As the executive director of Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) for the last 10 years, it’s been my pleasure to work with community members and leaders on multiple projects. Whether it’s mayors, council members and city managers, or Community Advisory Committees and nonprofit managers, there is a common thread among them all: to enhance their communities for residents, and both benefit from and manage impacts of tourism. We live in a popular vacation destination, and combining livability with economic vitality is the core of tourism management.
In the last 18 months, our team has worked with Bay City, Oceanside, Netarts, Cape Meares, Manzanita and Rockaway Beach to develop community and destination planning projects. Residents expressed similar amenities for their towns; among them are connective trails, improved beach and trail access, informative signage, parks and playgrounds, parking, trash management and updated public restrooms.
As is true in several towns in Tillamook County, tourism funds are the main source of economic development and revenue growth. The lodging tax can be used for many of the projects desired by towns, whether through tax collected by cities, or funded by county TLT facilities grants and TCVA’s grants and projects.
Recently, I’ve been working closely with the mayor of Rockaway Beach on several projects. Charles McNeilly is very aware that the town’s tourism businesses are owned and operated by locals, whether a hotel, restaurant or retail shop. That’s why he, council members and city staff work continually to support them through a variety of programs: QR codes in shops and lodging properties so visitors, while in town, can easily learn where to eat, shop, sleep and recreate while in Rockaway Beach; façade improvement, marketing, and community grants; wayfinding signage; decorative trash cans placed around town; beach access improvements; management and development of Lake Lytle; development of the Old Growth Cedar Trail; and, the new Anchor Park playground. In addition, a comprehensive five-year roadmap is being developed now to help shape the future of the city. It takes a lot of dedication, planning and resources to make these projects happen.
Earlier this year, TCVA presented the City of Rockaway Beach with the Excellence in Destination Management Award for this scope of work on behalf of the town’s residents and visitors. Manzanita, Cape Meares, Oceanside, Bay City and Pacific City are also actively working on big projects that will support their towns, residents and visitors.
We all know that it’s common in towns across the state for leadership to be the target of criticism, whether through differences of opinion stated through civil means, or in worse cases, name-calling, threats and lawsuits. But strong leaders know to keep their focus on what’s right for their communities, residents and business owners.
In a rural county like ours, most community leaders are volunteers. They are driven by wanting to help their towns thrive and be a desirable place to live in the future. It’s what good volunteers do, and we’re fortunate to have them working on behalf of their towns. TCVA is grateful to be working with them.
Nan Devlin
Tillamook Coast Visitors Association
Local News
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