Commission Agenda Item 10
August 21, 2025

• Item Type: Action
• Presenter: Trey Vick

Disposition of Land – Cameron County – Approximately 1.9 Acres at Boca Chica State Park

I. Executive Summary:

Staff requests authorization to sell four non-contiguous parcels at Boca Chica State Park, totaling approximately 1.9 acres.

II. Discussion:

The Lower Rio Grande Valley provides habitat for wintering waterfowl and numerous other species of migratory birds. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquired Boca Chica State Park in 1994 and until 2023, leased it to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, which managed it as a unit of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) desires to expand its employee housing around its launch facilities at Boca Chica and sent TPWD an unsolicited offer to purchase the four non-contiguous parcels at Boca Chica State Park. Staff has determined that these lots provide minimal conservation and recreation value given their location within an existing subdivision.

III. Recommendation:

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 and authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to dispose of four tracts totaling approximately 1.9 acres at Boca Chica State Park.”

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Exhibit A – Commission Agenda Item No. 10

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regarding the Disposition of Land
Approximately 1.9 Acres of Real Property in Cameron County

Resolution

      Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and manages property in Cameron County known as Boca Chica State Park for a variety of recreation and conservation values; and,

      Whereas, TPWD was approached by SpaceX to purchase four non-contiguous parcels totaling 1.9 acres; and,

      Whereas, TPWD staff find the parcels provide minimal recreational and conservation value to the agency; and,

      Whereas, TPWD staff find the disposition of these tracts will not affect agency operations; and,

      Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation that are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to Boca Chica State Park in which such newspapers are published (Brownsville Herald, Valley Morning Star, and Corpus Christi Caller-Times ), 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 Commission finds, in accordance with PWC chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the land; and (2) the program or project that requires the land includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and

      Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with PWC section 13.009, that ownership of the real property is no longer in the best interest of TPWD; and,

      Whereas, the Commission finds that this disposition of TPWD land is consistent with the coastal management program goals and policies (PWC chapter 26 and 31 Texas Admin. Code Section 26.29).

      Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the TPWD Executive Director to take all necessary steps to dispose of the subject four parcels totaling 1.9 acres subject to the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 21st day of August 2025.

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Exhibit B – Commission Agenda Item No. 10

Location Map for Boca Chica State Park
Cameron County

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Exhibit C – Commission Agenda Item No. 10

Vicinity Map for Boca Chica State Park
Cameron County

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Exhibit D – Commission Agenda Item No. 10

Area Map of Proposed Disposition
Boca Chica State Park in Green
SpaceX Property in Blue
Proposed TPWD Disposition in White

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Exhibit E – Commission Agenda Item No. 10

Aerial Map of Proposed Disposition
Proposed TPWD Disposition Tracts Labeled 1-4