Passport to Texas » State Parks

State Parks: Lake Tawakoni

cecilia — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:49 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

The first time most of us heard of Lake Tawakoni State Park, it was because of a massive spider web found at the site. But there’s more to this ten year old park than arachnids. Our State Park guide Bryan Frazier explains.

59—It really endeared itself to people nationwide because of that spectacular spider web that was one in a million. And so it put it on the map in some respect, but it’s a great place, too.

It’s just east of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, if you’re not familiar with that, near Wills Point, Texas. If you’re familiar with Dallas and the suburb of Mesquite, it’s just east of there, so a lot of people can find it that way.

It’s got access to a big lake, that’s good fishing. There are 78 campsites; 16 of them that are full hook-ups with water, eclectic, and sewer connections for RVs.

And for their 10 year anniversary–which is going to be on February 18–and it’s going to be from nine o’clock in the morning to six o’clock in the evening, there will be activities—everything form a kid’s bouncy house, to geocaching, to Dutch oven cooking, to fishing to toys and games and all different activities.

So, check it out on our website—and that’s texcasstateparks.org. And that’s Lake Tawakoni’s ten year anniversary.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Fishing for Rainbows

cecilia — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:57 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Get to a state park with fishing opportunities while there’s still a chill in the air for your chance to reel in the last of the rainbow trout. Out state park guide Bryan Frazier explains.

The water temperature has to stay below a certain temperature for the rainbow trout to do well, and February’s a great time, because it’s usually the last month that there’ll be stockings for rainbow trout.

We’ve got 16 parks that have been stocked throughout the season that are state park… I would encourage people to go to any of the rainbow trout [stocking] places. There’s more than a hundred locations all across the state—in cities and counties. But state parks are neat because you don’t need the rainbow trout stamp or the fishing license because no one ever needs a license or stamp to fish inside any Texas state park.

So, you can find all that on the website, but you’ll look on the fishing website on the Texas parks and Wildlife home page.

It’s a great reason to get outside during what’s typically a mild winter in Texas, and enjoy something else. It’s a new slant on fishing, and you can do it this time of year when you don’t necessarily think about fishing. But. It’s even better for rainbow trout when it’s cold.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Campfires Allowed

cecilia — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Starting a campfire in a state park this past summer wasn’t just a bad idea, it was terribly dangerous given the drought, and so it was banned. But now that winter’s here and we’ve had some rain, we can start to cozy up to campfires again. Our State Park Guide Bryan Frazier has details.

48— With the drought that we had in Texas, most people are understanding that that affects everything we do. And at the end of the summer—at the apex of that drought—we had burn bans in more than 200 counties here in Texas.

But now we’ve had enough rain in the fall and the early part of the winter that a lot of those burn bans have been lifted.

The campfire is an undeniable part of our tradition of sitting around it and not just cooking and roasting marshmallows and telling stories, but it really becomes the social centerpiece of the camping experiences around the campfire. In the wintertime, you know, it helps to keep you warm, too.

And so it’s a nice natural place to gather. So having those burn bans lifted in most of our counties is really good news for a lot of people who want to get out and enjoy an old fashioned campfire for their camping experience.

Thanks Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Hiking at Meridian State Park

cecilia — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:00:39 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Now that the weather has cooled folks visiting state parks can do what they like best—take a hike. Bryan Frazier suggests hikers stretch their legs on the refurbished trails of Meridian State Park.

60— Hiking is the most popular activity that people seek out in a park. And Meridian State Park had the AmeriCorps crew out there to develop the trails.

They’ve got a nice granite surface—they’ve cleared the overhead, so it’s a lot easier and a lot more accessible. They’ve got 500 yards of this trail that are paved and ADA accessible. And it just happens to coincide with some of the best places to see the endangered Golden Cheeked warbler. Almost all the sightings are right in and around that paved area because of the location there.

So, I think that’s a bonus.

But, you know, Meridian State Park is another CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] built park; it dates back to the 1930s. A lot of the trails are in primitive back country areas—there’s a master plan to renovate all the areas of the trail.

So check out Meridian State Park. It’s up near the town of Meridian–Northwest of Waco when you get up near the Granbury area–it’s not too terribly far from there; come back toward the Fort Worth area. It’s right in through there in Meridian.

Thanks Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Hiking at Lake Brownwood

cecilia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:21 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

What’s the activity visitors say they enjoy most when at a state park? Bryan Frazier has the answer as well as a great place in which to do it…whatever it is.

60— Some recent visitor surveys that we did on site in state parks showed that the most popular feature and activity that people are looking for in a state park is hiking. It really fits well with our
mission, because in a lot of our parks, we’re renovating trails and making those better and bigger and flatter and more accessible.

And at Lake Brownwood State Park we have really made some impressive changes people will notice when they get there.

About two miles or trail have been renovated, and the rock has been replaced.

You know, Lake Brownwood was built by the CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] in the 1930s and some of those trails date back to that. So, they’ve gone in and put a nice surface on it. They’ve cleared the overhead on it; the trails go over to the CCC area.

People will be pleasantly surprised when they get there. It’s in the Hill Country area kind of where the panhandle plains meets the hill country…it’s southeast of Abilene, just outside the town of Brownwood.

