Centennial Parks Conservation Fund
In 2023, Texans voted to create the $1 billion Centennial Parks Conservation Fund for purchasing land and developing new Texas State Parks. TPWD cannot use the fund for operations, upkeep or staff.
Texas needs more state parks.
As Texas’ population has boomed, more people have discovered Texas State Parks. In 2022, we had close to 10 million visits. Many parks, especially those near cities, fill up on weekends and holidays and must turn away visitors.
We need to build more parks to relieve pressure on current parks and add access to more of Texas’ unique and beautiful places. As of 2023, Texas was ranked 35th in the nation in state park acreage per capita. The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund allows us to address the demand for more public lands in Texas.
Learn about parks currently being planned and developed.
What are we looking for?
We consider many factors when buying land for parks. Tracts should:
- Be scenic and represent iconic Texas landscapes and waters.
- Be large enough to provide great visitor experiences (usually at least 500 acres).
- Have natural, cultural and/or historic value.
- Be near populated areas or areas lacking state parks.
- Offer nature-based recreation.
Other considerations include cost, community support and legal issues.
For more information, email stateparks.land@tpwd.texas.gov.
