1 - August 22, 2008 1:02 pm

Name:

Pete Collazo

Location:

SPI/PI

Comments:

I concur with A. Flores. The sheriff duputies assisgned to this area have mentioned they are familuar with the duties of the Park Ranger Division, and want nothing to do with this area. What kind of response will we have from these duputies who don't like the type of work done by the Rangers. In the end it seems like SPI beaches will be like Boca Chica Beach, where the citizens are expected to fend for themselves.

2 - August 22, 2008 10:45 am

Name:

Arnold R. Flores

Location:

S.P.I.

Comments:

I am writing to your support group to ask for support on the follow matter. There is Rumor that the Park Rangers are going to be transfered to the Sheriff's Dept. Is this a good move? I think not, because although it is a bigger dept. this dept. is not familar with the rules and regulations that pretain to the parks. In addition there my be very frequent times when there my be no coverage on the island at all, due to the fact that the deputy assigned may be on a call off the island. All this and alot more such as not being certified by the General Land office enforceing its Dune Protection and Beach Access Plan.(Enforcing the Dune Protection Law). We the Officers of the Cameron County Parks Police(Ranger Division)are asking for assistance not only to keep these officers on the Island but also enforce the laws and ordinances that have been put in place to protect our visitors guests.

3 - March 28, 2008 6:27 am

Name:

FF Fenn

Location:

SPI

Comments:

The recent need to lease property adjacent to Isla Blanca (betcha didn't know about that one!) and Andy Bowie Park by Cameron County is a direct result of spending almost 6.5 million dollars of the 8 million dollars of certificate of obligation money on new parks and renovations not associated with either Isla Blanca or Andy Bowie. Additionally, future money will be necessary to staff and maintain all of this new infrastructure....So the county is in a bind....they have to find new and creative ways to fund their system. Who do you think is going to pay?

Are we getting a fair deal from these people?

4 - March 27, 2008 9:33 am

Name:

matt engel

Location:

Norman, OK

Comments:

i come to spi every spring to enjoy the beach and to fish. i go to isla blanca all the time when i am there. they just cannot take that away from us.

5 - January 29, 2008 8:09 pm

Name:

Jay

Location:

Montreal, Canada

Comments:

Love Isla Blanca...I gladly drive the 2200 miles to see it up close and with no regrets...while I am here...I support the local economy on the island and around for whatever needs I have which inclides clothes, fees, food, restaurants and a whole lot more. Fair enough ? You be the judge but should the rv park close down...my spendings will be done somewhere else...fair trade ? You be the judge..love the people of Texas...Love Texas and hope to enjoy the island for many years to come.

6 - January 17, 2008 9:34 pm

Name:

Lynn & John McLaughlin

Location:

Isla Blanca Park Site B-66

Comments:

Keep the beauty of the park alive. Don't sell out to the developers. Keep the casino's and high rises out and keep the crime rate down at the same time. A lot of seniors live to come to the park every year to see their old friends and live in this park in peace and quite. Soon there will be no where for rver's to go cause all the hugh developers will have sucked all the resorts and parks so they can fill their own pockets and forget about the land and the beauty.

7 - January 7, 2008 7:06 pm

Name:

joel

Location:

wyoming

Comments:

keep it like it is we drove all the way from wyoming to enjoy this jewel and dispise all the political bs that keeps ruining this kind of good thing

8 - September 12, 2007 7:58 am

Name:

F.F. Fenn

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

Well Folks,
Cameron County has done gone and stuck it to you again. Be aware that over 65% of the 8.2 million dollars in certificates of obligation (CO's) that the County authorized, and that gate receipts from the Islands Parks (Isla Blanca, Andy Bowie and Adolph Thomae <at Arroyo City>) will pay for are going to Cameron County Precinct 4 (Edna Tamayo)....to build new parks, pay for learning centers and implement other programs. What's wrong with that picture you might ask? Well....Isla Blanca and the other cash cows are outside that precinct! Your parks are footing the cost of those projects, and the remaining 35% of the CO's are divided among the other 3 precincts....Sound like a fair deal?

