Texas State Parks may face closure

Read?more: Local, News, Texas State Parks, Texas, Parks, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Canyon, Budget Cuts, Funding, Texas Legislation, Underfunded, Conservation, History, Preserve, Cory Evans, Brent Leisure, Visit Parks

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states it will take millions more to help keep state parks up and running.

TPWD State Parks Director Brent Leisure states that they requested $18.9 million above the base budget in order to help maintain the current levels of operations in state parks. If they do not receive the extra funds, they could face having to close down some of their parks, including Palo Duro Canyon.

"That's always a potential," said Leisure. "It's one that we hope to avoid, but we've endured cuts in the past and faced various reductions and tried to identify ways that we can make those reductions without affecting services and opportunities for Texans to visit parks."

Palo Duro is the third largest state park in Texas so if they do have to close down some parks, it won't be at the top of their list. However, they will face the aftermath of low financing.

Palo Duro State Park Superintendent, Cory Evans states that they have had a history of being underfunded for quite some time. "We have a lot of maintenance issues and things we really need to stay on top of to preserve this place," said Evans.

Without the extra funds, there is no telling how Palo Duro or other state parks will be affected. Evans states that the best thing people can do to help reserve these parks is to go and visit them.

Source: http://www.connectamarillo.com/news/story.aspx?id=849244

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