State parks' future are at stake
JOHN D. PARKER Lufkin

JOHN D. PARKER

On November 6, Pineywoods voters will consider Proposition 4, one of 16 proposed constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot.

For East Texas, there is much at stake.

The 80th Texas Legislature significantly increased funding for Texas state parks. All of us who value the recreational, environmental, educational and economic benefits our parks deliver are most grateful. However, part of that new funding now depends on voter approval.

If approved, Proposition 4 would provide $52 million in 2008-2009 for major repairs throughout the state park system. This includes $25 million for the Battleship TEXAS, which saw action in both World Wars. The remaining $27 million, coupled with additional funds from an earlier bond issue, would give the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department the financial tools to begin addressing a major repair backlog. Some 30 state parks across Texas would see much needed improvement.

In our region, that includes $2.5 million for Tyler State Park to replace restrooms in the Black Jack and Red Oak camping areas, renovate the Cedar Point camping area, renovate the park group facility and convert screen shelters into cottages and repair buildings built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Also in East Texas, repairs at Mission Tejas State Park will include $963,958 to renovate a park restroom and trail system, replace deteriorated pedestrian bridges, repair the historic Rice Family log home and re-roof and re-mortar the Spanish Mission building.

It also includes $2 million to repair deteriorated elements of Daingerfield State Park's many buildings built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, including the Bass Lodge, boat house and concession building.

Proposition 4 would also mean $6.8 million to expand and improve the Tyler Crime Lab serving area law enforcement organizations, speeding up turnaround time for evidence analysis and preparing for caseload growth in the future. Most crime labs are decades old, with caseloads now many times their original scope.

The bond package would also provide $2.6 million for Rusk State Hospital, which serves people in our region with mental illnesses. This would repair roofs, replace the primary electrical distribution system, replace the emergency generator for client residences, and make other repairs. Furthermore, Proposition 4 would provide additional dollars to restore and renovate many of our state historic sites and county courthouses, as well as funding for a modern driving training track to aid enforcement officers. Also included are much needed repairs and renovations at Caddoan Mounds State Historic site west of Alto in Cherokee County, and repairs and repainting of the Starr Family Home in Marshall, both of which are important East Texas sites coming under the supervision of the Texas Historic Commission. Both of these historic sites are important to East Texas school children who visit them annually on field trips.

More information is available at www.proposition4.org This Web site explains Proposition 4, including where and how bond dollars are currently proposed to be spent. It also offers information about early voting, which began Oct. 22.

I urge our citizens to learn about Proposition 4 and make an informed decision Nov. 6.

Mr. Parker was appointed to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission by Gov. Rick Perry on Nov. 10, 2003 to a six-year term which will expire on Feb. 1, 2009.