 The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation today released a new report about the strong and growing economic role state parks have on the Texas economy. The research showed the parks generated more than $891 million in sales activity, had a $240 million impact on the incomes of Texas residents, and supported an estimated 6,081 jobs throughout the state in 2018. A new group, the Texas Coalition for State Parks, was launched by a group of former Texas Parks & Wildlife Commissioners and park advocates with the sole purpose of advocating for a constitutional dedication of the Sporting Goods Sales Tax to state parks funding. The Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA) quickly joined the coalition. View the full list of members as well as the press release by clicking here.  Rumors are swirling that the government plans to seize the private wildlife sanctuary’s land today. Center staff themselves don’t know for sure. On Sunday, construction equipment and law enforcement appeared at the National Butterfly Center and an officer told center staff that “effective Monday morning, [the center’s land south of the levee] is all government land” Last year, Congress approved funding to build new border-wall sections atop a levee that runs through the center, which protects habitat for hundreds of butterfly species as well as birds and other wildlife. These wall plans are separate from President Trump's larger proposed wall project that is still being negotiated. Read the full Hannah Waters article by clicking here. |
