A Central Texas state park near the fast-growing Austin metro has nearly doubled in size after Texas officials purchased hundreds of acres of neighboring land.
About 35 miles south of Austin, the park is best known as the only Texas state park with an operating nine-hole golf course, a layout originally designed by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
“State Parks are grateful for the opportunity to expand Lockhart State Park in a way that protects natural resources while opening the door to new recreational possibilities for Texans,” said Rodney Franklin, director of Texas State Parks.
The expansion was completed in partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Texas and adds land with a mix of ecological features that are increasingly hard to preserve in a developing region. Officials said the purchase includes part of the Clear Fork of Plum Creek, native blackland prairie and wildlife habitat, along with shrubland and riparian woodlands.
Blackland prairie is one of Texas’ rarest native ecosystems, much of it lost over time to farming and development.
The larger of the two tracts, on the park’s southeast side, adds about 148 acres. A second parcel to the northeast adds another 40 acres. Both were previously family-owned ranches.
Before the new land opens to visitors, agency staff will conduct natural and cultural resource surveys to shape long-term management plans. Officials also said future public meetings will be held so residents and park visitors can weigh in on what comes next.
Possible future uses for the added acreage include camping, hiking and biking, though the state said planning could take months and no opening date has been announced.