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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the |
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation are celebrating the 100th |
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anniversary of Texas State Parks in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature organized the six-member |
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State Parks Board in 1923 to locate sites for a state parks system; |
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the effort was intended to create more overnight camping locations |
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to serve the increased number of Texans who had begun traveling by |
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automobile; a decade later, during the Great Depression, members of |
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the Civilian Conservation Corps established by President |
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Franklin D. Roosevelt helped build facilities at parks across the |
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state; these included such iconic structures as the pavilion at |
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Garner State Park and the Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State |
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Park, both of which continue to be enjoyed by visitors today; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was |
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officially established in 1963, when Governor John Connally merged |
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the State Parks Board with the Game and Fish Commission; soon after, |
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during an era known as the "Golden Age of Texas State Parks," |
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increased revenue streams led to the refurbishment of existing |
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parks and the development of new ones, among which were Pedernales |
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Falls, Mustang Island, Galveston Island, and McKinney Falls State |
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Parks and Lost Maples State Natural Area; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1993, Texas lawmakers dedicated a portion of |
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state taxes on sporting goods sales to provide stable funding for |
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state parks, and in 2019, Texas voters passed a constitutional |
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amendment to ensure that all funding from the sporting goods sales |
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tax will benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the |
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Texas Historical Commission; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the Texas State Parks system encompasses |
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481,000 acres of water sources, such as aquifers, rivers, and |
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reservoirs, as well as some 640,000 acres of critical habitat for |
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various wildlife, including more than 50 threatened and endangered |
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species; in addition, state parks contribute to the physical and |
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emotional well-being of countless Texans, and they have played an |
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instrumental role in the economic vitality of rural communities; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The state parks of Texas offer ample opportunities |
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for outdoor recreation while helping to conserve the natural |
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resources of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to join in |
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celebrating the centennial of these beloved public areas that have |
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been enjoyed by generations of Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of Texas State |
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Parks and extend to all those associated with the Texas Parks and |
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Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Parks and |
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Wildlife Foundation as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |