Bastrop State Park awarded grant funding in competition
It didn't finish first, but even 12th place was worth $10,000. Bastrop State Park's 12th place finish in a Coca-Cola competition, "America Is Your Park," allowed parks across the country to compete for votes with the park getting the highest number of votes earning a top prize of $100,000. Bastrop State Park netted 661,565 votes. The 6,500-acre Bastrop State Park, 96 percent of which suffered damages during last Labor Day's wildfire, was awarded $10,000 in the competition. The park has been making a comeback since the fire and more than $200,000 in donations have been received from a variety of sources. "The tremendous support we received from people and companies for Bastrop State Park is testament to the special place this park holds in the minds and hearts of Texans," said Brent Leisure, Texas State Parks director. Leisure said the $10,000 grant will be used to hire America's YouthWorks to complete new trails in the park. Officials report some vegetation is growing and park customers are returning to camp, rent a cabin, fish, play golf and picnic. Visitors can stay at all four campgrounds and the 13 climate-controlled cabins, and most of the park trails have been reopened.
