New Life for Rockport, Texas: Construction of The Blue Lagoon Water Park

Rockport, Texas has grown from a small drinking town with a fishing problem into a tourism Mecca. While Rockport boasts endless birding tours, and fishing guide services it does not seem to have what it takes to draw families, and a younger crowd into the city limits. All that will change with the coming construction of The Blue Lagoon Water Park. This multimillion dollar resort will draw more tourists to the town generating new jobs opportunities, boost the economy, as well as offer the town and its residents many additional perks.

Park construction is set to begin in October, with an opening expected on Memorial Day 2009. It will be forty acres, and include a number of attractions including a lazy river, water slides, water rides, surfing pool, adult and children's pools, along with a family entertainment center. The family entertainment center would include batting cages, a movie theater, bowling alley, and go carts among other things. The park is also looking to have at least one hotel on the premises as well as pool side bungalows and a restaurant. While Rockport manages to draw big crowds during its famous annual Sea Fair and OysterFest festivals this park would keep tourists coming all year round. This means the local economy would not drag during non peak times.

This project would bring so many jobs to the areas, which are needed during this current economic crunch. Not only would people see jobs in the parks initial construction phases, but it will also offer up managerial positions in the parks, as well as servers, life guards, and custodial staff jobs. The influx of people will eventually lead to a greater demand on the food industry here in town. There will most likely be a plethora of new restaurants opening offering positions again as managers, servers, and bartenders. The college students of Corpus Christi- a mere forty minutes away, would no doubt delight in a seasonal job as a life guard at a popular resort. Local high school students would no doubt also be interested.

Bill Womack, who is involved in the project, was quoted as saying his company was "considering different programs" that "could include one which helps kids go to college," as part of the park. A smart entrepreneur might decide to dive in and open his or her own restaurant to cater to the needs of hungry tourists looking for a traditional taste of Rockport seafood instead of a major chains fare. Some locals are worried about an increase in crime. According to Thomas Ralph, however, a rise in property value means a rise in property tax, which could reasonably result in a larger police force to keep crime rates in check.

All the money pouring into existing businesses, as well as the revenue generated by new businesses will boost the local economy. The housing market would likely get a little hectic at the onset. The higher values

will result in higher taxes. Ralph predicts this would ensure that the socio economic standards would shift. Those who use their unfortunate financial situation as an excuse to prey on society instead of contributing to it will eventually be forced to ante up or move along. After this initial upset, there would be more property open to tourists looking to become permanent residents.

There are many fringe benefits to having a water park built in the town. Residents who often had to travel to distant cities for their recreation, using more of their hard earned income on gas can now enjoy a "stay-cation" and enjoy the facilities offered right here in their home town. In addition to this, the residents of Rockport can expect a prettier town! The town will keep up with road construction, and area beautification to keep tourists happy and returning. It will also likely spark other attractions in the area. Rockport could soon have enough fantastic attractions to revival its neighbor Corpus Christi, with its main draws, the Texas State Aquarium, and the USS Lexington Museum. All of these tourists pouring into the city will need places to sleep, eat, shop, and be entertained. It will definitely boost the local economy. In addition property values will sky rocket. Those selling their homes in these hard times would see an instantaneous boost in their homes value without even trying!

The main concerns in Rockport citizen's minds, as conveyed in message boards on the KIII, where an article on the project is feature, are traffic congestion, loss of trees, higher property taxes, and an increase in crime. But with the park's convenient location on the outskirts of town, away from most of Rockport's residential areas, this will certainly not be a big concern. The company has already made claims that their company is very "green," intending to save every tree possible in order to preserve the natural beauty and provide shade in the park, so the loss of the native Live Oak trees is a non issue. The higher property taxes will inevitably be used to improve road ways and employ more police officers to reduce crime.

This water park will change the dynamics of Rockport forever. It will no longer be the tiny one stop light town it was twenty years ago, but instead a steadily growing and booming metropolis for the masses. Like it or not, it is coming. It is better to embrace the change and growth of the town that dig heels in, resisting the inevitable. Though there are a few negative aspects of this park, they are in no way significant enough to warrant cancellation of this project. The opportunities this project will provide for the community are endless. This is a project that will impact most everyone in town positively whether through the creation of jobs, or in the long term with the value of property in the area growing exponentially. It will create endless opportunities, and continue to stimulate the economy, as well as enrich the lives of Rockport citizens in countless small ways for years to come.