Getting Better all the Time

Caddo Lake State Park "Getting Better All The Time"

Park System Improvements Reflect Support From Voters, Legislature

UNCERTAIN, Texas – Charles Hubbard loved teaching high school biology in Galveston, but after five years of increasing “doldrums, paperwork, and meetings about meetings” he was looking for new career opportunities when he heard Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was hiring.

This spring, Hubbard began leading nature walks and planning canoe tours as Caddo Lake State Park's first full-time interpreter. His story shows the new passion and talent that’s flowed into state parks this year with the hiring of about 200 new positions, one outcome of increased appropriations for parks in the last session of the Texas Legislature.

“Because this is a brand new position, it’s really like starting with a blank canvas and being able to shape the programs the way I want, which is really empowering and exciting,” Hubbard said.

“A week and a half ago, I went out in my kayak to plan a new series of canoe tours for visitors,” Hubbard said. “For about four hours, I paddled almost continuously, exploring every nook and cranny, looking for teaching opportunities. I saw plenty. The wildlife, the plants, the habitat remnants—I saw a beaver den, for example.”

Hubbard’s new position means expanded and improved guided tours and talks at Caddo Lake, as well as more outreach to area schools and community organizations. In the past, park host volunteers led guided tours every weekend, but typically on the same topic. The new position will make possible new programs every weekend, covering topics ranging from park history such as the park's Civilian Conservation Corps heritage to birding tours to see the rich avian species that reside in or migrate through the parks cypress-tupelo woodland wetlands.

New minor repair funding is also improving the visitor experience, making things safer and more enjoyable. The park has just replaced all the replaced all water spigots and put in new metal risers in its Mill Pond Campground. This spring, the staff will replace all the campsite tent pads with new timbers and raised platforms—a big improvement, since the old tent pads were close to 30 years old.

State investments at Caddo Lake State Park should generate a strong return for the host community. Research reported in 2005 showed the park generates an annual retail sales impact of $1.8 million from employee and visitor spending, creates 38 jobs and produces an impact of $979,116 in additional income for Harrison County residents. The numbers come from Texas A&M University research that shows state parks draw outside visitor dollars into host counties.

The complete “Economic Contributions of Texas State Parks” (PDF 422.8 KB) research report, including fact sheets on each of the 80 parks studied, can be downloaded from the TPWD Web site.

On the Net:

www.tpwd.state.tx.us/parkecon
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/caddo_lake/