The City Council Thursday, Jan. 22 authorized the execution of a five-year management agreement with Renault Winery for the operation of City Lake Park and Campground commencing the 2026 summer season that starts on May 25.
The resolution authorizes Mayor Lisa Jiampetti to sign the agreement for lake and campground management operations, pending approval of the city attorney.
Renault Winery and Resort is a subsidiary of Vivamee Resorts, which owns and operates several resort facilities in New Jersey and across the U.S. Vivamee has invested heavily in its historic Renault Winery operation on Bremen Avenue, which recently opened a new state-of-the-art spa facility in the Chateau Renault hotel.
“Renault’s focus on health and wellness will be the perfect complement to the already beautiful and serene setting at the Egg Harbor City Lake,” Jiampetti said. “I am looking forward to partnering with their team to make the lake the best it can be for our residents and visitors.”
According to the agreement, Vivamee will provide lake and campground management services, including selling seasonal and daily beach tags, operate the snack stand, miniature golf course, volleyball and basketball courts, lease the pavilion for private parties, and rent paddleboats and flotation devices. Vivamee will also be responsible for hiring, training and supervising lifeguards and badge checkers. In return, Vivamee will pay the city an annual management fee, which will increase each year.
There will be no changes to the current fee structure for visiting and using amenities at the lake, officials said.
The city allocated funding from the proceeds of the sale of its water treatment plant to improve electric service and water and sewer connections for recreational vehicles, showers and bathrooms. The city’s Department of Public Works will be installing new water and sewer lines before the summer season, and a contractor will upgrade electrical service. The city has also received grant funding to improve ADA accessibility at the lake. The city will continue certain pre-season maintenance activities, including grading the roadway, and draining and dredging the lake during the winter months as required by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
Vivamee representative Jameson Cesar, who has 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry and was recently appointed general manager at the hotel, said Vivamee is excited about bringing its signature hospitality style to the lake.
“We are all about experiences and community and bringing people together,” he said. “One of the next chapters in our company is based around wellness and health. We are going to incorporate the lake and campground in our wellness program.”
Cesar said the company is planning to have Sunday BBQs at the pavilion. It will upgrade kitchen equipment and the miniature golf course.
“We just want to bring Vivamee’s culture and hospitality to everything there.”
