Just for your info, South Padre Island Beach Homes and South Padre Island Real Estate provide this news as a service and does not provide a comment. Our job is supplying you with first class South Padre Island Home and Condo sales. We do have an opinion concerning the development at Isla Blanca Park and we may comment on it in the near future. Whatever happens, we believe South Padre Island Homes and Condos as well as Port Isabel and Laguna Vista should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. If we can help, give us a call at SpiHomes.com, South Padre Island's premier real estate organization.  

MAKING WAVES
Beachgoers march against development plans for park

 With chants of “Save our Park” and hand-written protest posters, approximately 100 beachgoers marched through Isla Blanca County Park Tuesday.

The demonstration, organized by the group Friends of Isla Blanca Park, was staged to raise awareness among park visitors about the county’s plans to development the property, organizers said.

In 2005, Cameron County Commissioners and Judge Gilberto Hinojosa contracted a concession agreement with private developers, Laguna Madre Enhancement Group.

Area residents have objected to the plans to build restaurants, hotels, an aquarium, IMAX theater and possibly a marina or casino if the State Legislature and voters ever legalized gambling.

Others have worried that beach access will be limited. However, county officials and developers argue otherwise.

Doyle Wells, a partner of the Laguna Madre Enhancement Group which holds the concession agreement for the park’s development, said Friends of Isla Blanca Park have not approached him to discuss his group’s plans.

“Whoever this group is, no one has spoken to me,” Wells said. “Anyone who wants to work with us and voice their concerns can do so. But they need to tell us specifically what they want.”

Mary Helen Flores of Brownsville, an organizer of the march, said Fourth of July was the perfect day for the protest.

“This is the day when we appreciate our freedom and our government that’s supposed to be democratic,” Flores said. “Our government is not supposed to make backdoor deals.”

Flores said she and her family have been visiting the park since the 1970s and feels “betrayed” with a contract for development that “came out of nowhere.”

“We have not been considered on this matter,” Flores said. “I am furious that we’ve been taken for granted. I’m disgusted at the tactics the county judge and the Commissioners Court have used.”

Flores said the park is the most valuable piece of real estate on the Island and that the park’s atmosphere would change with development.

“It would be exclusive for those who can stay at hotels,” Flores said, “not for the working people.”

Jorge Peña, from Weslaco also joined the march.

“If we loose this park it will be a real shame,” Peña said. “It’s one of the last places where people can go to enjoy themselves.”

Peña said development plans should be moved to the north end of the Island or to Boca Chica Beach to the south.

“With development on Isla Blanca Park, only a select few would be able to enjoy it,” Peña said. “The not-so-rich and not-so-famous would not get to enjoy it.”

The participants plan to keep resisting against public officials who look toward power and money instead of the people, Peña said.

Many people who enjoyed their Fourth of July on Isla Blanca Park looked on at the line of chanting people.

Two onlookers, Maria Eva Castellija and Arturo Castellija of Los Fresnos, said they visit the park with their three children at least once every two weeks during the summer.

“We look for somewhere close by to enjoy the beach,” Arturo Castellija said. “The hotels should go north because this is a recreational family place.”

Passing them, Javier Gomez chanted into a bullhorn: “This is your park.”

Gomez said he camps in the park’s RV area for four months every year.

“What the county is doing is not right,” Gomez said. “They only want what they want and not what the people want.”

Gomez continued with the march chanting, “They want to take it away! Where are you going to go with your families? They want to make casinos for them so they can make money!”

McAllen resident Dasia Cepeda said she’s been visiting Isla Blanca Park with her children for 20 years.

“We’ve shared good times, and we’ve bonded with the kids here,” Cepeda said. “It’s a tradition. The development would be horrible and it would only benefit four or five people.”

Organizer Delton Lee said the turnout for the march was good.

“We’re trying to be kind and respectful, but we’re going to have to play hardball politics,” Lee said. “If we have to file lawsuits we will. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

The purpose for the march was to focus on the heritage of the park, Lee said.

“This is not a private entity,” Lee said. “It’s all about families. We’ll have nowhere for families to go.”

Wells said the development group cannot address issues people have if they simply protest the development by saying they want to leave the park as it is.

“This will be a re-development, not a development because Isla Blanca Park is already developed,” Wells said. “And we will enhance public amenities.”