2024 Sales Tax 4B bond programs. J.B. & Co. LLC is identified as the contractor for the park project on the city’s official project page.
How to follow the project or ask questions
The city’s project page is the official record for the affected area, planned improvements, infrastructure work, funding and project contacts. The separate construction announcement contains the July start date, East Boat Ramp closure date, West Boat Ramp alternative and expected construction duration.
For questions about the project, the city lists Public Works project manager Kent Conner at 817-357-4474 and Public Works project manager Kenneth Overstreet at 817-357-4462.
For now, the practical plan is to use the West Boat Ramp once the East Boat Ramp closes, expect possible access or traffic changes around the work area and consult the city’s two project sources when making future visits. The overall construction window is at least 18 months, but individual closures and access limits may depend on where active work is taking place.
