2026 Annual Conference March 27 and28!

Welcome to Texans for State Parks!

We have something in common: a love of the outdoors and Texas State Parks. We know that people make our parks the best in the country. As a member of Texans for State Parks, you are part of the team of staff and volunteers that bring parks alive and ensure visitors have the best experience possible.

At the Texans for State Parks 2025 Annual Conference members of this team were publicly acknowledged for their outstanding service. Among the audience were State Parks Director Rodney Franklin along with staff members, family and volunteers from across the state. It was an honor to publicly recognize the employees and volunteers who make our parks so great, and their enthusiasm was contagious. The 2026 Conference will be held March 27 and 8 and I hope you’ll plan to attend.

You can continue to be a part of this team by joining or renewing your membership in Texans for State Parks.

You can join or renew online at https://texansstateparks.org/get-involved/.

It is an exciting time for Texas State Parks! New parks are being developed, and existing parks are expanding. Our team of park staff and engaged citizens also continues to grow, and I hope you will join me in helping our parks be the best state park system in the country

A highlight of the day for many was the presentation of awards for Outstanding Park Staff Member, Park Superintendent, Park Volunteer and Park Friends Group for each region of the state. Parks Director Franklin joined TfSP Awards Program Chairman Tom Rhodes in presenting these awards to a very deserving group of winners.

Stay tuned for updates on this year’s conference March 27 and 28. The 2026 conference will also be held at McKinney Falls State Park. You won’t want to miss it!

TfSP Programs

TfSP has an annual members’ conference each year in various locations for the transaction of the group’s business and to provide an opportunity for members and interested persons to network with other park supporters about issues affecting the state park system. and to have an opportunity to get involved and make a difference. For conference information and registration see insert LINK TO THE CONFERENCE PAGE •

OUTSTANDING AWARDS PROGRAM

Texans for State Parks has developed an Awards Program to positively recognize persons for their exemplary service to our State Parks. The presentation of the awards will coincide with the Texans for State Parks Annual Conference each year.

Awards will be presented in four categories in each of the six (6) Texas State Parks Regional Areas. The four categories will be Outstanding Superintendent, Outstanding Staff Member, Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Friends Group.

Nominations may be submitted by the general public, the State Park Staffs, or the Friends Group members. See LINK TO AWARDS PAGE for Nomination forms for each category and information for submitting nominations.

GRANTS

Texans for State Parks, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation TSP has developed a program to provide ‘seed money’ for the development of a new group or to fund a specific program or activity for an existing park. For information for qualifications and an application to apply for a grant, see GRANTS. [link to the program and application]

630 acres preserved adjacent to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Thanks to a recent acquisition by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), 630 acres in the Texas Hill County have been preserved adjacent to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The property, which had the potential to hold a subdivision with hundreds of new homes, will now become a part of Enchanted Rock’s iconic park, offering new recreational opportunities at one of the most popular and visited sites in the state.
“We are so excited that we were able to acquire this property and that we will be able to give the hundreds of thousands of Enchanted Rock patrons new opportunities to recreate in this part of the state,” said Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks. “This addition is the latest win for Texas State Parks as we work towards enhancing some of our existing sites and continuing our gold medal-winning stewardship to the people of Texas.”
TPWD was first made aware of the available land when local park staff noticed a for-sale sign and relayed the information. TPWD reviews potential opportunities all over the state to determine feasibility. In this case, TPWD engaged our official nonprofit partner, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, to help secure this important piece of property.
The property was sold by Comanche Rock Acquisitions, LLC., to TPWD.
“This land purchase would not have been possible without the help of our partners and the people of Texas,” said Franklin. “By passing Proposition 5 in 2019, TPWD was able to use Sporting Goods Sales Tax funding made available for strategic land acquisitions in conjunction with federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars to conserve this property for public use.”
This property will provide an expansion to recreational opportunities at the park while also protecting the delicate natural and cultural resources near Enchanted Rock, to include the night sky and Sandy Creek. Additionally, this could help ensure the view of the hill country from on top of the rock remains beautiful and expansive.
“Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is one of the state’s most visited sites and is in an area of Texas that is seeing rapid development,” said Doug Cochran, Superintendent of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. “Acquiring this property will allow for a more expansive experience when visiting while adding to the protection of resources and recreational opportunities in the area. Currently people who visit Enchanted Rock experience the dome up close and personal. There is excitement with this acquisition that visitors will now be able to experience the dome from a distance without the threat of development.”
Now that the sale has been finalized, TPWD will develop a plan with input from the public to determine what the recreational opportunities for the property will be. This plan may take many months to complete, but the public will be kept informed of any upcoming milestones including a potential opening date.
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Centennial Time Capsule Begins 50-Year Trek to Every Texas State Park

