High gas prices have kept some Denton-area residents close to home this holiday weekend.

In Lake Dallas, city special-events coordinator Holly Deitrick said that in years past, people would tell her they couldn’t volunteer to help out with the Lake Cities Fourth of July Celebration because they were going out of town.

“This year I was able to get a lot more volunteer help,” Deitrick said. “I’ve got an entire event staff … it’s helping out a lot.”

DRC/Gary Payne

The Rev. Brian Blenden, pastor of CrossPointe Community Church, right, and church member Randy McKitrick block off an area for the CrossPointe Kid Zone on Thursday in preparation for the Lake Cities Fourth of July Celebration at City Park in Lake Dallas.

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Event organizers were expecting about 3,500 to attend the all-day event, which is a local tradition. Deitrick said they target their advertising locally, so if attendance is much higher than they expect, gas prices may be having the predicted impact on travel plans. 

“I overheard some people in the grocery store this morning saying that they were staying home and going to the celebration,” Deitrick said.

The American Automobile Association has predicted the first decline in a decade for travel during the July Fourth holiday. The association also predicted a decline in Memorial Day travel this year.

Prices at the gas pump have soared since February. According to data released by the Energy Information Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, Texans paid an average of $3.98 per gallon the week of June 30, the highest price yet. Gas prices often peak in summer and retreat over the winter months. But in 2007, prices peaked at the end of May and rose again in November.

Gas prices have affected boaters on Lewisville Lake, according to Lakeview Marina owner Mike Drozd.

While gas sales are down, slip rentals are up, Drozd said. He said he believes people want to stay nearby, rather than going out to Possum Kingdom Lake and other lakes farther away.

People are still boating, but they’ve changed their habits and are driving around the lake much less, he said.

“They’re anchoring in a cove,” Drozd said. “They’re taking turns taking each other’s boats out.”

He’s also noticed that RV parks around the marina are staying full, too, which makes him think those residents aren’t driving as much either.

But one local travel company couldn’t tell whether gas prices were affecting its customers’ travel plans. 

“We wouldn’t really know,” said Soren Palmquist, an agent with Mean Green Travel. “We’ve had people cancel trips to Europe, but that is more of the general summertime thing.”

Staff writer Karina Ramirez contributed to this report.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.