March 2025

By Ranger Kate

Things are getting exciting at the park! Our headquarters is close to being finished, and is looking gorgeous! This facility will be the main hub of the park with staff offices, park information, check-in and checkout location, and an interpretive center. 

Landscaping around the building includes all native plants. Once established, these plants are low maintenance and support our local wildlife.  

For sustainability, this facility has a rain catchment system and solar panels. Taking the surrounding ecosystem into consideration, we have replaced a few of the rain spouts with rain chains to help control runoff, added etching to the windows to reduce bird injuries, and shielded lighting to allow a better view of the stars at night.  

To meet guest needs, this facility complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Walkways and boardwalks connect parking areas with the restroom and headquarters. Each stone at our main entrance was handpicked for its exact spot to prevent trip hazards. Headquarters’ halls, walkways and doorways are wide with smooth thresholds. Our information counter has levels for standing and sitting. These are just a few of the accommodations we have added. If you keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages, I’ll do a live walk-through video once headquarters is complete and staff has moved in.  

Recognitions and Awards 

Speaking of staff, I’d like to recognize them.  

New rangers 

First, we have two new rangers! Rangers Mark and Scott started earlier this year. Both have been wonderful additions to our team with skills that will greatly benefit the park. They’re just as eager as the rest of us to one day share this park with you! Welcome to the team, Mark and Scott!  

Friends’ group 

Second, our friends’ group, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Partners, recently received the 2024 Stars in Our Parks Award from Texas State Parks for service and stewardship by clearing three miles of trails before the endangered golden-cheeked warblers arrived for the nesting season. Due to legal protections in place for these little birds, tree trimming nearly stops from March to September. This job could not have been completed in time without the assistance of this amazing group.  

Our friends’ group also received the 2024 Ned Granger Award from the Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association for their continued work on our beautiful trail system.  

In addition, Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Partners were also awarded the 2024 Outstanding Friends’ Group Award from Texans for State Parks for their work gathering plastic bags to turn into benches, going above and beyond to get assistive mobility chairs for our park, and much more. We are extremely grateful for all their hard work on the many projects they do to improve this park and your future visit. We love our volunteers!  

Third, Ranger Kate received the Texas State Parks 2024 Interpreter of the Year Award for Region 5 for her collaboration, gathering everything needed to start this park’s program for education and outreach, and doing everything she can to keep you informed on our park progress.  

Superintendent 

Lastly, our park superintendent, James Adams, recently received a 2024 Stars in Our Parks Award from Texas State Parks for his phenomenal leadership of park staff, volunteers and contractors, and for positively impacting the surrounding community. It’s safe to say that James has accomplished exactly what Ken Blanchard once said, “The greatest leaders mobilize others by coalescing people around a shared vision.” Well done!  

Thank you! 

There is so much work done by TPWD staff, volunteers, and locals for this park that is deserving of recognition. Everyone here has a single goal in mind: Creating an impactful outdoor space for our future visitors. The efforts of all these people, and those not listed, will leave long-lasting impressions on this park and community. Their contributions today, and in the future, are greatly appreciated!