A Beautiful State Park Will Be Destroyed To Be Replaced By Housing Developments
Vistra, the owner of Fairfield State Park in Texas, sold the property to development firm Todd Interests, which intends to turn the property into a multi-million dollar residential community with a private golf course.
Not all is fair in Fairfield Lakes Park. After almost 50 years of providing leisure, fishing, picnics, and fresh air for recreation lovers in Freestone County, Texas, its gates to the public will be closing soon.
This southern state park, which is situated between the cities of Dallas and Houston, welcomed 82,000 guests in the previous year. On its website, which can still be accessed, Fairfield Lake State Park highlights some activities that visitors can (or, more accurately, could) partake in during their visit. These activities included fishing, boating, observing nature, and exploring the park’s 10 miles of hiking trails. In addition, guests had the opportunity to book what was called an “accessible group hall” for their next conference or reunion—such gatherings that, now, will never be held.
As of February 28, Fairfield Lake State Park will no longer be accessible to the general public, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Texas Parks and Wildlife. This means if parkgoers want one last boat launch, one last cast for bass, or a walk amongst the grounds with friends and family, time is running out.
In a recent editorial, Tylerpaper.com reported that “TPWD has been operating the 2,200-acre park since 1976, when it was given a free lease on the land from then owner TXU.” The same arrangement continued with Luminant/Vistra after it took over the site. And while TPWD attempted to purchase state park land, Vistra refused. According to ClicktoHouston.com, “Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) was notified by its lessor, Vistra, the owner of the site, that the land lease for Fairfield Lake State Park was terminated due to the impending sale of the property.” “Texas State Parks has 120 days to vacate the state park before it is turned over to the new owner, Todd Interests,” the statement read.
Lamentably, the new owners don’t exactly have conservation, bird watching, or the preservation of ecosystems in mind. According to The Texas Tribune, Todd Interests, a Dallas-based real estate firm, announced the land will be developed into an exclusive gated community with multimillion-dollar residences and a private golf course.
It comes as no surprise that the news of the park’s destruction has been met with widespread disappointment, as it is not just a loss for the community but also for the environment. “This is an unprecedented loss of a state treasure for Texans,” David Yoskowitz, the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said. “The demand for outdoor recreation exceeds supply in Texas, so losing even one state park is a setback for all of us who enjoy publicly accessible lands.”
State parks are an essential feature of any community, as they provide a peaceful place for people to escape the strains of everyday life and reconnect with nature. Hiking routes, fishing in streams, and the presence of breathtaking wildlife were all available to visitors in this park. All of that will be a distant memory in the coming days. Soon, those cherished scenes will be replaced. The sight of bulldozers, bricks, concrete, lumber, and piping strewn throughout the grounds will undoubtedly crush the hearts of those who previously cherished Fairfield Lake State Park.
