One day park access at Isla Blanca will increase from $12 to $15 at all locations, the first of  several parks expected to see fee increases after county commissioners approved the plan earlier this month. Monthly, annual and bus pass prices will remain the same.

The increase in fees is intended to keep up with the rising costs of maintenance. We’re not sure how much money the increase in fees is supposed to generate but it is expected to cover maintenance for restrooms, showers, board walks, litter collection and other amenities.

Other parks to be affected by the broader wave of increases include the Andy Bowie and EK Atwood coastal parks.

In our article from 8/6, we also highlighted how SpaceX pledged $15 million to improve Cameron County park amenities. This is good for us. One of the biggest benefits about rich SpaceX people living here in the county is that they’ll try and improve the area around them. They are not doing it for you; they are doing it for them. A lot of them come from elite coastal hubs both east and west where hiking, biking, running and other activities are almost like a necessity to make up for the drudge of general life working in America (not a bad thing). If this helps make the Valley anything like those areas: we’ll take it.