How do you encompass 100 years of Texas State Parks’ history? That was the challenge state parks staff has spent the past year tackling.
The result? A wooden time capsule created by the Texas State Parks Exhibit Shop from pecan trees harvested at Mother Neff State Park, widely accepted as the first Texas State Park opened to the public.
The capsule, which houses one object from every state park and support program to commemorate the first century of Texas’ state parks system, goes on display April 20 at Mother Neff State Park and will then travel to a new state park every six months for the next 50 years.
“What an incredibly special moment in time to see the centennial time capsule begin its 50-year journey at Mother Neff State Park,” said Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks. “The time capsule and its contents not only tell the story of the 2024 version of Texas State Parks, but it also represents our message to those that will carry on the legacy of the mission-driven work of protecting our wild places and connecting their generation of Texans to the outdoors.”
The five-foot tall wooden time capsule weighs more than 300 pounds, is made from solid wood and bronze and is large enough to hold more than 100 items. Sitting atop the capsule is a sculpture in the shape of Texas with all park locations marked. Additionally, there are 100 name plates recognizing all contributing parks and programs, six regional bas relief panels and a message to the future plaque in the front.
“Time capsules are usually buried in the ground and forgotten until it’s time to open them, but ours will remain on display, so we wanted it to be a work of art and showcase the excellent craftsmanship of our exhibit team,” said Stephen Garrett, Exhibits Manager for Texas State Parks. “This is something totally unique and I don’t think anyone’s ever made a time capsule quite like this before. I’m proud of the thought, care and work that went into the capsule’s creation and hope park visitors enjoy seeing it as much as we did creating it.”
For the contents of the time capsule, park staff had to choose an item that would tell a story about that site, fit in a box the size of a coffee mug, survive 50 years and be strong enough to travel the roads of Texas.
“The heart of this project really are the special stories these items tell about each park and the thousands of dedicated people that care for them today,” said Robbie Merritt, member of the Time Capsule Planning Committee and Complex Superintendent of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. “We hope that through these stories, the park stewards 50 years from now will be able to better connect with us and this special moment in the history of Texas State Parks.”
Some final submissions and reasons why the park selected it for the time capsule include:
• An adobe ball from Fort Leaton State Historic Site: “This is a simple piece of the larger whole that is Fort Leaton, and it was crafted from the landscape around the fort by our staff just as adobe has been made since the fort’s start in 1848 … this humble ball reflects the history of this structure and ties back into the geology of the landscape of the Big Bend and Far West Texas.”
• A message in a bottle from Mustang Island State Park: “On occasion our staff will find a message in a bottle, sometimes we are able to track where the bottle originated and sometimes even communicate with the sender. The tradition of placing a message in a bottle and casting it into the ocean for someone to find is enchanting and we felt that this time capsule offered us that same opportunity for the next generations of park stewards.”
• A railroad tie and taxidermy Mexican Free-tailed bat from Old Tunnel State Park: “The railroad tie was taken from the rail line scrap materials that were removed when the train was decommissioned in 1941. Prior to the railroad, people had to use a horse and cart for travel, which could take days to reach San Antonio. The bat specimen represents the bats that live here. These bats are important to agriculture in the area because they consume thousands of corn earworm/cotton bollworm moths, which cause damage to corn and cotton crops. The three million bats at Old Tunnel can consume 120 million moths each night.”
• Group hall doorknob from Martin Dies Jr. State Park (MDJSP): “This doorknob from the Group Hall represents a new beginning for this facility and for this park … The Group Hall functioned as a meeting place for visitors for many years; concessions and bait were sold here, and people gathered to enjoy the park. MDJSP was entrusted with money dedicated to creating educational exhibits; park leadership saw this as the perfect opportunity to ‘close the doors’ on the Group Hall, and ‘open the doors’ to a new Discovery Center.”
• Sinclair Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaur Model (“Rex”) tooth from Dinosaur Valley State Park: “At a surface level, this is a concrete tooth from the mouth of our Sinclair T-Rex model. But its meaning runs so much deeper than that. It represents the earliest prehistory of this landscape, when dinosaurs like Acrocanthosaurus left their tracks in a muddy seashore. It represents the folks of Lanham Mill, whose homesteads became the park and all the work done for the last 50 years to make DVSP what it is today. Most of all, it represents the wonder we feel at the grandeur of nature and the hope we have that Dinosaur Valley will be here so all people can experience that same feeling for all time.”
• “Spidey Cents” from Lake Tawakoni State Park: “The choice to cast various spiders found at the park in resin, accompanied by pennies from the opening year in 2002 and the present year 2023, is a symbolic representation of the park’s history and its dynamic relationship with nature. The communal spider web phenomenon of 2007 was a natural spectacle, where thousands of spiders created a living piece of art draping the trees. By encapsulating this moment in resin alongside markers of time, our object captures the essence of the park — a place where nature and history converge.”

