Regional Highlights - North Texas Issues

Click on your region for
more specific issues.

Increased State Park Funding Brings Positive Changes (All regions)

The 80th Texas Legislature passed House Bills 1 and 12 that provide $25.6 million for park operations and the hiring of park staff during the 2008-09 biennium. Lawmakers also appropriated roughly $52 million in bonding authority to fund major state park repairs, sending the measure to voters for approval as required by law. On Nov. 6, voters approved that constitutional measure, Proposition 4, which allocates $25 million to dry-berth the Battleship Texas to ensure its long-term preservation and another $27 million for major infrastructure repairs throughout the eight state park regions.

Increased State Park Funding Brings Positive Changes in North Texas (Region N)

Abilene, Colorado City, Lake Brownwood, Possum Kingdom State Parks (SP)

Each park will hire a peace officer-interpretive specialist to fulfill the dual role of providing more security and expanding interpretive programming options.

Cedar Hill SP

$4.35 million in Prop 4 funds to replace electrical, water and wastewater systems in five camping loops, as well as bring the restrooms and headquarters into ADA compliance in the park that reigns as the state park system's most-visited site.

Eisenhower SP

Addition of full-time office help will allow the park to extend weekend office hours.

Fort Richardson SP

A new manager trainee position is being funded.

Lake Mineral Wells SP

Work has begun on a $24,675 project to repair a flood-damaged section of the park trailway that leads to downtown Mineral Wells.

Ray Roberts Lake SP's Lantana Lodge Has New Concessionaire (Region N)

An international resort company that owns Dallas' famed Southfork Ranch was the highest bidder last week at an auction to take over of Ray Roberts Lake State Park's Lantana Lodge. The previous concessionaire at the park, Nature Leisure Times, LLC, had been in bankruptcy for more than a year. Forever Resorts of Scottsdale, Ariz., submitted the winning bid to take over the six-year-old, hotel-style facility in Denton County. Bids were based on TPWD's current contract for the facility that calls for several phases of construction that includes development of a marina and cabins, and a conference center expansion. Lantana Lodge, which includes 30 guest rooms, a conference center and a full-service restaurant, remains open and under terms of the sale must remain open and honor all future bookings taken by Nature Leisure Times. The bankruptcy trustee closed on the sale Dec. 19. (More info.)

Conservation Careers Await at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (All regions)

If you love the outdoors and are looking for a job where you can make a difference in conserving Texas' natural and cultural resources, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department may have just the job you're looking for. Entering 2008, TPWD had 50 job postings and was expecting to post even more during coming weeks. The majority of those job openings are within the State Parks Division, which is looking to fill job slots in Austin, its field offices and in many of the 93 state parks. Recent retirements of park employees and additional appropriations from the Texas Legislature last year to increase staffing in state parks by more than 200 employees are driving the demand. At present, the State Parks Division has approximately 100 job openings, many of them ranger positions. Other employment opportunities exist, as well, in wildlife, fisheries and other TPWD divisions, according to Al Bingham, director of the Human Resources Division. (More info.)

New Texas Game Warden Training Facility Project Fundraising Underway (All regions)

Funds raised to date for the new Texas Game Warden Training Center have reached $4.7 million. All told, more than 39,000 square feet of instructional, administrative and living space is planned for the property in Hamilton County that was donated by the Police Activities League. All buildings and facilities at the Texas Game Warden Training Center will meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification standards. In addition to the development of new facilities, the Center will require: road construction, water, telecommunications, electrical improvements and expansion; upgrades to existing facilities; security fencing and walkways; and other infrastructure enhancements. LEED standards promote design and construction practices that increase profitability and efficiency, while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being such as: maximized natural day lighting, solar shading and ventilation of buildings; use of salvaged building materials, Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber; regionally-sourced and manufactured building materials; solar heated water, ultra low-flow water and energy-using fixtures, and on-site wastewater treatment; Photovoltaic electrical generation for lighting and water pumps and wind power. TPWD executed a contract with a design consultant in October 2007. Total cost for the project is expected to be about $15 million and fundraising is a partnership effort involving the TPWD, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Texas Game Warden Association.