Lake Brownwood State Park: All "Grassroots & Politics" is Local !

To save our parks, go to the grassroots

By ART CHAPMAN
Star-Telegram Staff Writer

The response has been swift and unanimous. Texans are repulsed by the decline in our state parks system and enraged by a Legislature that has turned a blind eye to its plight.
"What a sad comment on the state of affairs in Texas parks," one reader wrote. "We need to let our legislators know that we care deeply about our state parks. If they are not responsive -- and with elections coming up in the fall -- let them know we can always replace them with those who do care."
Dozens of readers responded to a Sunday Star-Telegram report on the decay of the Texas parks system. They were universal in their alarm, and almost all asked what they could do to help change the system.
There are no easy answers.
Texas parks didn't fall apart overnight; the problem has lingered for years. Yes, we can write to our legislators, let them know how we feel. But the truth is, they've known for years that the parks were in trouble, and they have done precious little to help.
Just in the last five or six years, multiple reports have appeared outlining the decline. Those reports might as well have been printed in a foreign language. They would have had greater acceptance if they were bronzed and offered as doorstops. More reports are coming, and there is no reason to expect that their reception will be much different.
Texas' population continues to grow as the green space decreases. The state has a greater demand for parks and less money to fund them. Some officials within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department say we have lost valuable assets that will never be recovered. They don't want to talk on the record -- they still have to face the Legislature -- but more and more, they are saying they might have to let some parks go to save the others.
Is it too late to save the Texas State Railroad from Rusk to Palestine? What is the fate of the badly rusting Battleship Texas? Are some parks in such bad shape that it would be more cost-effective to close them and sell the land? These are serious questions, and we won't like all the answers.
Some within the system still believe that all can be saved, but they constitute a tiny group.
Fortunately, I have found no one, even among the most skeptical, who believes that all is lost. The optimists say the Legislature can be persuaded to save the park system by making the appropriate funding changes. But what they really doubt is that the public will apply the pressure needed to force those changes.
Several parks officials told me they were thrilled with the amount of current media attention to the issue. They were heartened by the response, but they questioned whether the momentum will last until next year's legislative session.
Here's what they suggest.
The Texas House and Senate will consider bills to improve funding for state parks. Write letters to the speaker of the House and to the lieutenant governor, asking them to support those bills. Write to the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, where the bills must survive.
Write to them now. Write to them before the fall elections and again before the session begins. Be active. Remember, local parks are affected as well. When towns and cities want to build parks, they ask Texas Parks and Wildlife for matching funds. Those funds have been cut by 80 percent in the last few years.
Most of all, participate actively in the process. When a meeting on parks is scheduled, locally or in Austin, go. Be seen; be heard. Several organizations, such as the Coalition for Conservation and Texans for State Parks, keep calendars on important events. Show up.
There is an old saying in state politics: If you don't show up, it's your share that gets divvied up.

www.texascoa.org, www.texansforstateparks.org

IN THE KNOW
Contacting lawmakers
Lt. Gov.David Dewhurst
Capitol Station
Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-0001

House Speaker
Tom Craddick
Capitol Office: CAP 2W.13
Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
512- 463-1000
512- 463-7722 Fax

State Rep. Jim Pitts
Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
Capitol Office: CAP 1N.9
Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
512- 463-0516
512- 463-1051 Fax

Sen. Steve Ogden
Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
Capitol Office: CAP GE.4
Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711
512-463-0105

Art Chapman, 817-390-7422 achapman@star-telegram.com
source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/art_chapman/14994922.htm
------------------------
The Grassroots start at Brownwood's doorstep !

News Releases

Note: This item is more than three months old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references.
Plain Text — E-mail

Media Contact for This Release: Tom Harvey, (512) 389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.state.tx.us

