Preserving Texas In the News

From the desert wilderness of Big Bend Ranch to McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, our parks system is a big part of what makes Texas special. Our parks help protect drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, provide countless recreational opportunities, and are home to some of the most breathtaking views in America. They're also a major economic engine for the state, generating more than a billion dollars in economic activity for local communities.

Sadly, this great resource has suffered from serious neglect in recent years. Texas is ranked 49th in the nation in per-capita spending on state parks. The Legislature has let the parks go without even the minimal support needed to maintain them. Years of budget cuts forced the agency to lay off dozens of park rangers, close campgrounds, cut back hours of operation and even consider selling part of Big Bend Ranch State Park to a developer to raise money. In July, the parks department announced that new proposed budget cuts would mean the agency would have no choice but to close 18 parks.

The public outcry about the state of our parks has created considerable momentum for increased funding in the next Legislative session in January. However, our parks need more than stop-gap measures to prevent further closures. In 2001, Texas Tech University researchers found that with only 52 acres of state parks per 1,000 Texans, and far fewer near the state's major cities — Austin has 17.5 acres per 1,000 — "the current acreage available for outdoor recreation does not meet demand," a situation that would only worsen as our population continues its dramatic growth. They also warned that "efforts to conserve and restore biologically sustainable habitats in each of the eco-regions of Texas remain inadequate."

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department agreed and issued its own needs assessment, laying out a 10-year plan to "provide optimal wildlife habitat and quality outdoor experiences" by creating 5,000-acre parks within 90 minutes of each of the state's major cities and the lower Rio Grande Valley. The department further recommended expanding 14 state parks, including Bastrop, Enchanted Rock and Pedernales Falls state parks.

By the time the Legislature convenes next year, the department will be halfway into its 10-year plan, yet none of the new parks has been created, nor has any park been expanded. As the Legislature considers parks funding in the 2007 session, it should make sure not to just patch the holes in the system, but also fund an ambitious park acquisition program that keeps up with the needs of our growing population and protects the many natural areas threatened by development. With land prices continuing to rise, it is myopic to put off these investments any longer.

There is widespread public support for creating these parks: 77 percent of Texans polled in a Texas Tech study supported "more Texas Parks and Wildlife funding to buy additional land for conservation of natural resources and outdoor recreation." With an average of 20 acres of working farms, forests and open space lost to development every hour in Texas, many of our unique and most vulnerable natural areas are at risk. Endangered eco-regions such as the blackland prairies (near Austin), Gulf Coast prairies (near Houston), south Texas plains (in the lower Rio Grande Valley), the Edwards Plateau (near San Antonio), and Trans-Pecos (near El Paso) are all valuable natural areas that require immediate protection.

Texans want a state where there's abundant parkland, our rivers and streams are protected, and wildlife has a place to survive and thrive. We and future generations are counting on the Legislature to make a substantial investment to give Texas the world-class parks system we deserve.

Metzger is with Environment Texas in Austin at www.EnvironmentTexas.org.