Texans for State Parks is proud to be a part of the Texas Coalition for State Parks

Texans for State Parks is proud to be a part of the Texas Coalition for State Parks, a group of 90 organizations educating voters about the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund — Proposition 14 — on the ballot this fall. This $1 billion fund will help secure new parks for future generations of Texans to explore and enjoy without increasing taxes.

On November 7, Texans Will Vote on 14 Propositions,
including a $1B Fund to Grow Texas Parks for Future Generations

Texans will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create more state parks when they head to the polls for the constitutional amendment election. Voters will decide on 14 propositions, including one that would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. Nearly 90 groups have come together in the Texas Coalition for State Parks to support the $1 billion fund, which allow the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to buy land from willing sellers when unique properties that would make for beautiful state parks become available. The fund also allows for the development of these new state parks.

“On this 100th anniversary of our state parks system, we have the extraordinary opportunity to ensure future generations of Texans will have access to more of the open spaces and wild places that make up our great state,” said George Bristol, conservationist, historian, and author of Texas State Parks: The First 100 Years. “The beauty is that these funds have already been set aside by the Legislature from the state’s budget surplus. It just needs voter approval. The constitutional amendment is a good investment of taxpayer dollars with a strong return on investment for Texas’ future.”
Legislation to place the fund on the ballot passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is not surprising as in every poll on parks in the last two decades, Texans have signaled strong support for Texas State Parks. In fact, 77% of voters said they would support the constitutional amendment in a poll conducted this summer.

The ballot language of Proposition 14 is: “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”
The opportunity to vote on Proposition 14 comes at a time when our state is rapidly expanding. Texas State Parks attract nearly 10 million visitors annually, and the current supply of state parks cannot keep up with the demand of our growing population. With the rapid growth of Texas, we must protect Texas’ last remaining natural areas today so that they won’t be lost forever to development.

A “YES” vote on Proposition 14 will secure land to create new parks in the Lone Star State for future Texans to enjoy. Nearly 90 organizations (full list follows) have joined the Texas Coalition for State Parks in support of Proposition 14. For more information, visit GrowTexasParks.org.

Kevin Good, President

FAQs for State Parks Centennial Fundraising Campaign –

What is the Centennial Fundraising campaign? Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the official non-profit partner of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has launched this campaign to raise a total of $2 million dollars during the State Parks Centennial in 2023.

What will the money be used for? To fund priority projects that will enhance visitor experiences at all 88 state parks. TPWF worked
directly with park superintendents and State Parks leadership over a period of many months to determine each park’s priority project. The priority projects range from dark sky viewing equipment at Davis Mountains State Park to a pontoon boat for marsh tours at Sea Rim State Park, shade trees at Balmorhea State Park’s iconic pool, water bottle filling stations, search and rescue equipment, and so much more.

How is TPWF raising the money? TPWF has created a dedicated fundraising website texasparks100 with a webpage and a link to the donation form for your park and is promoting the campaign with e-newsletters, email blasts, direct mail, print ads, social media and press releases. TPWF also has secured the support of four generous philanthropic leaders who have pledged to match all donations for the statewide campaign. These generous Texans are recognized as the “Centennial Champions” and include the Fondren Foundation, The John M. O’Quinn Foundation, the J.W. Couch Foundation, and The Elkins Foundation. TPWF is also seeking grants from foundations and corporations in Texas to help meet the $2 million dollar campaign goal.

What percent of donations through this campaign will go to park projects vs. what percent will TPWF keep to cover costs? 100% of all donations to this campaign will go directly to the park projects! TPWF does not keep any portion of these donations to cover campaign or administrative costs.

How does the match work? Your park will receive matching dollars up to but not exceeding the total remaining balance needed to fund your park’s priority project. For example, if your park project is $10,000 and $6,000 has been donated to your park by the end of the campaign, the Centennial Champions will provide the remaining balance of $4,000 so that the park’s goal will be reached. On the flip side, if TPWF receives $12,000 for the project, the additional $2,000 raised will be kept in a dedicated account for your park. All funds raised specifically for your park will stay with your park.

What can Friends Groups do to help the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s $2 million Centennial Fundraising campaign a success? You can help by letting your Friends Group members, your friends, family and local businesses know about TPWF’s fundraising campaign for Texas State Parks and by asking them to make a donation to your park’s priority project and spread the word to their network and customers. Potential tactics could include:
• Sending an email to all your contacts/membership
• Posting on any social media channels you have access to
• Asking local businesses to post a flyer

TPWF and TPWD have developed several tools to help you do this: an email template you can customize for your park; park-specific flyers that can be printed or emailed; a park-specific social media graphic; and the texasparks100 website that has a dedicated webpage with a succinct description of your park’s project, its fundraising goal and a link to the donation form for your park. Also, if you directly ask people to make a donation to TPWF for your park’s project, you may be surprised how many people will respond positively to your ask!

