AUSTIN, Texas — A Senate leader used a last-minute bill substitution this week to quash the idea that Fairfield Lake State Park can be saved by circumventing a future developer’s water rights permit.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has operated the Freestone County lake and its surrounding land for 50 years on a lease with Vistra Energy, which owned the adjacent coal plant. When that plant shut down in 2018, Vistra exercised its option to sell the property. Because TPWD failed to act or to partner with a developer, that land is now in the hands of Todd Interests.

What You Need To Know
House members have filed multiple bills to save Fairfield Lake State Park, which was recently sold to Dallas-based Todd Interests

The park is currently open temporarily as the deal closes

The Senate sponsor of the House bill has substituted new language that will strip the bill of its teeth

Meanwhile, the Senate has proposed a $500M fund to make future purchases of parkland
and the rest of story:
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/so...ended-to-save-fairfield-lake-state-park-

Good! TPWD had plenty of time & opportunity to buy the place. They screwed the pooch & now want to screw over the group buying it.

I agree! The state had the chance to buy it and didn’t and then they try to stop the new owners from using it the way that they want to.

It's a always sumthin...sez RoseAnn RoseAnna Danna.... No good outcome is looming and everbody else can row their boat all they want, but I'd bet a double chaw of of double bubble bubble gum IMO. Too bad too....only place I ever caught tilapia from the bank with a cast net. Was Well worth the haul from Carrollton towing the old Ranger boat.
Ron

TPWD is now operating Colorado River State park in the same manner. Leased from energy company Vistra. Will it be next to be sold by owner when coal plants become non profitable? And what will TPWD do to maintain the park.

They should buy it or walk. They choose to lease it it

said day for private property rights

Yep, the fix was in.

Texas officials have never prioritized public grounds. If the state owned this ground already, if someone bid high enough it would be long gone and billed and advertised as a great and beneficial deal for Texans.

The only reason this is happening now is probably because an interest group learned the park is in jeopardy and started organizing and raising hell.

If it were Colorado State Park i would never get over it.

I concur completely with the last 1/3 of the article….

The “save the park” was nothing more than a cheap political stunt! All politicians are whores!

https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20230525c

Looks like it isn't over yet.

Screw TP&W! They already use my hunting and fishing license fees to maintain these failing parks that can't support themselves and then I have to pay to get in one? Turn them all into hunting land and maintain the boat ramps is what I'd like to see.

Don't know what Vistra / Todd Interests has said about this? Maybe there is some late hope for SP.
Austin trying to save face after doing nothing?

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/25/texas-fairfield-lake-state-park-lease-deal-tpwd/

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/202...illion-dollar-homes-private-golf-course/