Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Presenter: Trey Vick

Action
Disposition of Land – Blanco County
Approximately 3.5 Acres at Blanco State Park
May 21, 2020

I.      Executive Summary: Recent deed research and mapping at Blanco State Park (SP) has revised the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) understanding of the park’s extent and boundary. TPWD owns an approximately 3.5-acre tract that is not adjacent to the rest of the park and does not add any operational or management value to the park.

II.     Discussion: The 101-acre Blanco SP straddles the Blanco River for more than two miles within the City of Blanco.  The park was acquired from local ranchers in the 1930s and is very popular with families because of its safe access to the clear waters of the Blanco River for swimming, tubing, picnicking, or just enjoying a picturesque Hill Country stream for a day.  The park is particularly popular for its size, attracting more than 100,000 visitors in Fiscal Year 2016.

The TPWD staff has been actively researching title records and mapping the results for TPWD state parks and wildlife management areas in order to improve understanding of site boundaries and spot potential boundary issues. During the staff’s research of Blanco SP boundaries, it was discovered that TPWD owns a tract of land that is isolated from the park and has not been managed as part of the park.  This “orphan” tract is approximately 3.5 acres (roughly 1,100 feet long and approximately 130 feet deep) and it extends to the centerline of the Blanco River. It is located approximately a third of a mile upstream of the park. The staff believes that the tract is not serving the purposes for which it was acquired and recommends the tract be sold with restrictions to prohibit subdivision, development, and the removal of native vegetation, and that the sale proceeds be applied to strategic state park land acquisitions.

III.   Recommendation:  The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

         “The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

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Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Disposition of Approximately 3.5 Acres of Real Property at Blanco State Park in Blanco County 

Resolution

Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates the 101-acre Blanco State Park for a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and conservation values, including protection and interpretation of the Texas Hill Country; and,

Whereas, during the course of researching titles and records associated with Blanco State Park, it was discovered that a tract of land owned by TPWD is separated from the park by about a third of a mile; and,

         Whereas, staff believes that the tract is not serving the purposes for which it was acquired and recommends that the tract be sold with restrictions to prohibit future subdivision, development, and removal of native vegetation, and the sale proceeds be applied to strategic state park land acquisitions; and,

Whereas, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to Blanco State Park in which such newspapers are published (The San Antonio Express-News in Bexar County and The Austin American Statesman in Travis 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,

Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that the 3.5-acre tract of land is not serving the purpose for which it was acquired and that continued ownership is no longer consistent with the TPWD mission; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 13.009 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, that sale of the 3.5 acres of land is in the best interest of TPWD;

Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the TPWD Executive Director to take all necessary steps to sell the subject 3.5-acre tract of land subject to the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 21^st day of May, 2020.

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Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit B

Location Map for Blanco State Park, 45 Miles North of San Antonio

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Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map of Blanco State Park (SP)

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Commission Agenda Item No. 10
Exhibit D

Site Map of Subject Tract (Outlined in Red)
Shown in Relationship to Blanco State Park