FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2015
Media contact: Lydia Saldaña
817.851.5729
lsaldana@tpwf.org
$25,000 Donation to Aid Blanco State Park Flood Recovery
AUSTIN-A $25,000 check was presented to Blanco State Park at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Austin on Nov. 5. The $25,000 grant resulted from a promotion conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, which was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. Park officials plan on using the funds to construct canoe and kayak access to the Blanco River.
“We’re very appreciative of this grant and it couldn’t come at a better time,” said Ethan Belicek, Blanco State Park Superintendent. “The Memorial Day floods washed away the old access point, and these funds will be used to build a facility that will be accessible to all.”
The facility will be constructed to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and park officials hope it will be completed in 2016. Blanco State Park is located in Central Texas and hosts more than 90,000 visitors a year.
The online promotion, called “This Bud’s for Texas Parks,” asked people to vote for their favorite state park. It ran from July 1 to Sept. 30. More than 28,000 people cast ballots, and Blanco State Park came in first with 5,042 votes.
“Anheuser-Busch has been a longtime supporter of Texas Parks and Wildlife and this promotion affirms how much Texans love their parks,” said Anne Brown, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Executive Director. “We’re thrilled that these funds will be used to provide river access to all who want to enjoy the Blanco River and the park.”
Several members of the Friends of Blanco State Park were on hand for the check presentation. The volunteer organization played a big role in getting the park cleaned up and re-opened to the public after the Memorial Day flooding. They also played an active role in encouraging people to vote for the park during the promotion. Thankfully, the most recent bout of storms in late October did not cause any additional damage.
“It has been a pleasure to partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to invite Texans to go out and enjoy the beauty of our state parks,” said Miguel Nigrinis, Director of Regional Marketing for Anheuser-Busch. “Congratulations to Blanco State Park on winning this grant!”
Since 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) has leveraged public funds with private philanthropy to advance Texas’ proud outdoor traditions and conserve our state’s wildlife, habitat, recreational areas, and natural resources. Since its inception, TPWF has raised more than $100 million to help ensure that all Texans, today and in the future, can enjoy the wild things and wild places of Texas.
All TPWF news releases available online: https://www.tpwf.org/media/press-releases/
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