Passport to Texas

State Parks: Palo Duro Pavilion Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is one of the most stunning parks in the Texas State Park system. This month we celebrate the opening of a new facility at the site, made possible by a generous donation from a fellow Texan. Bryan Frazier has details.

59—Palo Duro Canyon is one of those iconic places that people from all over seem to know about and know what it is. And it is one of our flagship parks from a total outdoor recreation standpoint. It’s the second larges canyon in the US. Thousands of people go there very year to see it—and it’s just a fantastic place. And a gentleman by the name of Mac Dick came forward with a large sum of money and said he wanted to make a donation for a group facility. Not just any group facility, but one that was build like the old CCC style—with the native stone and the native materials. And we’re going to have that. And we’re having a ribbon cutting April 12th and the public’s invited to come see. It’s set in that beautiful scenery—that rust colored dirt and rock that is so famous in the Panhandle—and it’s built with those native stone materials so it blends right in. it’s absolutely fantastic…and we couldn’t be prouder of the partnership with this gentleman who has come forward and said he not only wants to be identified with the park, but he wants to help do something that will generate revenue for years to come.

Thanks, Bryan.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Whole Earth Helps State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Heat, drought, and wildfires kept visitors from state parks last year, which severely reduced revenue. Citizens wanting to help have donated more than a million dollars to support parks. And businesses, including Whole Earth Provision Company, are helping, too. Bryan Frazier has details.

62—They approached us and said they would like to help the cause of state parks. They’re the host sponsor for the Banff Film Festival every year here in Austin, and all of the net proceeds will benefit state parks. The second thing they’ve offered to do is for the entire month of April to make state parks a beneficiary of donations at their counters—when people check out with their merchandise, they ask if they’d like to make a donation to state parks. And for every $20 that’s donated, Whole Earth Provision Company will then give customers a free $5 gift card that can be used on site at Texas State parks. And it’s companies like that, that are making a difference. So really, collectively, people across Texas are saying they’re concerned about state parks and they want to help. And now what we’ve seen is businesses stepping up in a very valued partnership allowing us to do things that we otherwise couldn’t do.

Thanks, Bryan.

Go to texasstateparks.org to find out how you can help state parks.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet: supporting outdoor recreation in Texas because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Interpretive Programs Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

You’ve heard the expression that every picture tells a story. Well, so does every state park—with the help of interpretive programs. Bryan Frazier explains.

62—I think what people find when they go to any state park is that that particular state park has a unique story to tell. And one of the most popular things at a state park is maybe one of the most undersold—and that is our interpretive programs.

Sometimes these programs are free, and sometimes there’s a modest fee for these interpretive programs. But either way, I just really want to encourage people that when they’re outside and enjoying the state parks and the beauty of nature and getting out for spring—try to find out what interpretive programs are going on.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Spring Awakenings Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It feels good to be outside in a state park again after the miserable heat and drought of this past summer and the chill and wet of winter. But as our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, tells us, we aren’t the only ones stirring this spring.

65—The animals and bugs and things that live in our parks all the time, this is their first time to get out and stretch their legs and see the sunshine and do all that. So we want to encourage people of some basic safety tips when they’re going outside to remember.

So, more than anything, a modest amount of practical sense and just respect for nature will keep everybody safe and [create] a happy, enjoyable outdoor experience for you and for the residence of the four-legged kind that live there all the time.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Park Improvements Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There’s good news coming from state parks. Money earmarked by the legislature in years past for improvements in state parks is finally being put to use. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier has details.

61—So, I think people maybe who have not been to a park in awhile—maybe since last year—will find some pretty interesting things that they like. Things that are really important to them. Things like new and improved camp sites, new and improved restrooms. Fifty amp service on electric sites for big RVs in a lot of our parks. Things that really will impact a person’s park experience when they get there.

Money from past biennium that’s just now being spent so that they’re park experience is better. Their campsite is maybe a little bigger. They’ve got a nicer electric hook-up or a full hook-up campsite that maybe a year ago was only water and electricity. We had more than 40 state parks tht got these capital repairs and improvements. And I think when people get out there this outdoor recreation season beginning in the spring, they’ll find some good things they like.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.