April 3, 2006
State Parks Advisory Board To Seek Funding Options

AUSTIN, Texas — A new Texas State Parks Advisory Board has been appointed to explore several issues facing the state park system. The board will hold its first, organizational meeting from 1-4 p.m. April 13 at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters in Austin.
TPW Commission Chairman Joseph Fitzsimons appointed the board and has asked for recommendations on four topics, including exploring funding options for the state park system. The board is also charged with considering any existing units of the state park system that might be operated by more appropriate entities; the role of public-private partnerships in parks, including concessions, sponsorships and incentive based solutions; and options to accomplish goals for state and local parks in the Land and Water Resources Conservation and Recreation Plan, the 10-year operating plan for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The new 14-member board includes former state legislators and leaders of state agencies and conservation and tourism organizations. (See list below.)
“The formation of this board has been in the works for many months; I deliberately chose a broad cross section of citizens, taking the time to speak with each one and hear their thoughts on the importance of our state parks,” said Joseph Fitzsimons of San Antonio, TPW Commission chairman. “It is an impressive group of people with integrity, experience, a predilection for practical results and a demonstrated passion for state parks. However, those of us who love parks should by no means assume that all our problems will be solved because this group is now in place. A great state deserves great state parks, and it will take all Texans who care working together to achieve that goal.”
The state park system began in 1907 with the establishment of the San Jacinto Battlefield site. It has since grown to a system of more than 115 sites representing important pieces of Texas’s natural and cultural history. Each year, state parks attract an estimated 10 million visitors. Tourism is one of the largest components of the Texas economy and the state park system is a keystone element, generating more than $1.2 billion in economic benefits annually, mostly in rural Texas. This adds to the obvious value of inexpensive, nearby family oriented recreational activities and places to learn about the diverse history and landscape of Texas.

Advisory board members include:
Al Henry of Houston. Human services consultant and owner of the East Fork Ranch in Tyler. An advisory director at Comerica Bank Texas. Member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Quarter House Association and the Smith County Farm Bureau. Past Vice-Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
George Bristol of Austin. President, Texas Coalition for Conservation, an umbrella coalition of diverse groups formed to support funding for Texas parks; former member, National Parks Foundation; steering committee, Texas Farms & Ranch Lands Conservation Program.
Ann Lents of Houston, President, Center for Houston’s Future. President, Park People (Houston); President & CEO, Center for Houston’s Future, and serves on the Boards of Scenic America and Houston Wilderness. Earlier in her career, Lents was a partner with Vinson & Elkins and practices law in the areas of antitrust, securities, and commercial trial law.
Sandy McNab. San Antonio businessman, interested in historic resources. Past service to the Rock Art Foundation and Witte Museum in San Antonio.
Carter Smith of San Antonio, Director, Nature Conservancy of Texas. Former TPWD staff member.
Andrew Sansom, Executive Director, River Systems Institute at Texas State University in San Marcos. Former Executive Director, of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; former Executive Director of Nature Conservancy of Texas.
Clyde Alexander of San Antonio. Former State Representative from Athens, served on the Recreational Resources Committee.
John Montford of Lubbock. Former State Senator who established the sporting goods tax as a state park funding source, former Texas Tech Chancellor. Currently Senior Vice President for Western REgion Legislative and Regional Affairs with AT&T.*
Dianne Dies Schoch of Austin. Extensive fundraising experience with the University of Texas and Austin area nonprofits. Long involvement in East Texas conservation efforts.

Brad Locker of Brownwood. Sporting goods manufacturer representative. Chair, Brown County Republican Party.

Jeff Rogers of Dallas. Partner in Hampton/Rogers, a media relations and production company.
Hector Gutierrez of Austin. Managing Director of HILLCO PARTNERS, he is responsible for all business development and assists with legislative strategies for this Austin lobbying firm. Gutierrez was a senior marketing and sales executive for SBC Corporation for 19 years and served as then-Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry’s Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs during the 1999 session.
Paul Serff of Austin. President, Texas Travel Association, as well as President of the Texas Festivals and Events Association and Texas Nature Tourism Council. He is also a board member of the Texas Industry Association of America (TIA) and serves on its Legislative Affairs Committee and as vice-chairman of the Tourism Works for America Committee.
Beth McDonald of Austin. President, Texans for State Parks, a coalition of individuals and groups working to enhance the state park system.

* Correction, April 14, 2006: The original version of this news release incorrectly stated John Montford’s title at AT&T. (Return to corrected item.)

source: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20060403b
--------------------
Letters to the Editor - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Posted on Sun, Jul. 09, 2006

My wife and I are avid RVers. The time we spend in our state parks is very precious to us, and we relish every moment. Because of our high-stress jobs, our parks are the "de-stressor" in our lives. The parks and the great outdoors allow us to recharge, getting us ready for another round of whatever life deals to us.
A great number of our Texas state parks were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. We've sat at campsites amazed by the beauty, peace and tranquility that the back-breaking labor of CCC workers still brings to us.
We're appalled that our legislators don't see the urgency to fully fund one of our state's most valuable assets. We're talking not only about the funding of state parks but also the numerous state historical sites covered by the state park system. These sites could be lost to future generations if our elected officials don't act. The historic legacy of the CCC could also be lost forever.
Shame on our elected officials for allowing the park system to reach the point of gross underfunding, resulting in deplorable conditions at some parks and staff reductions at already under-staffed facilities.
And shame on us for not making our voices heard in Austin.

