Texas state park will close this month to make way for gated community
One of Texas’ most popular state parks located between Houston and Dallas is scheduled to close at month’s end.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said it was notified by its lessor Vistra that the land lease for Fairfield Lake State Park was terminated due to the property’s impending sale.
Fairfield Lake State Park will close to the public Feb. 28. Texas State Parks has 120 days to vacate the property before it is handed to its new owner, developer Todd Interests.
“This is an unprecedented loss of a state treasure for Texans,” TPWD executive director David Yoskowitz said in a statement.
“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. We have worked diligently to find a solution that would allow TPWD to purchase part, or all of the property, and it is unfortunate that an agreement could not be reached at this time with Vistra or the buyer.”
According to TPWD, Vistra was not interested in selling the parkland by itself.
Todd Interests has plans to build a gated community with multimillion-dollar homes and a private golf course.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III said in a statement that “rest assured, commissioners remain committed to working with Todd Interests to maintain this important public asset and grow outdoor recreation in Texas.”
The park, acquired by lease in 1971 and opened to the public in 1976, averages 80,000 visitors a year, with fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding and paddling among the popular activities there.