Passport to Texas

Bryan Frazier hikes off into the sunset.

State Parks: Bryan Frazier Says "Good-Bye" Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

We say good-bye today to our State Park Guide, Bryan Frazier, who accepted a new job as Travel Director with the Texas Department of Transportation. If ever you thought Bryan’s love of parks was for the radio only, you didn’t know Bryan.

56 –Being outdoors has always been, since childhood, a meaningful experience. No building or structure can rival what nature has. And, the things that we have in nature are not only unique, they’re irreplaceable. And the time spent outdoors is time well spent. I love hiking, wildlife watching, and I especially love fishing. So, it’s all of those things, and then I have a reference point that it was done with my family when I was a child. So, the time is not only something I enjoy doing, but it’s nostalgic, too, I think of times with my dad and my brother when I was a small child, and how much fun it was, and the lessons learned, and the conversations had — all while outdoors. So, you take that whole package; it does something to the human soul…being outdoors… like nothing else can.

Thanks, for everything, Bryan. And good luck!

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.

Vote on Your Favorite Conservation Plate Design

Conservation: New Conservation License Plate Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Twelve years ago a bluebonnet showed up on a conservation license plate; money raised from the sale of these plates support state parks.

04— The bluebonnet plate has been wildly successful for us, and it’s something we’re going to continue.

Thomas Wilhelm, with State Parks, says 22-dollars of the 30-dollar cost of the plates go back to parks. Since two plates to support state parks are better than one, a new conservation plate is in the works.

13— Well, right now we have three designs that we’re looking at: one is a campfire scene, one is a nighttime tent scene, and then one is a hiking scene.

The new plate is intended to appeal to people who may like to support parks with images related to camping or hiking.

09— The goal was: how can we bring new people in that may want to support state parks, but may not be comfortable putting a wildflower on their 3/4 ton pickup truck.

You can go online and vote for your favorite.

11— Voting is running from now through August 31st. Go to conservationplate.org, or just visit the TPWD website and we’ll have links to a place where they can place their vote.

The winning design will become the new conservation license plate.

10— We’re hoping to have the plates available for purchase starting Spring of 2014. They’ll be available to purchase either online, or at the local DMV when they register their vehicles.

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

A Milestone in Texas Parks and Wildlife’s History: Bighorn Sheep Restoration

50 Years and 50 Milestones Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Looking for an informative summer read? Mike Cox, discusses an article that details Texas Parks and Wildlife’s fifty most significant milestones for the July issue of TPW magazine.

04 – I think we could have done probably 25 more, maybe a hundred more.

Cox, a TPW spokesman, says milestones range from creation of the department in 1963… to the Connally Bonds that allowed the purchase of land for parks… to desert bighorn sheep restoration… to creation of the great coastal birding trail… to the Lone Star Land Stewards Awards Program and more.

16 – The department has really done a lot of good things, and I think everyone is looking forward to what the department can do in the next half century for the people of Texas.

And what might the next fifty years bring?

18 – Hopefully we’ll have a big impact on water… not only quality, but the availability of water… especially as we’re in the middle of a horrible drought. I think that’s something that we’ll look back on 50 years from now and say: ‘Whew – it’s a good thing that agencies like Texas Parks and Wildlife were involved in programs like that to help try to turn things around.’

The July issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine with Mix Cox article on TPW’s 50 Milestones is on newsstands now.

Support provided by Ram Trucks. Doing what’s right and good regardless of the degree of difficulty — takes guts. Those are the people who build Ram trucks. RAM.

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

Vintage image of kids fishing in State Park

50 Year Anniversary of Texas parks and Wildlife Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

A legislative act in 1963 merged the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission, creating a new agency…

03 — …called Texas Parks and Wildlife; and now we’re fifty years old.

Mike Cox is a spokesman for the department. We’re observing TPW’s fifty year anniversary throughout 2013, highlighting milestones from the past five decades.

16- A personal favorite of mine is the stocking of rainbow trout in Texas. They’re not native to the state, but they’re pretty tasty and they’re fun to catch. And so, starting in 1965, shortly after the merger, the department started stocking rainbow trout in urban areas, and of course in the Guadalupe River.

Trout stocking, the legislature’s ruling that made redfish and sea trout game fish, as well as giving game wardens full law enforcement authority are a few of the agency’s tangible achievements. There are intangibles, too.

23- The department is always working to improve the environment. The game wardens enforce the anti-pollution laws – that often doesn’t get a lot of publicity – but they’re working toward keeping our water safer and cleaner. We do work to encourage people to practice water conservation; if somebody hears our message that it’s better to rip out your St. Augustine and put in rocks, that saves the whole system.

Mike Cox says while those efforts transpire with little fanfare, they have a long-lasting impact on the well-being of every citizen of the state.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration project supports our series…. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Park Volunteer patch

State Parks: Become a Volunteer Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Maximize your time outdoors when you volunteer at a Texas State Park.

03—We basically have three different categories of volunteers.

These categories include locals who sign up for special projects, friends groups that fundraise for specific sites and—says Lori Reiley—the third category is park hosts.

13—And that is a program designed for—traditionally—retirees who travel around the state and in exchange for a campsite, they do twenty-five hours of labor in the park every week.

Reiley coordinates the state park volunteer program, and says people accepted as hosts, are required to make a time commitment.

12—The time frame is a minimum thirty-day commitment. And, the maximum is typically three months, but it can be extended depending on the park needs. The superintendent has the authority to extend that.

Most Texas State Parks offer host programs with plenty of work to help fill the twenty-five hour labor obligation.

17—We have everything from general grounds maintenance, or it could be cleaning the restrooms. What we really like is when we find people with special skills: carpentry, or graphic artists, or educators doing interpretive tours or education programs. So, it’s a variety.

Find more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.