Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter:
Trey Vick
Action
Grant of Easement – El Paso County
Approximately 1 Acre at Franklin Mountains State Park
January 23, 2020
I. Executive Summary: The city of El Paso (the City) requests the granting of an easement on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) land to facilitate the construction of a playground at the Thunderbird Trailhead within Franklin Mountains State Park (SP).
II. Discussion: Franklin Mountains SP consists of approximately 26,500 acres (over 40 square miles) within the city limits of El Paso, making it the largest urban park in the lower 48 United States. The park encompasses most of the Franklin Mountain Range and contains elevations from 4,000 to 6,500 feet above sea level. The park offers over 100 miles of trails, mountain biking, rock climbing, and camping. The State of Texas acquired land for the park in 1981, and it was opened in 1987 for the public to enjoy.
TPWD and the city of El Paso have a long history of working together on projects to improve and expand recreation opportunities for the citizens of El Paso and of Texas. Through its Parks and Recreation Department, the City operates trailheads providing public recreation to the citizens and visitors of El Paso and operates an existing trailhead on TPWD property located at Franklin Mountains State Park. This trailhead, known as Thunderbird Trailhead, is locally dedicated as the Jan Sumrall Memorial Trailhead. The City is requesting an easement to help facilitate the construction of a new playground at the Thunderbird Trailhead. This agreement is a no-cost contract, entered into for the mutual benefits to TPWD and the City in improving and expanding public recreation opportunities at the Thunderbird Trailhead.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as
Exhibit A.”
Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A
A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the
Granting of an Easement of Approximately 1 Acre in El Paso County
Resolution
Whereas, in the mid-1980s, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquired approximately 26,500 acres within the city limits of El Paso for conservation and recreation (the Land); and,
Whereas, the Land, also known as Franklin Mountains State Park, was opened to the public by TPWD in 1987; and,
Whereas, the city of El Paso (the City), through its Parks and Recreation Department, operates trailheads providing public recreation to the citizens and visitors of the City; and,
Whereas, the City operates an existing trailhead on TPWD property located at Franklin Mountains State Park, known as the Thunderbird Trailhead, locally dedicated as the Jan Sumrall Memorial Trailhead; and,
Whereas, the City desires to acquire an easement of approximately 1 acre (Easement) for the construction of a new playground at the Thunderbird Trailhead; and,
Whereas, this Easement is a no-cost agreement, entered into for the mutual benefits to TPWD and the City in improving and expanding public recreation opportunities at the Thunderbird Trailhead.
Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the community nearest to the Land in which such newspapers are published (El Paso Times in El Paso County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing and that such notices specified the date and time at which the Commission would hear testimony regarding the proposed disposition; and,
Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of land (Easement); and (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land (Easement) includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the Land; and,
Whereas, the Commission affirms its authority to grant an easement to the City in accordance with Section 11.301 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code; and,
Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to establish terms and conditions to grant an easement for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.
Adopted and approved this 23rd day of January 2020.
Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit B
Location Map for Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso County
Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit C
Vicinity Map for Franklin Mountains State Park (SP) in El Paso, Texas
Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit D
Site Map Showing Franklin Mountains State Park
Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit E
Site Map Showing Thunderbird Trailhead Outlined in Yellow
