On February 16, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department submitted their proposal to cut their budget 5%, as directed by Governor Perry. If the Legislature doesn't find new revenue, Parks and Wildlife will have to cut $25 million from their budget - including $5 million from the local parks and playground grants program. Environment Texas will work to maintain funding for parks department in the 82nd Legislature, which convenes in January 2011.

From the wetlands and beaches of the gulf coast, to swimming holes filled with children, to the breathtaking beauty of Big Bend Ranch, our state parks are a vital part of what makes us Texan. Hiking, camping, fishing, or just relaxing in these diverse and unique parks has been a Lone Star tradition for generations.  

But for decades, our elected officials have starved our state parks of necessary funding. Years of budget cuts left many parks in disrepair, lay-offs reduced access at some parks, and protection of ecologically sensitive land threatened with development has been at a stand-still.  

In 2007, we helped convince the Legislature to more than double funding for our state parks and voters approved the final $52 million of that funding on November 6. Now, repairs to our state parks can begin in earnest.

However, it will take sustained funding over the next decade to restore our parks to excellence. Environment Texas will continue to lobby the Legislature to create a permanent funding source, including funding to acquire biologically sensitive land to create new state parks.