Cameron County parks revenue dipped during the third quarter of the fiscal year, generating a quarter-million dollars less than the same period in 2017, according to a report.
Cameron County parks revenue dipped during the third quarter of the fiscal year, generating a quarter-million dollars less than the same period in 2017, according to a report.
Joe Vega, director of the parks and recreation department, presented the figures to county commissioners Tuesday. County parks brought in about $2.7 million from April to June, nearly $270,000 less than the same timeframe last year.
Vega said one factor was bad weather in April, which saw rain every weekend. Another was that Semana Santa, which draws vacationers to South Padre Island from Mexico, fell in March.
There’s also the ongoing construction at Isla Blanca Park to consider, Vega said. The site had the largest decline in revenue.
“Isla Blanca Park itself experienced a total decrease of $352,366.42,” according to the report. Its RV occupancy was 45 percent, a 23 percent drop from the same time in 2017, it stated.
“We had a busy July, so we’re monitoring everything carefully and hopefully we’ll have a great August,” Vega said after the meeting. “We were busy this weekend. Hopefully families have an opportunity to take their vacations before school starts.”
Public beaches, which includes Accesses 5 and 6, were the only sites that saw an increase in topping 2017 revenue by an additional $97,000.
Work continues in the Dolphin Cove area on the $6.2 million addition of an amphitheater and multipurpose building. The county broke ground in March on $17 million in renovations to gulfside amenities, which included the demolition of the Sandpiper Pavilion.
The parks department suspended the rental of 19 RV sites due to construction, Vega said, and converted 60 monthly rental RV sites to daily rentals in order to accommodate visitors who were looking to rent for two weeks or less. Forty sites have since been reverted to monthly rentals, he added.
During the commissioners court meeting, Commissioner Alex Dominguez asked whether Vega foresaw a revenue increase during the fourth quarter. Vega said he does.
“What’s helping us is Beach Access 5,” he said of E.K. Atwood Park, where county officials celebrated the unveiling of $3.8 million in upgrades in February. “It’s basically full until 10 o’clock at night.”
Vega said construction of the Isla Blanca Park amphitheater and multipurpose building is expected to be completed in mid- to late September. The rebuilding of Sandpiper Pavilion should be done by January, he added, and work to D.J. Lerma Pavilion will wrap up by April.
“We’re excited about the new improvements going on at the park,” he said. “We can’t wait until everything is finished. By next spring and summer, you’re going to have a beautiful park.”
The analysis of third quarter park revenue compared to 2017 also included:
>> Bowie Park, decrease of $2,433.80
>> Thomae Park, decrease of $10,796.47
>> Public Beach Accesses 5 and 6, increase of $96,972.26
>> Community parks, decrease of $734
