TPWD needs your help!

[Casa Grande]

I am reaching out to you because you have been a supporter of Texas State Parks. As you may know, record drought and heat, devastating wildfires, and a drop in visitation have led to a critical situation for state parks.

As a result, we need $4.6 million to offset this shortfall and help keep these state parks open. Thankfully there are three simple ways to help:

First, make a tax-deductible donation online or by mail.

Second, write in a donation of $5 or more to state parks on your vehicle registration form when you register your motor vehicle by mail, at your local county tax office, or online in counties which offer online payment.

Third, and most importantly, visit a state park with your family or friends because visitor fees pay for about half of all state park operating costs.

Thank you for this opportunity to communicate with you. Please be assured that we will not abuse the privilege. I hope you will act now to help keep your state parks open for all Texans to enjoy. Because Texas State Parks won’t be the same without you.

[dkerr24]

I got that email as well.  I had provided my email address when I stayed in Palo Duro Canyon back in Oct. 

I sure hope they can come up with the $4.6M shortfall.  I thought the park at Palo Duro in particular was well run, clean, and organized.

Darin

[SA Bill]

Got it too...although I don't remember giving my e-mail addy to them. Guess I did somewhere. In any case, they haven't been spamming me so I respect them for that.

Anyway...it's been a long time since I camped in a state park so I think I'll schedule a weekend trip next month and pump a few dollars into the state park system.
  Bill

[JRD]

I'm surprised they don't recommend buying an annual park pass (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/parkinfo/passes/). Seems like a good way to get all my entry fees for the year & more up-front.

[RichardM]

I'm surprised they don't recommend buying an annual park pass (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/parkinfo/passes/). Seems like a good way to get all my entry fees for the year & more up-front.

When you buy a pass, they only get your money once. If you go more than a few times in a year without a pass, they'll make more money.

[RichardM]

Looks like their campaign has had some success.

Texas State Parks Donations Break $1 Million Mark

AUSTIN – Since Texas Parks and Wildlife Department launched a statewide appeal in early December for donations to aid a financially strapped Texas State Parks system, more than $1 million has been raised.

In an update provided to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission this week, TPWD staff reported that since the awareness campaign’s launch on Dec. 6, donations to state parks have topped the $1 million mark, bolstered by three large contributions and smaller donations from more than 1,000 individuals.

...

In addition, the commission learned that an e-mail appeal this week from TPWD’s executive director to almost 185,000 state park visitors generated in a 24-hour period another 576 individual donations totaling more than $32,000, bringing the state park donations total to more than $1 million.

[wclavey]

I got the email through my annual park pass registration.  I guess as a result of 4 years as a scout master, I have used the state parks quite a bit - - not the same as Grapevine Hills #3, but a lot closer for us here in Houston.  My wife and I have said that if we win one of the $150M+ Powerballs, we'll just pay off what they need as one of our first actions... now I just need to start buying Powerball tickets... 

To be honest, if there were some way that a small few cents could be added to sales tax for the explicit purpose of supporting the park system I'd be in favor of it.  I feel like I am taxed enough for other things I don't care about, why not throw in a few cents for something I do enjoy and use?  We buy 2 park passes each year, even though there are just 2 of us, so that I feel that we got something for the extra donation... and it means that the break even point for our camping fees is a few trips longer than it would be if we only had one...

[catz]

There is already (supposedly) dedicated tax for Parks and Wildlife.  The problem is that the Legislature doesn't appropriate but about half of it to P&W; the rest goes elsewhere.

[txsweetlady1]

We bought an annual pass for Hubby & myself when we got the email.  Least we can do and we used to buy one every year but had skipped quite a few.  Will be a Christmas present to ourselves every year from now on.  A win-win.