Despite many efforts over the last few months by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and various state legislators, negotiations for the purchase and continuance of Fairfield Lake State Park are not progressing. BHA Texas Executive Board Chair Grahame Jones says, “BHA realizes this property is privately held and has been leased to the State for 50 years. With that being said, this is a very special part of Texas that has been recognized as a State Park for half a century. Millions of public dollars have been invested in this park through infrastructure and staffing. BHA Texas remains hopeful that the landowner, prospective buyer, legislature, and TPWD will find a way to save the park and keep the Access public for all Texans.”
Texas BHA has composed a letter to Governor Abbott about the importance of Fairfield Lake State Park to the Texas people. The letter states some very important facts, such as nearly 82,000 individuals visited the park last year, the park provided 3 public hunting opportunities, and the lake is known for its world-class bass fishing.
Below you will find a summary of the composed letter that you can utilize to send to your state representatives. Use our Take Action portal here to find your representative:
To Whom it May Concern,
I support all efforts by the State of Texas to ensure continued public access to Fairfield Lake State Park. I fully understand that this property is recognized as private property, and I respect a private landowner’s rights and privileges, including selling their property. However, with less than 2% of Texas land currently available for public access and the fact that for more than 50 years, this park has been open to the public for hunting, fishing, camping, and outdoor recreation, I believe that the selling of this property for a private high-end golf course and losing public access raises the level of scrutiny for this transaction.
I respectfully request that the State of Texas support the efforts of elected officials and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure that Fairfield Lake State Park remains in the public trust. With annual visitation of nearly 82,000 individuals, 3 public hunting opportunities, and world-class bass fishing, losing public access to this park would be an insult to all Texans as our state celebrates the centennial of the state park system.
Respectfully,
About Kyle Mobley
Kyle Mobley is the Texas Chapter Communications Chair and currently lives in Cypress, Texas with his wife. He is finishing a degree in Environmental Conservation where his studies focus on wildlife management and historical ecology.