Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Presenter: Brent Leisure

Briefing
Status of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park
and Devils River State Natural Area
January 26, 2017

I.      Executive Summary: Staff will brief the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Commission with an overview of the actions taken toward making five park sites available for public access.  These park properties include Palo Pinto Mountains State Park and Devils River State Natural Area. These park properties will eventually be exceptional additions to the state park inventory.

II.        Discussion: Taking a raw piece of land and developing a state park requires extensive research and planning efforts before any actual construction and development takes place.  Staff will provide an overview of the natural resource inventories, topographic studies, landscape analysis, and historical research that must be undertaken in order to properly plan the development of a park that will provide sustainable public recreation opportunities for decades.  A status report will be provided to the TPW Commission on the work undertaken to date on Palo Pinto Mountains State Park and Devils River State Natural Area properties and the tasks and resources required before these sites are open to the public.