I disagree with the assumption that the market in lake development is "over built." Rowlett's "lake market" is not Rockwall's nor Garland's market. We have different water. We have shallow water, coves, stumps, and streams. If one is looking for deep water to accept deep keels and long boats, Rowlett ain't the place. On the other hand, Rowlett has something that the others don't. Rowlett has shallow water, coves, stumps, and streams. These characteristics are just what's needed for kayaks, canoes, bass boats, and 12' two man sailboats.
These smaller boats are really great fun and ideal for kids and parents at a relatively low cost. Lake development for this kind of entertainment is not much more than a landing spot on a small park. There, someone can land and hook up, then have a picnic and build some memories. I bought my son a 12' sailboat (Snark) when he was 12 years old. He turned in to a great foredeck sailor. My daughter had to trap some "Red Slider" turtles for a study and a thesis for her Master's Degree in Biology. I had to build some traps and we used a canoe to set out and collect the traps. We were quietly canoeing up the streams. Of course, we released the turtles after we collected the data. What great fun we had in Rowlett waters. Sadly, as time went on, I grew up to be a big boy and had to get a bigger boat and pay a lot of money for a slip every year.
My memories of of the Snark and the canoe are just as powerful as any on the bigger boat. These small boats are quite fun and a great draw for people around the Metroplex, if we had a series of small parks to give someone some place to go. This could bring people to Rowlett to shop and spend money. This is already being evidenced by the kayak activity. At one time there was a discussion whereby Texas Parks & Wildlife was going to map out a water wildlife trail for us. Where did that go?
Rather than destroying residential markets in Northshore, why aren't our consultants working on this? It would certainly be selling Rowlett.