The view from a lakeside campsite at Fairfield Lake State Park. The park, which opened to the public in 1976 on land leased to the state, will close at the end of February because the owners are selling the land to a private developer., The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Fairfield isn’t the only state park on borrowed land. There are 14 other public parks, like Cedar Hill, Lake Whitney and Ray Roberts Lake, that could face a similar fate. For more than 50 years, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department leased land for the state park from energy companies, Vistra and Luminant. Since 1976, the state has invested $72 million in renovations and improvements to the park.
“They had been a coal-producing plant for some 40 or 50 years,” he said. “So when they decided to shut down, we didn’t see that coming. … [We] had no way of knowing.” Luke Metzger, executive director of the advocacy group Environment Texas, said it was especially tragic that the park will close during the 100-year anniversary of the state park system.
Damn!
State should ask for them to repay for all the taxpayer money they spent on improvements.
This does sound like an excellent case for the Eminent Domain legislation introduced.
So much implied disappointment
We can get mad all we want, but, public lands were never intended for us commoners.
How many acres of natural land... Not destroyed by man... Has GregAbbott_TX DanPatrick txlege controlled by Texas Republicans for over 30 years... Sold away... Texas Republicans giving up most of Texas best resources away for bags of money... Let's keep Texas land free texas
I wonder why the State chose not to purchase the land when they had the opportunity back in 2020? How can this property be developed if they are eliminating wetlands? This development won’t go smoothly.
Texas should do this with every state park!
Wow why doesn’t Texas own it already?
Where’s the petition? 👀
Sucks. $$$$. Greed.
Greed overpowers mother nature
How did it come to be that we invested $72 MILLION in taxpayer dollars on land we didn't actually own?! That's some bullshit stewardship right there TPWDnews Let's get something going re: the other 14 parks in similar situations GovAbbott SMH
5 years from now: Gated Community has flooding and drought troubles because of the lake that’s been paved over
So the state spends $76 million on updates and improvements and this company gets to sell it.
End stage capitalism — paving over state parks
Love that the state will avoid building public housing on public property and instead sell it to some rich dude to build multimillion dollar houses. Homelessness is a policy decision.
How the hell did this happen? Texas Republicans in power for years, this is what they do, I guess.
The Trump's of this world are destroying our planet. Add Corporations and we all become dead fish.
This is bizarre, and awful.
Metaphor
Maybe Texas Tribune would like to buy/maintain it or buy easement from the owner where he owns land, does not develop, & TT pays property taxes in perpetuity? Lots of opinions toward other people’s property… Do I get to have a vote over color of your house/car?
This is very sad to me.