Passport to Texas

Prairie Dog at Lake Arrowhead State Park, copyright Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

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This is Passport to Texas

There’s no telling the diversity of wildlife that will cross your path—from birds to bison—when you spend time outdoors.

If you missed the May issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, you can find it online at tpwmagazine.com. In that issue, writer Dale Blasingame put together a list of state parks that offer some of the best wildlife viewing in Texas. We mention some of them here.

If you want to set eyes on one big mammal—the bison—you can do that at Caprock Canyons State park, where the official herd of Texas roams freely. These majestic animals will leave you in awe.

Brazos Bend and Sea Rim State Parks are known for their alligators—which have a prehistoric look about them. The park also boasts a wide array of beautiful bird species.

Speaking of birds, Choke Canyon State park in South Texas has been recognized by the American Birding Association for the diversity of species one can see there.

If you prefer to keep your eyes to the ground, Lake Arrowhead will charm you with its prairie dog town. But you have to be patient, as those little guys are shy—but it’s worth the wait when you see them pop up from their burrows.

Find the complete list of the nine best state parks for wildlife viewing at tpwmagazine.com. That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area

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The Texas Legislature approved $90 million dollars for state parks during its 2015 session; critical park repairs are just beginning of how the money will be spent.

One of the things people will see in the coming years is the development of several new parks.

Kevin Good is special assistant to the director of state parks.

First in line of those is Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located halfway between Fort Worth and Abilene, right off of I-20. We’re doing the planning and design right now, and we’ll be approaching the legislature about funding for construction of that site in the next session.

Good says if all goes as planned, Palo Pinto State Park will begin receiving visitors in as few as five years from now.

After that, there are other park sites. The [Albert and] Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area near San Antonio will be another site that will come online largely due to this increased funding.

Another park under development is Powderhorn Ranch, near Matagorda Bay along the Gulf Coast. Part of its more than 17-thousand acres will eventually become a state park while the rest will serve as a wildlife management area.

Find details on park improvements on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Sandcastle on beach at Galveston Island State Park.

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This is Passport to Texas

In 2015 the Texas Legislature approved $90 million dollars for critical park repairs and other capital projects.

11— The legislature passed HB 158 that provided sustained funding, fully dedicating the Sporting Goods sales taxes to the state park system and local park grants.

Kevin Good is special assistant to the director of state parks. In the short-term, he says most of the new funding will pay for repairs and improvements that aren’t “sexy”.

11— A good deal of the increased funding will be used to address infrastructure needs. The water and wastewater systems are things that you don’t see as a visitor, but you will know if they are not functioning.

Yet, not all updates and projects deal with park plumbing.

29—Currently we’re doing planning on redevelopment of Galveston Island State Park, which obviously was impacted heavily by Hurricane Ike several years ago. On the other side of the state we are currently planning to build a visitor center at Franklin Mountains. Huntsville, north of Houston, we’re doing some repairs to the facilities that were built by the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] in the 1930s there. So, we’ll be working on the dam, the boathouse and lodge.

Most parks will benefit from the new funding over time. Log onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website for additional information.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

A family hike at Garner State Park.

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This is Passport to Texas

Enduring traditions and beautiful scenery have drawn generations of Texans to Garner State Park.

A number of times when I was very small we went to Garner. And then, actually not just when I was very small, but I remember going there as a middle schooler and even a high schooler. In fact, I went there the weekend after I graduated from high school with a big bunch of friends. I’ve always loved going to Garner.

Melissa Gaskill is a freelance writer living in Austin; she says the bracing waters of the Frio River keep her coming back.

That is some of the best water in the state, I would say. Swimming in it; tubing on it; just lying next to it staring at it…. It’s a gorgeous river. The setting is beautiful. It has those big, beautiful trees. You’ve got Old Baldy. The sky’s usually blue. It’s really a beautiful, peaceful place to go and have a great time.

When Melissa Gaskill had children, she introduced them to this scenic getaway that also offers tubing, paddling, fishing, hiking, and camping.

My children also love to camp and do all the things outdoors that I love to do. And, they loved it so much they wanted to go back every year. So, it was not a conscious thing, but definitely in my sub-conscious obviously this is a special place, for me. And I wanted it to be a special place for my family—and it happened.

Melissa’s grown children visit Garner State Park on their own now. And she says one day she hopes to carry on the tradition and introduce her future grandchildren to this special place.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Cool clear waters at Garner State Park.

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This is Passport to Texas

The cold, crystal waters of the Frio River that flow through Garner State Park in Uvalde County, have attracted people since prehistoric times.

 That is some of the best water in the state, I would say.

The water attracts them, but the bounty, beauty and relaxed vibe keeps them coming back. Melissa Gaskill is a freelance writer living in Austin; she wrote about this 75-year-old park for the July issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine. Garner has special meaning to many Texans, including Gaskill.

 I love it. I think, to me, it’s just kind of a heritage. A piece of Texas that’s been special to me since I was little. Special to my parents. Now it’s special to my children. And I hope one of these days—not in the too distant future—my grandchildren.

Vintage structures built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps dot the landscape, and in summer the pavilion—with its jukebox filled with diverse musical offerings—swarms with activity.

Yeah. That’s the first place I ever got asked to dance—the Garner Pavilion. I danced with my kids there when they were little. I see other people dancing with their children and grandchildren there. The Pavilion is a very special place.

Read Melissa Gaskill’s story about Garner State Park in the July issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.