9 - September 1, 2007 4:20 am

Name:

Cher'rie Yoss

Location:

Harlingen

Comments:

I have camped many a time at the park and I love it. We have very few county or state parks with water access in the southern most tip of Texas and it would be unfortunate if we loss even one. Isla Blanca Park needs to remain available to all the tax paying members of Cameron County. I am sad though, that more and more the park is turning into a RV park. I still like to camp in a tent and am asked to pitch my tent is a small area outside of the gate. I refuse and get a site within the gates anyway, but there are sites I can not get because they are designated as RV sites only. All of the park should be available to all of the public on a first come first serve basis. Yes registrations can work but not for the 3 months (whole summer). Maybe it does need to be a state park. State parks only allow you a limited time at each site. The lengthy time allowed at Isla limits the number of different people that can use the park. All in all we need to keep the park at it was intended, available to the local people. There are enough places for tourists already. Look at what happen to Wanna Wanna's, used to be a local place, quiet and kind of out of the main stream tourist route. I stopped in the other day and it has become a tourist "In" spot, yuck! So let's not have this happen to Isla Blanca Park, let's keep it for the locals.

10 - August 27, 2007 3:20 pm

Name:

s

Location:

south padre

Comments:

Sept. 02, 2007 - Come to Dolphin Cove at 2 p.m. for the Friends of Isla Blanca Park Pig Roast & Luau! food, music, games and fun! $5.00 donation. sea you there!

11 - August 27, 2007 3:18 pm

Name:

sharon campbell

Location:

south padre

Comments:

I love the park and the beaches. save isla blanca for the every day people!

12 - July 15, 2007 10:44 am

Name:

Mary Helen Flores

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

It looks like the talk about the Town of SPI's annexation plans for the entirety of Isla Blanca Park is nothing more than a pipedream for the time being. The Town may very well annex the land outside the park gates because Cameron County cannot seem to manage to afford the proper upkeep of this gold mine. As long as the parkland inside the gates is left to the people of Cameron County as the deed intended I am satisfied.

13 - May 25, 2007 10:47 pm

Name:

LVRob

Location:

Laguna Vista, TX

Comments:

I sent the below letter to the Editors of the Island Breeze & Brownsville Herald.

Letter: Gambling, a road to ruin.

A proponent of gambling, Laguna Madre Enhancement Group, has demonstrated what to expect from the gambling interests, they have tried to illegally take control of our Cameron County Park, Isla Blanca. Thanks to broad based citizen concern and activism this should be rectified with lawsuits that have been filed.
South Padre Island is one of the few relatively unspoiled seaside areas in the nation, growth and property value appreciation are assured, why spoil the unique quality lifestyle here by bringing in tacky me too Casinos that will cause infrastructure issues.
Environmental or feasibility studies and reviews have not been conducted. For example what will be the electric and water demands of Casinos? Who will pay for the additional power and possibly desalination plants to meet their demands? I believe the carbon footprint of Casinos is very large; do we really want to expend precious & limited resources to accommodate gambling to enrich a few? I believe professional and public review would identify many more issues that they are trying to gloss over.
An example of how insidious they can be. It has been reported in the national media that Las Vegas having sucked much of the Colorado River dry is now proposing to tap into the West’s aquifers taking water from ranchers who supply this nations food.
Gambling does not create wealth it merely transfers it; it rips off and impoverishes people to enrich a few. Gambling should not be institutionalized and promoted as being cool, sexy, or sophisticated, walk around a Las Vegas Casino and it is obvious it is none of these things, not to mention Atlantic City, Lake Charles, LA, etc. Don’t let the fake happy faces and fake mammary glands fool you. It is an unhealthy fool’s bargain that creates social and crime issues.
The proponents of gambling are trying to put us on a slippery slope to ruin to enrich themselves, if we all bought into their agenda it is not implausible that we could wind up as a once great nation that gambled themselves into a sorry footnote of history. There’s enough institutionalized gambling in this country, let Texas continue to be a bastion of sanity, responsibility, and sound values that have made this State and Nation great.

Sincerely,

Robert Piirainen
Laguna Vista, TX

14 - May 23, 2007 4:12 pm

Name:

josh

Location:

Austin

Comments:

Moving to Austin opened my eyes to environmentally sensitive development and the best city park system in Texas. Isla Blanca is a treeasure that should be enjoyed as a park as it was intended. I hope to have kids one day can take them to Isla Blanca Park where I enjoyed beach play and sandy sandwiches with relatives as a kid. Please keep fighting. I appreciate your efforts.