Chuck and Teresa Mencke, Fort Worth
------------------------------------
As a lifelong outdoorsman and frequent state park user, I'm shocked and dismayed by the condition of our park system. I'm ashamed that our state government has allowed this to happen.
As a native Texan, I can't accept that Texas is in last place in terms of park funding. It's just flat embarrassing. Our outdoor recreation resources are, in my view, the most valuable resource in Texas. Our state has a small amount of public land compared with other western states and for many of our residents, the state parks offer the only access to the outdoors.
If we have a tax that's supposed to support our parks, why is less than a third of the money raised being used for that purpose? I have no problem with a tax on sporting goods to support the park system. But I don't recall voting on allowing the state to cap what it spends per year or using these funds for other purposes.
This practice has to stop immediately. No debate in the Legislature, no committee hearings, no feasibility studies, none of the stalling and time-wasting that politicians so love to do.
It's time for Texas to "cowboy up" and restore this jewel to its proper setting.

Allen K. Holt Jr., Fort Worth
----------------------------
We Texans need to stand up and fight our elected "representatives" in the Legislature and governor's office. They represent us poorly.
They can be replaced in office, if unresponsive to us in funding and improving our park system. Texas Democrats who previously held office also share responsibility for neglecting our parks.
If Kinky Friedman wants a populist issue to help him win election as governor, funding for Texas parks is probably it!
We need the united support of Texas sportsmen, hunting and fishing groups, the Sierra Club and the Texas Audubon Society. Funding of parks is an issue that all Texas sportsmen, conservationists and "green" groups should fight for together.
The state sales tax on sporting goods should go entirely to the parks system, as was originally intended, not siphoned off to cover other budget shortfalls. It shouldn't be capped by our legislators. Texas sportsmen paid the tax, and it should be used to benefit the state park system.

Bill Hoot, Fort Worth
---------------------
I was extremely disappointed to read in Dyer's report a suggestion by Gov. Rick Perry's spokeswoman that the state may consider selling off more parkland to raise money to keep the parks system afloat.
The parks system is a big part of what makes our state so special, and it's unconscionable that elected officials have let them deteriorate to their current sorry state. Our parks help protect drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, provide countless recreational opportunities, and are home to some of the most breathtaking views in America.
Irresponsibly, the governor and Legislature have willfully let our state parks go without even the minimal support needed to maintain them, never mind acquiring new land for our state's rapidly growing population. Even worse, the parks department even considered selling off already protected parkland, like Big Bend Ranch State Park, to a private developer to raise additional funds.
Our parks, and the generations that will inherit them, deserve a lot better than this. It's time for the governor and Legislature to take immediate action to substantially and sustainably fund our state parks.

Luke Metzger, Environment Texas, Austin
----------------
Sunday's coverage documenting the deteriorating conditions in our park system revealed a situation that warrants immediate attention.
These parks are a heritage that should be maintained in as pristine a condition as possible, with facilities and access for residents and visitors to enjoy, both today and in the future.
Yet their deterioration is often a direct result of the Legislature not funding some programs because of court mandates that divert limited funds elsewhere.
It's ironic that a Monday editorial ("M is for 'myopic'") described as "myopic" a U.S. House bill that would keep states from allowing illegal residents to pay in-state college tuition.
If the billions spent on supporting those who come here illegally were available to fund other programs, neither the parks nor our educational and medical systems would be as strapped as they are.

Kenneth E. Weant, Arlington

source: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/local2/14994655.htm
---------------------
Note from Steve Harris: The following is my email to Art Chapman

"Art, Thank you for your article further exposing the "third world conditions" found at many of our State Parks (Lake Brownwood included ! ). Since the funds have been "slashed and shifted" by our elected leaders, I am not surprised in the least at the results ! When our current leaders mention the 8 plus billion surplus, they do not let folks know that is was their "slash and shift" technique that got us this surplus. Will they (our elected leaders) shift the money back (re-fund) to our state park system ? Out of curiosity how many of the legislators do you think carry memberships to our state parks (Texas State Parks Pass - see link below) ? How many of the board (see below link) are card carrying members of the state park system ? How many of them spend family time in our state parks ? Brownwood's board member appears to be silent on the topic (can't find a public statement !). Why is that ? Just observations as they relate to the local conditions which mirror the state conditions. All politics is local !
Regards, Steve Harris"
----------------------------
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Austin American Statesman
Saving state parks; Mexico's election; cruelty to animals
COMMENTS BY READERS
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Letting our parks die