Is there a way to inquire how much has been raised so far to see if we are on track to meet our goal? Yes, for this and all other questions reach out to Darcy Bontempo, TPWF Centennial Project Coordinator at [email protected]. Darcy will also provide Kevin Good with Texans for State Parks a monthly summary of what has been received to date for each park.

Our Friends Group knows someone involved with a private foundation or who is a decision maker at a large corporation. How can we ask them for money?
Reach out to Darcy Bontempo and she will coordinate to have TPWF staff contact you and discuss the best approach. This could be for you to approach your contact directly to discuss the opportunity or make an introduction to TPWF staff. If a formal proposal or request letter needs to be submitted, TPWF staff is happy to handle the paperwork. Be sure to let the park superintendent know that you are working with TPWF on this ask.

Helping your favorite parks – donations will be matched by a group of Centennial Champions

As we pass the mid-point of the 100th Anniversary of our state park system, I want to make sure you are aware of a special opportunity for all of us to help our favorite parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is commemorating 100 years of Texas State Parks by raising $2 million to fund much-needed projects at all state parks to help our parks thrive for the next 100 years. You can help as an individual or group by donating to help buy a gift for a park you love. Even better, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar by a group of Centennial Champions, including the Fondren Foundation, the John M. O’Quinn Foundation, and the Elkins Foundation, who are sharing their love for our Texas State Parks.
Shopping for a 100th birthday present can be hard – so the foundation has made it easy for you to get just what the parks wanted! From a rescue utility vehicle for Big Bend Ranch, to binoculars and spotting scopes for visitor programs at Government Canyon, or the purchase of all-terrain wheelchairs to help the mobility impaired explore Mother Neff, each park has identified a specific need that will improve their site but is out of reach of their finances. For a complete list of the projects visit the Parks and Wildlife Foundation website and pick a gift for your favorite park. It’s never been easier to help your favorite park serve the public better!
The Parks and Wildlife Foundation has also developed materials to help you spread the word about this opportunity to your fellow park lovers. I have attached a Frequently Asked Questions document and a template fundraising letter that can be customized for your park.
I hope you will join me in supporting this wonderful campaign that will help make the second century of Texas State Parks better than ever. Please make your contribution today!
Kevin Good
Kevin Good, President

Vote to keep the future of State Parks Bright!

Mark your calendar now for November 7, 2023 to vote for more parks! The 100th Anniversary of State Parks will present an historic opportunity for the voters of Texas to make sure state parks are available for visitors for another century. For the first time in more than fifty years our state legislature has moved to establish a significant acquisition and development program for NEW state parks! However, this will only become a reality upon the passage of a constitutional amendment in a statewide vote in November of this year. If approved by voters, a $1 Billion Centennial Park Fund will be used solely for the acquisition and development of state parks will be established. The measure (SJR74) received bi-partisan support in the legislature, and a coalition of conservation and recreation groups (including Texans for State Parks) will be working hard to educate the public on this great opportunity to build our park system to meet the needs of another 100 years!

The Centennial Parks Conservation Fund will be funded using $1 Billion of the state’s current surplus funds allocated in this year’s legislative session, so there will be no impact to future state budgets and the fund will help meet the needs of our growing state by providing on-going source for parkland purchases and development. Coupled with the dedication of sporting goods sales taxes for the operation and maintenance of parks, this action is projected to allow the development of a new park every two years. With the continued growth of our state, these new parks will be critical to meeting future outdoor recreation needs of Texas.
Turnout for constitutional amendment elections is typically low, so it will be important for all those that care about the outdoors to share the word and build a second century of state parks! Remember, you can show your support for more state parks on November 7, 2023!

Give to a state park near you!

Throughout 2023, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is raising money for much-needed projects at all Texas State Parks. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports our state parks through fundraising, and they are working to raise funds for these Centennial Wish projects.
As part of the Centennial Celebration of the State Parks turning 100 this year, each state park has a Centennial Wish project.
Scroll through the state parks at https://texasparks100.org/state-park-projects/ to find the park closest to your home or heart, and help grant your favorite park’s centennial wish today!

Centennial Park Fund – proposed constitutional amendment for acquisition and development of state parks

Efforts are underway to educate voters about the proposed constitutional amendment that will establish a $1 Billion Centennial Park Fund to be used solely for the acquisition and development of state parks. The measure received bi-partisan support in the legislature, but must now be approved by the voters in November. A coalition is building to promote passage of the amendment, and Texans for State Parks has been asked to support this measure.
TfSP will work to develop our role with other park supporters in informing voters of this amendment and its importance towards growing our state parks to meet the needs of our citizens and guests.