We are asking that the Texas Municipal Power Agency (TMPA) and its member cities of Denton, Garland, Greenville, and Bryan convert the recovered Gibbons Creek former mine lands into a ~10,000 acre regional park. This regional park would be located near the heart of the Texas Triangle, a region that contains the state's five largest cities and is home to the majority of the Texas population. 

Creating this regional park will protect wildlife, such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons, as well as endangered species, such as the Navasota Ladies' Tresses, an orchid only found in Texas. The area could serve as a natural stop-over for migratory waterfowl. Furthermore, the area was found to contain more than 200 archaeological sites with the oldest found artifacts dating from the Paleo-Indian period (~10,000 BCE to 7000BCE) making it older than the pyramids in Egypt. Protecting this area as a regional park will help preserve the history and culture of Texas. Finally, this regional park will provide Texans with outdoor recreation, education, and research opportunities. The stunning landscape contains wetlands, hills, water features, and open prairies. Making it a regional park will allow TMPA and its member cities to rid themselves of their financial obligations for the land while ensuring that the public retains ownership and stewardship of this invaluable natural area. 

We hope that TMPA and its member cities will not overlook this incredible chance to create a ~10,000 acre regional park that protects Texas wildlife and history while promoting local economic development and healthier communities.