Town needs summer identity

Wellington is known as the Winter Equestrian Capital of the World and the Summer Capital of ... not a whole lot.

The full-time residents still live there, of course. They go to restaurants and venture to the businesses, but for the most part, it’s not enough.

Businesses talk about how they thrive in the winter and survive in the summer. It publicly came up recently when the Village Council approved a second hotel near the Mall at Wellington Green.

The owner of the Hampton Inn told the council they are completely booked during several weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival, but he has vacant floors during the quiet months.

It’s really part of what the newest political discourse is all about.

Developer Mark Bellissimo Matt Morgan wants to build hotels in the existing equestrian preserve to do things like expand the festivals, ensure the vitality of the properties and grow the equestrian industry.

But he’s saying his plan also would bring more summer sporting events to Wellington.

This issue is much more complicated, but whether Bellissimo’s plan passes or not, Wellington needs to figure a way to increase tourism during the late spring and summer.

It’s a problem for much of South Florida because, as we all know, the summers are hot, muggy and rainy. Most of the rest of the country is warm, but much milder.

So the snowbirds go home and the tourists make summer plans elsewhere.

Many of the coastal cities still get some visitors because they have the draw of a beach, but Wellington isn’t getting any tourists who want to lie in the sand.

Wellington’s “beach” is the equestrian industry, but it essentially closes up shop at the end of April. The U.S. Polo Championship just wrapped up, effectively ending the polo season this year.

Soon, the seasonal residents and remaining equestrians will move on for the time being and many business will start to slow.

This isn’t a new problem and it’s part of what the business owners signed up for when they opened in Wellington, but a summer identity could make the village thrive.

Wellington wasn’t founded to be an equestrian destination. It happened over time. Wellington could end up being the Summer Capital of something if the right fit comes along or is discovered.