Texans Urged to “Find Your Park” in Run-up to National Park Service 100th anniversary

ent--article_ _media__contact">Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot, 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.texas.gov, or Stephanie Salinas, 512-389-8756, stephanie.salinas@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is helping the National Park Service prepare for its 100th birthday in 2016, by joining the Find Your Park campaign. Find Your Park urges all Americans – and Texans – to get outside and explore nature, and then share their experiences on social media.

“A park is more than just a place — it can be a feeling, a state of mind, or a sense of national pride,” says Chris Holmes, director of Outreach and Interpretation for Texas State Parks. ”The community of parks shares a common mission. Parks are vitally important to establishing and maintaining the quality of life in a community, ensuring the health of families and youth, and contributing to the economic and environmental well-being of a community and a region.”

Texas has 15 national park areas, 95 state parks, and hundreds of county, city and private parks. These range from the expansive Big Bend Ranch State Park (over 300,000 acres) to the neighborhood park down the street. All provide unique outdoor experiences, and offer unique ways to connect with nature. Find Your Park encourages people to find their own connections within the network of national parks, state parks and other public lands.

Visit TexasStateParks.org/FindYourPark to learn how to participate. Enter the national Find Your Park contest for a chance to win prizes.

Some Texans have already found their park; watch this video to see their stories.

At the national level, FindYourPark.com features an interactive gallery of inspirational stories from the general public, National Park Service employees, and celebrities. It also has a searchable list of ideas for finding your park, including in-park and digital activities.