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City staff negotiating retro jet ski rental agreement for Pilot Knoll and Copperas Branch parks
Summary
City staff said they are working with a vendor called Retro Jet Ski Rentals to offer motorized rentals at Pilot Knoll and Copperas Branch Park; the proposed arrangement would be vendor‑operated (trailered equipment), require a city agreement and include an approximate 20% revenue share to the city, with a likely start within 4–6 weeks if the deal
Highland Village parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Board they are negotiating an agreement with a vendor, Retro Jet Ski Rentals, to offer jet ski rentals at Pilot Knoll and Copperas Branch Park.
Phil (Parks and Recreation Director) said the city’s approach follows guidance in the parks master plan to expand lake‑oriented recreation and to establish vetted vendor partners rather than allow unpermitted commercial activity. “We get about 20% of the revenue,” Phil said when describing the typical revenue‑share arrangement the city uses for water‑based vendors.
Staff described operational details: vendors would stage equipment on trailers and use the existing boat docks to launch; the city is not planning any on‑site construction or permanent docks for the vendor. Phil said the operation is expected to be vendor‑run (trailered in on demand), not an overnight staging area, and that an agreement is required before any commercial operation may occur on city parks or Corps lease areas.
Board members raised safety and user‑separation concerns and urged staff to keep motorized and nonmotorized rental locations apart. Phil and other staff acknowledged that separation is good practice and said they would require appropriate operational controls in vendor agreements.
Staff also noted a separate nonmotorized outfitter (kayaks and canoes) is under discussion for Copperas Branch; Blue It SUP (the nonmotorized provider referenced in the meeting) would continue services at Pilot Knoll and would not be replaced by the motorized vendor. Phil said he expects the jet ski rental agreement could be signed within “the next, probably, 4 to 6 weeks,” and that signage and marketing would follow once the agreement is in place.
Next steps: staff will finalize and sign an agreement with Retro Jet Ski Rentals, set operational conditions (launching, staging, separation from nonmotorized traffic), and coordinate marketing through the city’s channels. The city will require an agreement before allowing vendor operations and will monitor vendor compliance.
