The history and spatial impact of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's public policy of acquisition and development: 1920-1975

Abstract

The purpose of this geopolitical study was to investigate the influence of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's public policy of acquisition and development on the spatial distribution of state recreation parks. The history and influence of the Department was investigated as a case study from 1920 to 1975. The recorded public policy of provision of state recreation parks was examined. The investigation also included an analysis of the spatial distribution of the 55 state recreation parks in Texas and the 24 standard metropolitan statistical areas in the State. An investigation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and its public policies was needed. Academicians, politicians, and planners demand more knowledge about the influence of policy on the provision of public facilities. And, too, they seek information about public policy's influence on meeting minimum state recreation park acreage per capita standards. Results of the investigation of public policy revealed insignificant governmental direction in the location and spatial distribution of new state recreation parks. Results of chi-square tests in a quadrant analysis indicated that the parks were clustered in their spatial distribution. Though more of the State's growing metropolitan population is gaining day-use access to more state recreation park acreage, not all of the urban areas are sharing equally in their access to state park resources. Seven standard metropolitan statistical areas are above the minimum standard of state recreation park acreage per capita proposed in 1963. Eleven areas are in a state of dynamic equilibrium, either meeting or almost meeting the minimum standard. The remaining five standard metropolitan statistical areas, representing the most populous areas of the State, did not meet the minimum standard. Of the five areas, residents of El Paso do not have day-use access to any Texas state recreation park. Yet, the area and the other four standard metropolitan statistical areas, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio, have access to city, county, and federal recreational lands. It would appear that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's public policy of acquisition and development has been biocentric...