Texas officials moved to cede control of more than 1,000 acres of public parkland along the Gulf Coast to SpaceX before pulling the item from a November commission meeting agenda and refusing to release records of the planned discussion, The Texas Tribune reported. The confidential agenda drafted for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department commission meeting targeted Boca Chica State Park in Cameron County, where Elon Musk’s rocket company operates its launch site.
Boca Chica State Park Faces Private Control Pressures
Boca Chica State Park encompasses roughly 1,060 acres of dunes, flats, marshes, and coastal grasslands on the southeastern corner of Texas. The Nature Conservancy purchased the land in 1992 and conveyed the property to the state in 1994. Since SpaceX chose the area for rocket testing in 2014, the company has acquired hundreds of nearby acres, fueling community concerns over public access to the beach. Bekah Hinojosa, co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, called the potential purchase a hostile takeover. Gamez stated that the beach belongs to the people of Texas, serving as a generations-old gathering place for fishing and camping.
State Officials Block Public Records of Draft Agenda
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department asked the Attorney General’s office to block the release of the draft agenda following a public records request filed by The Texas Tribune on Oct. 19. Department attorney Eric Trimble argued in the filing that the preliminary document is exempt under the open records law protecting the deliberative process because it is inextricably linked with agency policymaking. The official agenda for the November meeting ultimately omitted any mention of a land disposition in Cameron County.
Abbott denies knowledge of planned discussion before past donations emerged
Greg Abbott stated at an Oct. 19 press conference that he did not know the details of the planned discussion and that a sale would not come up for a vote anytime soon. Campaign finance reports show Musk donated nearly a fifth of the $26 million Abbott raised between Sept. 25 and Oct. 24, alongside nearly $200 million spent through political action committees supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton. The parks department previously sold Eagle Mountain Lake State Park for $9.2 million in 2008, using those funds to purchase Palo Pinto Mountains State Park while transferring the former site to the Tarrant Regional Water District as a natural area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boca Chica State Park
Who owns Boca Chica State Park currently?
The property is owned by the state of Texas and managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which acquired the 1,060-acre park in 1994 after it was purchased by The Nature Conservancy.
What does Texas law require for state parkland sales?
State law allows the agency to sell land if ownership is no longer in the department’s best interest, provided the commission approves the transaction and all proceeds are dedicated to improving or acquiring other conservation land.
What did Governor Abbott say about the park discussions?
Governor Abbott stated at an Oct. 19 news conference that he was unaware of the commission’s planned discussion details and asserted that no sale would be brought up for a vote anytime soon.