15 - May 7, 2007 12:20 pm

Name:

Drew Villegan

Location:

Austin,TX

Comments:

I first came to SPI in 1978 working as the sound engineer for the first Spring Break beach concert in 1978 (4 days / all day). It was staged at what was then called "Children's Beach" in Isla Blanca Park. I ended up moving to the Island a couple months later, disillusioned with life in the big city (Houston) In the mid 1980's I bought a "permanent" mobile home in the park. Nothing could be finer! Stevie Ray Vaughn played on the beach a hundred yards from where I lived! The house was a'rockin'. Around 1988 or '89 we, property owners, were all informed that we had to leave the park so as to make available more rental spaces for tourists and to make the park more accessable to everyone. Quite a few people who owned very nice "houses" in the park lost their asses by the forced eviction. Over the years I have returned to the Island on a regular basis. I am not at all impressed with the changes that have occured over the last 20 years. What was once a pristine landscape of beach and surf has now become an over- commercialized impervious layer of concrete and asphalt. A revenue generating machine designed to enrich a few at the expenses of everybody else. Fight 'em while you can. Vote the fat cat political hacks out of office and elect people that aren't beholden to some scumbag mafia type corporate casino cabal.

16 - April 24, 2007 7:42 am

Name:

Tom clark

Location:

Lakehills tx.

Comments:

not only do we look forward to a 2 week stay at the isla blanca park,all you have to do is see all of the young children playing at the beach.This experence is something they will never forget.If thess elected officials do lease this park for private development for whatever reason would tradgic.

17 - April 20, 2007 9:08 am

Name:

valerie

Location:

elsa

Comments:

i don't follow alot of the news but i did hear my dad telling us something about the selling of isla blanca. I thought that was a wrong decision. i had asked him if someone had taken a petition to have a the trailer parks people and store to sign. the family has been going there for so long and renting in the trailer park from may to aug. we started doing it to bring the family together in the weekends due to work and school. i just thought that was sad cuz then where would we go.

18 - March 21, 2007 5:01 am

Name:

Ray

Location:

Comments:

Mary, Isla Blanca can always wait for the passage of HB6 and a bond election. You might be aware of who uses the park, but you sure seem to be misinformed about the economical status of the county residents. You had about 4 community representatives that basically stated the same thing, " We need a place closer for our families to get together". This should tell you that the expense of going regularly to Isla Blanca is not within the budgets of these people, whom you claim, you dedicated yourself to knowing. To know demographics is one thing, to live on a lower economic level is another. Do not mistake having a concern for my community as being bitter. But if I’m to follow your reasoning of thinking, then I guess in the eyes of the people that support the C.O.’s you’re bitter and hostile. Which, like you say…..won’t do you any good on here ;)

19 - March 12, 2007 10:20 pm

Name:

Rob Nixon

Location:

Laguna Vista

Comments:

I happen to agree with Ray. Mailboxes and I think a heated pool were mentioned in that meeting. These are superfluous requests that detract from what needs to be done to the infrastructure of the park. I did not support the CO's because I believe that there were viable alternatives to them such as the Sporting Goods bills in the state legislature and a bond election. I also believe that an audit should be done to see what Isla Blanca, Atwood and Thomae parks generate before adding to the parks system. Cameron County Auditor Mark Yates has stated in a commissioners court meeting that Isla Blanca is already carrying a debt of over $1 million. I think the commissioners could have shown a little more patience and come up with a more comprehensive plan before sending Isla Blanca and in turn the parks system further into debt.

20 - March 7, 2007 12:14 pm

Name:

Mary Helen Flores

Location:

Brownsville

Comments:

Ray, who do you think uses Isla Blanca Park if not the families from all the towns up Military Highway and families from the colonias north of Los Fresnos and any other low income place you can name. It has been part of my job in the past to know the demographics of the entire Rio Grande Valley. I know what these communities and families can and cannot do and believe me they can and do go to the beach. Many do use Isla Blanca Park and the jetties and I have been happy to volunteer my time and energy to make sure that Isla Blanca Park remains public specifically for them and my own family. You seem so bitter and hostile, which won't do you any good here.

21 - March 7, 2007 11:56 am

Name:

Mary Helen Flores

Location:

Brownsville

Comments:

It seems we have some nasty cowards on the message board again. This message board is a public forum provied by Friends of Isla Blanca Park and anyone using it should have the decency to follow the rules and submit your name even if what you have to say is an uninformed rant. Friends of Isla Blanca and those who support this movement are truly honest, hardworking people who do their utmost to be up to date on County agendas and actions which is more than I can say for the occasional sensation seeker which chooses to remain annonymous for obvious reasons. Civilized, honest discourse doesn't work for the ill-intentioned.

22 - February 23, 2007 3:46 pm

Name:

Ray

Location:

Comments:

The C.O's had 8 hundred thousand dollars in it to cover some maintenance problems that exist at Isla Blanca. Some one met with the County Park Director and they discussed what was needed. Someone even felt that one priority was "mail-boxes", imagine that....mailboxes, at a park. When they built the park in Rio Hondo, I will be requesting a box for myself at the "new" park.I bet alot of these people were not even aware of that. They were fed 1/2 truths from some " friend of Isla Blanca".

23 - February 23, 2007 8:13 am

Name:

Citizen2

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

As Mr. Nixon and other "friends" would have you think, the CO's were to be used for "emergency purposes" only. As evidenced in Commissioners Court this week, that is truly not the case. Not only are they NOT illegal, but the intended utilization fits the criteria to a "t"...

They should've done their homework on this as well as other issues before becoming vocal and consequently marginalizing their "cause".

The "friends" do not want “their” park responsible for “carrying the load” for other projects, fearing that this will eventually deteriorate into the need to “develop” the park. I can only view this as a paranoid delusion.

The CO's and the proposed pay-back plan is a feasible approach, one that would have perhaps the least negative long term impact on County resources. Isla Blanca Park would not be ignored in the deal, nor would less high profile projects. In fact every park and project would be priority.

I can certainly understand the argument that Isla Blanca Park needs upgrades. The restrooms roads and infrastructure are already stressed to the maximum with the increases in use this Park has experienced over the years since it became a "public" many years ago...

...But, the “Friends” include a rather hefty Winter Texan component who inhabit Isla Blanca Park on a seasonal basis. These seasonal visitors-arm of the "friends" are calling for any rate increases/funding to be spent wholly within Isla Blanca Park, and to include such “upgrades” as wi-fi, concrete picnic patios on individual RV spaces and a new bingo hall and activity center for the exclusive benefit of park “residents”.

Is this park public, or is it a retirement community? Is it here just for the benefit of those who are able to enjoy it, or is it here for ALL of Cameron County?

Seems like we need to define that.

Have a nice day friends. Remember, the park is still here, and we all collectively love the place.

24 - February 23, 2007 8:13 am

Name:

Citizen2

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

As Mr. Nixon and other "friends" would have you think, the CO's were to be used for "emergency purposes" only. As evidenced in Commissioners Court this week, that is truly not the case. Not only are they NOT illegal, but the intended utilization fits the criteria to a "t"...

They should've done their homework on this as well as other issues before becoming vocal and consequently marginalizing their "cause".

The "friends" do not want “their” park responsible for “carrying the load” for other projects, fearing that this will eventually deteriorate into the need to “develop” the park. I can only view this as a paranoid delusion.

The CO's and the proposed pay-back plan is a feasible approach, one that would have perhaps the least negative long term impact on County resources. Isla Blanca Park would not be ignored in the deal, nor would less high profile projects. In fact every park and project would be priority.

I can certainly understand the argument that Isla Blanca Park needs upgrades. The restrooms roads and infrastructure are already stressed to the maximum with the increases in use this Park has experienced over the years since it became a "public" many years ago...

...But, the “Friends” include a rather hefty Winter Texan component who inhabit Isla Blanca Park on a seasonal basis. These seasonal visitors-arm of the "friends" are calling for any rate increases/funding to be spent wholly within Isla Blanca Park, and to include such “upgrades” as wi-fi, concrete picnic patios on individual RV spaces and a new bingo hall and activity center for the exclusive benefit of park “residents”.

Is this park public, or is it a retirement community? Is it here just for the benefit of those who are able to enjoy it, or is it here for ALL of Cameron County?

Seems like we need to define that.

Have a nice day friends. Remember, the park is still here, and we all collectively love the place.

25 - February 23, 2007 8:13 am

Name:

Citizen2

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

As Mr. Nixon and other "friends" would have you think, the CO's were to be used for "emergency purposes" only. As evidenced in Commissioners Court this week, that is truly not the case. Not only are they NOT illegal, but the intended utilization fits the criteria to a "t"...

They should've done their homework on this as well as other issues before becoming vocal and consequently marginalizing their "cause".

The "friends" do not want “their” park responsible for “carrying the load” for other projects, fearing that this will eventually deteriorate into the need to “develop” the park. I can only view this as a paranoid delusion.

