MATHIS — Summer days and nights get pretty warm at Lake Corpus Christi State Park, but they will soon feel a lot cooler to guests who reserve ahead. Ten of the park’s 25 screen shelters are now being converted to enclosed cottages — with air conditioners.
BASTROP — Central Texas’ famous Lost Pines were found again and again last year — by 150,000 visitors at Bastrop State Park. The beautifully wooded setting, the historic structures, the large pool, and the rustic cabins all make the park, opened in 1937, a favorite traditional escape for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
ATHENS — The official Toyota ShareLunker vehicle used for picking up entries into Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s ShareLunker program has made so many trips to O.H. Ivie Reservoir this season it could almost drive itself there.
AUSTIN — The state park system of Texas is scheduled to launch a new business software system this spring, that integrates customer-friendly features along with comprehensive and trackable real-time park and financial data, and is expected to improve numerous facets of the agency’s business and reservation functions for parks.
CLEBURNE — Two major rebuilding projects at Cleburne State Park, one completed, the other about to start, restore important park features missing for years. Thanks to bond funding authorized by the Texas Legislature and approved by statewide voters, Texas Parks and Wildlife budgeted nearly $2.83 million for new structures which should become favorite draws for Cleburne visitors.
WHITNEY — Spring brought a new activity to Lake Whitney State Park’s popular mix of fishing, boating and wildlife watching: facility upgrading. Workmen are already busy on a host of improvements slated for this water-focused central Texas park.
ATHENS — Lake Amistad moved into sole possession of second place in the number of Toyota ShareLunkers produced this season on April 21 when Marion Merritt from Florida caught ShareLunker No. 502.
WESLACO — Explore the amazing world of dragonflies and damselflies at the annual Dragonfly Days, being held May 14-16 at the Valley Nature Center and Estero Llano Grande State Park. Attendees can look forward to live music, arts and crafts and learning more about these fascinating winged creatures.
ATHENS — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be conducting a free Hunter Education New Instructor Training Workshop Saturday, May 15th, 2010 in Whitney, Texas. The workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the US Army Corp of Engineers Lake Whitney Offices at 285 CR 3602, Clifton, TX 76634.
AUSTIN — To celebrate the 40th Earth Day, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith will be planting a 15-gallon Cedar Elm at the agency’s Austin headquarters at 10 a.m. on April 22. The event will mark the donation of 65,000 trees made by the Apache Foundation Tree Grant Program to the agency.