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WELCOME TO SAVE ISLA
BLANCA |
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Visiting
this site is your first step to making a positive
difference. If your hope is to help protect some of our
communities most valuable resources, our county parks, you
have come to the right place. This site is your site
where you can make your voice heard and do your part to
ensure that we, our children, and generations to follow will
have these parks to enjoy.
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Isla
Blanca Park is located at the southern-most
tip of South Padre Island where the Gulf of Mexico
joins the Lower Laguna Madre. The union of these two
bodies of water has created a unique ecosystem rich in
life and diversity where multitudes of marine species
such as sea turtles, migratory and non-migratory fish
and invertebrates ,to name a few, have made their
home. Isla Blanca exemplifies the beach
experience where on any given day you will find
families spending a day together, surfers and kite
boarders plying their craft, fishermen trying their
luck or someone just enjoying the fresh ocean breeze
taking a walk out on the north jetty.
Private developers working with our elected county
commissioners have devised a plan that they claim will
enhance the atmosphere of Isla Blanca Park and
generate more revenue. The Master
Plan calls for a marina, an aquarium, shopping
centers, condominium/hotels and, they hope some day,
casinos. Currently Isla Blanca is open to the general
public for a daily fee or with an annual pass and
allows camp/RV sites, convenient beach access,
restroom and shower facilities, picnic and grill areas
and excellent fishing access.
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The concern of
many county residents is that they will no longer have
access to many of the current conveniences because of
the planned development. While those
speaking on behalf of the development claim that this
will not happen it is clear to anyone who sees the
Master Plan that not only will beach access become
restricted and inconvenient but many of the facilities
will no longer be available and the activities that
everyone enjoys no longer possible. The proposed
development carries an air of exclusivity that seems
to be intent on discouraging park use by those who may
not otherwise be able to enjoy private island
amenities. It is unclear who is to benefit from
the additional revenue the development is supposed to
bring or how this will benefit the county citizens
more. One thing is certain though, the park was
built for and by the residents of Cameron County
with our tax dollars along with the admission fees we
pay. It is likely then that the best interest of the
residents of Cameron County is that the park remain as it
was originally intended, a place where people can go
to enjoy the ocean and beach, a place that is clean,
safe and convenient for EVERYONE.
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We believe
that the county parks belong to the residents of
Cameron County. Our objective is to ensure that Isla
Blanca remains un-developed, ecologically sound and
accessible to everyone. It is the responsibility
of our elected officials to ensure that the parks
which have been paid for by their constituents hard
earned money is preserved and protected and not
jeopardized to serve the interests of a few private,
big money, interest groups. Many people in
Cameron County are unaware that they are at risk of
losing Isla Blanca park to private development. Many of
those who are aware of the situation find themselves
frustrated because they aren't sure how they can help
save Isla Blanca Park. By following the TAKE ACTION link above you can send an email
to your county commissioner. By
joining together we can form one voice and send a
clear message to the commissioners and all those
responsible that selling out Isla Blanca Park is not
acceptable.
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