The CO's and the proposed pay-back plan is a feasible approach, one that would have perhaps the least negative long term impact on County resources. Isla Blanca Park would not be ignored in the deal, nor would less high profile projects. In fact every park and project would be priority.

I can certainly understand the argument that Isla Blanca Park needs upgrades. The restrooms roads and infrastructure are already stressed to the maximum with the increases in use this Park has experienced over the years since it became a "public" many years ago...

...But, the “Friends” include a rather hefty Winter Texan component who inhabit Isla Blanca Park on a seasonal basis. These seasonal visitors-arm of the "friends" are calling for any rate increases/funding to be spent wholly within Isla Blanca Park, and to include such “upgrades” as wi-fi, concrete picnic patios on individual RV spaces and a new bingo hall and activity center for the exclusive benefit of park “residents”.

Is this park public, or is it a retirement community? Is it here just for the benefit of those who are able to enjoy it, or is it here for ALL of Cameron County?

Seems like we need to define that.

Have a nice day friends. Remember, the park is still here, and we all collectively love the place.

26 - February 23, 2007 7:55 am

Name:

Citizenn

Location:

Cameron County

Comments:

Ray:
The 8 million are earmarked for the benefit of all Cameron County Parks!

According to the 2000 US Census, 9.2% of the United States (family) population are below poverty level. The below poverty level (families) average in Cameron County is a staggering 28.2%.

As we are all too aware of, many of these lower income families have limited means and income necessary to venture outside of their immediate communities. The upgrades to our County Parks along with the proposed construction of new Community Parks would provide these families recreational opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable due to their economic status.

Therefore, I do not understand the mindset of those who would seek to deprive our communities of vital assets in an effort to prove “fiscal responsibility” or some other ill placed executive control issue. The "friends" contention is that Cameron County should rely on (proposed) State funding for any new parks or improvements to existing facilities.

Of course, this pie-in-the-sky funding scheme would leave the County Park system no means to accomplish the planned upgrades and new park construction that the citizens of the County would benefit from.

Thank goodness the CO's passed, but now I'm wondering what these peoples next vedetta is?

27 - February 22, 2007 7:08 pm

Name:

Ray

Location:

Comments:

Thank You Cameron County Commissioners for realizing that WE ALL need to prosper from this golden goose.I know you did it for the "kids". Come to think of it, maybe the $800,000.00 earmarked for Isla Blanca can be split to benefit the other parks and Isla Blanca can wait for the "other" bond that the county is working on :)

28 - February 19, 2007 10:32 pm

Name:

Ray

Location:

Comments:

We HAVE been paying for the amentities that are enjoyed by people that don't even live in Cameron County, and have not complained either. Some people in this county can't enjoy Isla Blanca on a daily basis like some people do, but we still maintain it. Based on your way of thinking, who knew just how expensive it would be to maintain Isla Blanca from the get-go? But it seems that WE still paid for it in the beginning. By the way, why am I paying county employees to deliver mail to this park? Sounds like a cheap retirement center to me, rather than a park.I don't recall ever voting to see if I wanted to use my tax dollars to deliver mail to people at this "park".My understanding is that $800,000.00 is earmarked for improvements to this park, which, I may add, includes "mailboxes"?...wow. Who gets their mail delivered to Disney Land?

29 - February 19, 2007 6:37 am

Name:

Rob Nixon

Location:

Comments:

Isla Blanca does maintain itself... and every other park in Cameron County! It also pays for the construction of new parks and their maintenance as well. The wealth HAS BEEN spread around! In fact it is so spreda around that Cameron County Commissioners have filed for what is, essentialy, an emergency loan to pay to build more parks for Isla Blanca to support.

In fact, it can be said that thanks to everyone having to pay to enter Isla Blanca and Atwood Park that residents around the county do not have to pay $4 every time they want to use their local county park. However, if the current trend continues with the construction and maintaining of new parks without even knowing what money is really there to do it, YOU, the taxpayer will be bailing out the parks system!

30 - February 15, 2007 3:57 am

Name:

Ray Bustamante

Location:

Comments:

Muddy politics? No. The word "arrogance" comes to mind. Isla Blanca is a county park. We all paid at one time to create it, we still pay for it. It is high time the wealth is spread amongst the "other" taxpayers. Isla Blanca has "no" residents.If the park cannot maintain itself, maybe we should look at bulldozing everything down and just make it a beach front, period.