Thanks Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Visiting Parks to Save Them

cecilia — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:00:20 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Drought, heat and wildfires of the summer dried up water, killed vegetation and kept visitation and revenue to a minimum…which is why we need your help. Our State park guide Bryan Frazier has details.

60—The record heat wave that we had—and the drought and the wildfires combined—so that we saw for the first time in a long time a drop in visitation and corresponding revenue toward the end of the summer that’s carried over into the fall and into the months where we are now, and it’s made for a 4.6 million dollar gap in our existing budget. And what we’re wanting people to know is that there are ways they can help…and that they can go online on our website any time and make a donation. They can also as of now, donate five dollars or more when they register their vehicle with the DMV and their county tax office. But the most important way that people can help is to simply go out and visit their state parks as much as they can. The fees that we collect amount to more than half of our operating dollars ion state parks. And, when people pay the entrance fees, when people pay their camping fees, or their cabin rental fees, or even when they buy a t-short in the state park store as a souvenir—they’re helping support their parks when they’re out there visiting them.

Go to texasstateparks.org/helpnow to donate.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Help Now

cecilia — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:00:39 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Record drought, heat, wildfires and a drop in visitation and revenue have led to a critical situation for your state parks. Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith is reaching out to Texans to help save these natural treasures.

:10—We depend upon our state park visitors to help keep our state parks open so that all Texans can use and enjoy them. But, if we’re going to do that, we’ve got to raise $4.6 million dollars, and we need to do it very quickly if we’re going to keep these special places open for all Texans to enjoy.

There are three simple ways Texans can help to keep your parks open.

:18—You can go to our website and make a tax deductible contribution to help support your state parks. Coming January when you go to renew your vehicle registration, you’re going to be given an opportunity to make a $5 or more contribution to support your state parks. And also, most importantly, take your family out and go visit one of your state parks and do it as often as you can.

Smith adds that unlike some other states, Texas depends on visitor fees to fund park operations.

12—So by the simple act of all of us going out and visiting a state park you’re helping to keep your parks well stewarded and well cared for. So go out and have fun and take your family out and enjoy your state parks. It will help all of them.

Go to texasstateparks.org/helpnow to find out how you can help save your state parks. That’s texasstateparks.org/helpnow. Thank you.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Resolve to Have Outdoor Adventures!

cecilia — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:00:33 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

Don’t you love the start of a New Year? It‘s totally fresh and filled with possibilities. So, take a few minutes to consider how you’re going to make this year better for you and your family.

One way would be to get outside more, because—as we like to say: life’s better outside.

Spending time in the natural world has a way of resetting the brain and giving you a fresh perspective. Researchers have discovered that children who spend time in nature do better on exams, and are less disruptive in the classroom.

Bring a pair of walking shoes to the office, and during your lunch hour, stroll outdoors in the fresh air. Even if you’re in a city, you can still observe the varied wildlife and plant life you see along the way. It’s amazing how much nature you can actually find in a concrete jungle.

Spend time with friends or family at one of your state parks. Most folks are within 90 minutes of a state park; many are much closer. Take a nature hike, ride a bike. Pitch a tent and sleep under the stars, or find a park with cabins and rough it indoors.

Commit to learning something new about Texas history by visiting one of the state’s incredible historic sites.

There’s a world of wonder out there, and once you spend more time outdoors, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

That’s our show… from all of us at Passport to Texas, we wish you a New Year filled with outdoor adventure…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

State Parks and Vehicle Registration

cecilia — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:00:53 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

You’ll have a chance beginning with the New Year to help support state parks when you register your vehicle at the DMV. Bryan Frazier explains.

60—Starting January first, people can donate five dollars or more to benefit state parks when they register their vehicle with the department of motor vehicles in Texas.

The form that they get and send back into their county tax office, they can just fill in the amount right the on the form. This is a new opportunity given to us by the Texas Legislature to help fill some gaps in our revenue situation.

Is there an amount that we’re looking to make up?

It’s about one point six million for each year that this fund needs to bring in order to meet what the legislature has given us to do.

Where on the form will you find the place to make the donation?

It’s down toward the bottom; it’s just a line item. The website is texasstateparks.org/help. And you can find out a little more about the program—the history of it. This is new this year set up by the Texas legislature as an opportunity for us to make some of our budget money for this operating biennium.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

LBJ State Park Christmas Tree Lighting

cecilia — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:00:08 +0000

This is Passport to Texas

When Lyndon Johnson was president, he and the first lady started a tradition: the annual Christmas tree lighting at their Hill Country home in Stonewall.

19—This is one of the special times where community and family and friends can gather together for a traditional tree lighting in the Texas Hill Country. And it was sparked by the president and Mrs. Johnson 42 years ago so that the community could get together and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Since that first tree lighting, the homestead has become the LBJ State Park and Historic Site, and Iris Neffendorf its superintendent.

22—We really go all out here at the state park with decorations. And we open up with a wonderful tree lighting program in our courtyard, with a lighted native cedar tree. And there’s music, and folks that come and do many different things—even a live nativity scene.

This annual event is free and open to the public.

[Music: Here Comes Santa Clause…run through end of show]

20— The 42nd annual LBJ tree lighting is on Sunday, December the 18th at 6 pm. We also do a couple of pre program activities should the public want to come out earlier, and then see how it really turns into a festive event in the evening.

Find full details at www.texasstateparks.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti