Getting Better all the Time

Bastrop and Buescher State Parks "Getting Better All The Time"

Park System Improvements Reflect Support From Voters, Legislature

BASTROP, Texas – Bastrop and Buescher State Parks are improving security, enhancing visitor tours and interpretation and planning major facility repairs to historic buildings, thanks to increased funding provided by the Texas Legislature and statewide voters.

For 2008, the annual budget to operate and staff both parks increased by about 26 percent. Bastrop State Park has a new park peace officer position, which means more proactive visitor security and patrols instead of reacting to situations as they arise. Buescher State Park has a new site manager. The new positions will free other employees to focus more on interpretation, telling the park story to the public. For visitors, this means more interpretive programs like nature hikes on weekends and more outreach programs to schools and civic groups.

"Along with providing evening slideshows, the park interpreter will coordinate volunteers to assist with trail work, tree planting, maintenance duties and interpretive roles," said Todd McClanahan, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department park superintendent for Buescher and Bastrop State Parks. "Interpretation is what makes the difference in terms of campers making personal connections with our natural and cultural resources."

Besides the increased operating funds from state lawmakers, both state parks will also benefit from bond money approved by Texas voters in 2007. Bastrop is getting $3,670,193 for major repairs to several historic buildings built 70 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This includes plumbing repairs to save the swimming pool bath house, which is deteriorating from water rot caused by leaks, foundation and roof repairs for the golf pro shop, and various repairs for the group barracks, restrooms and kitchen. Buescher will receive $861,372 to repair foundation problems threatening the walls and roof of the park recreation hall, also built by the CCC.

State investments at Bastrop and Buescher should generate a strong return for the host community. Research reported in 2005 showed Bastrop State Park generates an annual retail sales impact of $2.5 million from employee and visitor spending, creates 84 jobs and produces an impact of $1.1 million in additional income for Bastrop County residents. This is according to Texas A&M University research that shows state parks draw outside visitor dollars into host counties.

Susan Wendell, Bastrop County Chamber of Commerce president, says Bastrop State Park"s contribution from tourism dollars is significant. "When you consider the visitors who go back home and tell others about our state park and surrounding areas, that"s a figure that cannot be captured, but it"s huge."

The A&M study reported that Bastrop State Park generated $582,466 in revenues and had $708,940 in operating costs in fiscal year 2004. The state"s "net" investment to operate the park was thus about $126,000. In return, the park generated a retail sales impact of 20 times that amount in Bastrop County from employee and visitor spending on groceries, meals out, lodging, shopping and other expenses. If only non-local visitor spending is considered, the park still drew $1,646,698 in retail sales impact to the host county.

The Bastrop findings are one example of the data gleaned from interviews conducted with more than 11,000 visitors at Texas state parks in 2002 and 2004 by Texas A&M University professor John Crompton, Ph.D., and his colleagues from the university's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences. The Texas Coalition for Conservation, a nonprofit umbrella group formed to support parks and natural resource conservation, commissioned the research to determine the economic value of state parks. For cost reasons, only 80 state parks were selected for the A&M study. There are currently 93 state parks in Texas.

Research revealed that economic activity associated with the 80 state parks studied generated an estimated total of $793 million in retail sales, had a $456 million impact on residents" income and created roughly 11,928 jobs. These figures include spending by all visitors, both local and non-local, plus state park budget dollars spent in local communities.

Crompton and his colleagues also analyzed expenditures of park visitors from outside host counties, excluding spending by local residents and "casual" state park visitors attracted to the community for other reasons. For each park studied, the research consistently showed that state parks draw non-local visitors to host counties.

"Tourism is a major component of the Texas economy," Crompton recently told members of the Texas State Parks Advisory Committee in Austin. "Attractions drive tourism and state parks operate more of these desired attractions than any other entity in the state."

Researchers say investing money on facilities upkeep, interpretation and services to enhance the visitor experience can boost the economic value of parks.

"State parks," Crompton contends, "are analogous to retail stores. Economic success depends on what happens inside the facility. Investments in park services and amenities mean more visitors and higher per capital expenditures, which equals higher revenues to the state and more jobs and income for local residents."

Read the complete "Economic Contributions of Texas State Parks" (PDF) research report, including fact sheets on each of the 80 parks studied.

Details on Bastrop State Park, including visitor facilities, hours and fees, maps and directions, can also be viewed online.