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Money could create need for speed on Texas 130
I am in total agreement with the American-Statesman's opinion about Texas' parks (July 8 editorial, "Texas' 600,000 acres of parkland hungry for proper funding").
There is an old saying that goes "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing." The evil to which I refer is the plundering of the funds collected by the state on recreational equipment that is supposed to go toward partial funding of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. If there is money in the pot, our legislators will find a way to spend it on everything except for what it was intended. This also applies to federal legislators.
My wife and I travel around the state visiting our state parks when we want to get away and relax. We have noticed over the past few years the steady decline of each facility. I think it should be mandatory that each of our legislators visit some of our state parks to see for themselves the sorry state of disrepair their actions have allowed to happen. It is shameful for Texas to be ranked 49th out of 50 in per capita spending on state parks. Please keep up the reporting of this important issue.

BILLY WOFFORD
San Marcos
------------------------------
Texas must care for parks

The Texas parks system is a big part of what makes our state so special, and it is unconscionable that elected officials have let them deteriorate to their sorry state. Our parks help protect drinking water supplies and wildlife habitat, provide countless recreation opportunities and are home to some of the most breath-taking views in America.
Irresponsibly, the governor and the Legislature have willfully let our state parks go without even the minimal support needed to maintain them, never mind acquiring land for our state's rapidly growing population.
Even worse, the state even considered selling off protected park land, such as Big Bend Ranch State Park, to raise additional funds. Our parks, and the future generations that will inherit them, deserve a lot better than this. It's time for the governor and Legislature to take immediate action to substantially fund our state parks.

LUKE METZGER

Environment Texas
luke@environmenttexas.org
Austin

source: http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/07/12Letters_edit.html
-----------------
Official: Cuts may close state parks
Perry's request to trim budgets would cost jobs, agency chief says
12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, July 16, 2006
Associated Press
AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are warning that 18 state parks may close if lawmakers don't spare the struggling agency from mandatory budget cuts ordered by Gov. Rick Perry.
State parks would suffer $4 million in cutbacks if the department complies with Mr. Perry's request for state agencies to trim budgets by 10 percent, executive director Robert Cook said Friday. That could cost dozens of jobs.
"I'm not [saying] this because I want to scare anybody – but these are some of the things we're seriously looking at," he said.
Mr. Cook delivered the grim outlook to a special committee examining the ongoing shortfalls of the 600,000-acre state park system. Agency officials said a tight budget has forced 100 positions to be eliminated or left unfilled and that aging equipment is deteriorating under a backlog of repairs.
Texas ranks 49th among the 50 states in per capita spending on parks. The agency's current budget is $56 million, and its new appropriations request is due to lawmakers Aug. 16.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Perry said that the governor opposes the shutdown of historical sites but that the agency should consider options for parks that draw few visitors.
"The governor has an excellent relation with Parks and Wildlife [and] the governor does have a concern about the adequacy of funding for the parks department," spokeswoman Kathy Walt said.
Mr. Cook told his agency's State Parks Advisory Committee that forced budget cuts could mean the loss of 44 full-time positions and the absence of game warden cadet classes during the next two years.
Mr. Cook didn't say which parks may close but said the focus would be on historical sites that traditionally attract the fewest visitors.
He said the state's "big money losers" include the San Jacinto Battleground near Houston and the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City, but he said both weren't good places for cutbacks.
"I've got to look somewhere else," Mr. Cook said.
The agency's advisory committee released a draft report Friday that said the parks system needs an additional $100 million annually to maintain its current operations. The report said that the state park operating deficit is $6 million to $8 million annually.
"Every day that passes without action leads to further deterioration of park infrastructure, loss of historic resources and dissatisfied customers," according to the report.
The state collects a sales tax on sporting goods to help raise money for parks. State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn's office estimated the tax would bring in $100.6 million in the current fiscal year.
But several years ago, lawmakers capped the amount the parks could receive at $32 million. And the system actually gets only $20.5 million from that fund; the rest goes to the general budget.
About $32 million of the budget comes from entrance fees, concessions and other money raised at the parks, park officials said.
About 10 million people visit Texas parks every year.

source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-parks_16tex.ART.State.Edition1.2499fa9.html