A popular Texas state park is being forced to close its doors after the land lease was terminated due to an impending sale of property, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced this week.
Fairfield Lake State Park, located 90 miles southeast of Dallas, is being turned into a high-end gated community complete with multi-million dollar homes and a private golf course, The Dallas Morning News reports. Texas State Parks has 120 days to vacate the park before it's turned over to the new owner, Todd Interests.
"I have said repeatedly, Texas cannot lose a state park to development. Fairfield Lake State Park is a treasure that Texas residents have been visiting for 47 years to experience its beauty and recreational activities. The park cannot be replaced. Some 80,000 hardworking Texans will lose a place of solitude, sport fishing and priceless memory making if the park is closed. We must make every effort possible to keep the land as a state park," said Senator Charles Perry, Chairman of the Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.
Visitors will no longer have access to the state park starting February 28. The park's closure also involves the shuttering of access to two public boat ramps and a fishing pier on Fairfield Lake, meaning public recreation on the lake is no longer a possibility come March.
"I am extremely disheartened that Fairfield Lake State Park can no longer provide the outdoor fun and memories it has created for families in the local community and across Texas for nearly 50 years. I would like to thank the community, partners, visitors and all the employees for their hard work and unwavering support to bring incredible recreation and outstanding service to the state of Texas for so many years," said Director of Texas State Parks Rodney Franklin in a statement.
Fairfield Lake State Park was acquired in 1971 and was opened to the public five years later. About 80,000 people visited the park every year. TWPD said it will continue to work to buy and potentially expand the park. "Legislative leadership strongly supports helping TPWD acquire the land that is now Fairfield Lake State Park. Funds now available from the constitutional amendment dedicating sporting goods sales tax to support state parks could be tapped to make the land purchase, along with federal land and water conservation funds," the press release states.
Park-goers on social media expressed their disappointment with the park's closing.
"The spirt of Texas is losing itself to corporate greed," one user said.
"This little jewel of a state park and wildlife management area will be sorely missed by my family and those lucky enough to have spent time within its boundaries," said another.
"I live in Fairfield. Been going to the lake since I was a kid and brought my kids a lot too. Camped, fished, and walked the nature trails. Now there's nothing to do here anymore. 😞," said another user.