FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2016
Media contact: Lydia Saldaña 817.851.5729 lsaldana@tpwf.org
Philanthropic Grants Enhance State Parks across Texas
Thanks to a competitive grant opportunity made possible by funding from the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation, 17 state parks across Texas will soon be providing enhanced visitor experiences or improved habitat to benefit wildlife. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) matched the funding, providing a total of more than $52,000 for projects across the state.
The winning grants will fund efforts ranging from a monarch butterfly project at Brazos Bend State Park, to restoring a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) pavilion at Garner State Park, to a shower for sand removal at Monahans Sandhills State Park. All the projects are aimed at providing a higher quality visit for state park visitors. Engaging volunteer labor to provide a match for the requested funds is one criteria of the competitive grant.
“Projects that make the outdoors a better place to be is a priority for us,” said Adelaide Leavens, president of Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation in Fort Worth. “We’re pleased to support these outstanding projects at state parks across Texas, and we’re thrilled to see these dollars leveraged by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and fueled by volunteer support.”
The projects that are funded in the 2016 grant cycle are:
STATE PARK
Blanco
Brazos Bend Cleburne Colorado Bend Daingerfield Davis Mountains Enchanted Rock Garner
COUNTY
Blanco Fort Bend Johnson San Saba Morris Jeff Davis Gillespie Uvalde
PROJECT
Wildlife viewing station Monarch butterfly project Fish habitat enhancement Kayak storage system
Bird houses and turtle habitat Amphitheatre renovation Re-sign trail system
Restore historic CCC pavilion
AMOUNT
$5,000 $2,500 $2,460 $2,000 $1,000 $4,000 $5,000 $4,000
Goose Island Kickapoo Cavern Lake Bob Sandlin Mission Tejas Monahans Sandhills Old Tunnel
Ray Roberts- Johnson Branch Seminole Canyon
Sheldon Lake
Aransas Kinney Camp Houston Ward Kendall Cooke Val Verde Harris
Wildlife viewing deck
Wildlife water systems Canoe/kayak launch
Telescope for night sky program Shower for sand removal
Bat viewing and research cameras Pilot wildflower planting program Bird blind
Scope for birding
$4,000 $2,000 $4,200 $1,761 $4,816 $4,217 $2,500 $1,100 $1,500
TPWF will administer two more rounds of these grants in 2017 and 2018.
“These are the types of projects that can really enhance the quality of the visitor experience in our parks,” said Brent Leisure, Texas State Parks director. “Thanks to legislation passed during the last legislative session, there has been an increase in dedicated funding for state park facility repairs, including replacing bathrooms and visitor centers. However, funding for smaller enhancement projects such as the ones funded through these competitive grants is not always available within the state park budget. We sincerely appreciate this philanthropic partnership that provides these extras for park visitors.”
All TPWF news releases available online: tpwf.org/media/press-releases
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 $125 million to help ensure that all Texans, today and in the future, can enjoy the wild things and wild places in Texas.
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