The turtle sculpture (Ila) at this little park was named in honor of Ila Loetscher who was known as the Turtle Lady of South Padre Island. The artist is Malia Quinn, from Honolulu, Hawaii. The design displays the deep affection, which she had for sea turtles and celebrates her decades-long efforts to protect them from extinction, efforts which continue to this day through Sea Turtle Inc. - which she founded in 1977, and also through The Turtle Lady Legacy.
Prior to her fame as “The Turtle Lady of South Padre”, Ila was well known as a pilot. She was the first licensed female pilot in both Iowa and Illinois! She was a contemporary and frequent correspondent of Amelia Earhart as well as one of the original “99’s” (a support group of women pilots organized in 1929).
By 1977, Ila was receiving so many guests into her home that she formed Sea Turtle, Inc. into the present non-profit. The all-volunteer organization assisted her in education and rehab work with sea turtles.