Project expands public fishing access while bringing Texas tradeswomen together for a weekend of service and solidarity
Galveston, Texas —Nearly 20 union tradeswomen from across Texas put their skills to work at Galveston Island State Park on Sept. 26, installing a new ADA-accessible fishing dock that will give anglers and families better access to one of the park’s freshwater fishing areas.
The project, organized by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA), brought together tradeswomen from several skilled trades for a weekend to build connections among women working in the trades.
The new AccuDock fishing dock was purchased with proceeds from the USA’s Gulf Coast Conservation Dinner and installed on site, so anglers can more easily fish for catfish, bass, and sunfish. Until now, fishing access at the pond was limited to the shoreline.
“AccuDock was proud to be part of a project that brings together two things that are important to us: creating better access to the water and supporting the skilled tradespeople who make projects like this possible,” said Josh Long, AccuDock vice president of commercial development. “What made the weekend especially memorable was seeing tradeswomen from across Texas come together to give families and anglers of all abilities a safe, accessible way to enjoy fishing at the park for years to come. We were honored to work alongside them.”
For USA Conservation Coordinator Maggie Sager, the project also held a personal connection.
“I’m from Texas, and Galveston and this community are close to my heart,” Sager said. “The people there love where they live and love getting outside. I appreciate being able to put a dock in that community that I know will be used and appreciated year-round.”
The idea grew out of the USA’s Houston Area NFLPA Take Kids Fishing Day held at the park. While discussing the possibility of having youth fish in the park’s pond rather than from the coast, USA staff learned from Galveston Island State Park Superintendent Kyle O’Haver that access to the pond was limited. The conversation sparked an idea: install an accessible floating dock that would make the pond available to more anglers.
Once the project began taking shape, Sager approached Roxanne Bernal, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 67 who had volunteered at the USA’s Take Kids Fishing Day in San Antonio. Bernal helped turn what began as a dock installation into a statewide tradeswomen volunteer effort.
Bernal reached out to union electricians, pipefitters, sheet metal workers, ironworkers and others. Around 20 tradeswomen participated, traveling from different parts of Texas for the project.
“There aren’t very many women in any one particular trade, so I reached out to tradeswomen wherever I knew them,” Bernal said. “It was work, but it was deeper than that. Seeing women from different trades working together face to face builds a stronger sisterhood.”
That connection was intentional. The project was organized as the Galveston Island Tradeswomen Volunteer Weekend, with group dinners Friday and Saturday that gave volunteers time together away from the jobsite. The SMART Women’s Committee hosted Saturday evening’s dinner.
Sager said the result was one of the smoothest dock installations she has helped coordinate.
“Everybody knew what they were doing,” she said. “There was a lot of pride in the craftsmanship, and the enthusiasm was contagious. We had women from different trades and different parts of Texas working together, meeting new people and seeing old friends.”
The project also offered a glimpse at the next generation of skilled tradesworkers. One volunteer brought her teenage daughters to help with the installation. One of them, an 18-year-old considering a career in the trades, worked alongside the union volunteers on the dock.
For Bernal, that mix of service and connection made the weekend stand out.
“What was really beautiful was seeing us all together,” she said. “You might talk with other tradeswomen or see them at events, but actually working together on a jobsite is different. I’m grateful Maggie thought of us and gave us that opportunity.”
Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA): The USA is a union-dedicated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members hunt, fish, shoot and volunteer their skills for conservation. The USA is uniting the union community through conservation to preserve North America’s outdoor heritage. For more information, visit www.unionsportsmen.org or connect on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
Work Boots on the Ground (WBG): WBG is the USA’s flagship conservation program that brings together union members willing to volunteer their time and expertise to conservation projects that improve and enhance public access to the outdoors, conserve wildlife habitat, restore America’s parks and mentor youth in the outdoors. The USA’s Work Boots on the Ground program works closely with federal, state and local agencies and other conservation groups to provide manpower needed to complete critical projects that may otherwise go undone.
