Cosejo de Desarrollo de Akumal A.C.
      The Akumal Council Dedicated to a sustainable future for Akumal
Newsletter
Akumal Council April/May 2006
  Overview of Acomplishments and Projection of Goals
  Membership Appeal for 2006

  by the Akumal Council's Board of Directors
  Introducing Myrna Sparks
  Membership Chairman, Akumal Council
Dear members,

The Akumal Council would like to say "muchas gracias" for your membership this past year. If you are not a member we urge you to join and help us! It is a worthy cause.

  2005 presented many challenges to the community of Akumal including two major hurricanes, the continued expansion of the Riviera Maya and the growing popularity of Akumal as a tourist destination. We are happy to report that the Akumal Council has made significant headway on several important issues:
  1. We reduced the municipal Master Development Plan from a projected future density for the Akumal pueblo of 250,000, to about 75,000 people (proposed future population by 2025+/-).
  2. We successfully obtained assistance from the municipality for Hurricane Emily clean up.
  3. We successfully coordinated community funding and clean up after Hurricane Wilma (the Municipality could not assist us because of extensive damage to areas to the north).
  4. We initiated a buoy program to establish safe swimming areas on the main beach of Akumal.
  5. We successfully coordinated community funding and landscaping of the visitors parking lot as you enter the center of Akumal.
  6. We continued to lobby the municipality for protection of the 100 hectares for mangrove between the entrance road of Akumal and Yal ku Lagoon.
  7. We secured Municipality police to be stationed in Akumal.
  8. We prevented the installation of a 200 meter high cell phone tower planned for a beach side facility in Aventuras Akumal.
  9. We secured continued trash pick up in Akumal by the Municipality.
  10. We negotiated the Municipality to bring its asphalt road patching truck to the North Akumal/Half Moon Bay/Yal ku lagoon road and fill the potholes.
  The Mexican Caribbean coast is currently the fastest growing tourist destination in the world.
With this in mind, the Akumal Council is committed to continue its lobby for the preservation and protection of Akumal in an effort to maintain Akumal's historical charm and seaside village ambiance.

  This year the Akumal Council will continue to target issues that impact us all.
Some of these are ongoing efforts, others are new, including:
  1. Involving the municipality in the infrastructural needs of Akumal, including better quality electricity (CFE), consistent freshwater (CAPA), and assistance with septic services (CAPA).
  2. Lobbying the municipality to provide adequate highway signage, reflectors and lighting to reduce accidents at the highway entrance.
  3. Influence the master development plan as it impacts Akumal, considering that there is a plan to add coastal resorts and three new golf courses in our general area.
  4. Influence the proposed municipal efforts to relocate Akumal Pueblo's main entrance a few miles north of where it is today.
  5. Establish a financially self-sustaining tourist information center in the fide caribe building located across the street from Akumal Real Estate in central Akumal.
  6. Continue to work on security issues as they arise.
  7. Continue to strengthen and improve our positive working relationship with the Municipality.
  Other projects that will be considered..
providing participation from the affected Akumal sections are:
  1. The entrance and lighting of Aventuras Akumal
  2. The entrance and lighting of South Akumal
  3. Highway entrance/exit signage for safety
  Something to ponder... is all the effort and expense worth it?
That of course is a question only you can answer, but consider this. The current momentum of development in the Riviera Maya is similar to that of a speeding bus, full of gas, with a brick on the accelerator. If you live or have invested in Akumal, or anywhere on the coast for that matter, you are on the bus. We as a community have an opportunity, via the Akumal Council, to reach out and get a hand on the steering wheel. If we do not try the bus will be guided by others. We invite you to help.

Please become more involved with the Akumal Council this year by making your generous contribution. We need your help and financial support. The Akumal Council is a non-profit group of concerned volunteers working hard to make sure Akumal remains a very special place, with vision to the future. Help us preserve our "piece of paradise".

  Please indicate your level of participation membership levels below in US dollars:
Silver level- $250.00 to $499.00
Gold level- $500.00 to $2000.00
Platinum level- $2000.00 and above

Email us at akumalcouncil@gmail.com with your membership pledge.

If you are in Akumal please drop off your donation with Wendy at TSA (Travel Services of Akumal), make checks payable to the "Akumal Council" or you can mail your check to:

Akumal Council
827 Union Pacific PMB 8-522
Laredo, TX 78045-9452

Thank you for your consideration.

Myrna Sparks
Membership Chairman, Akumal Council

©2006 Akumal Council—Consejo de Desarrollo de Akumal, A.C. all rights reserved—photos©walten