Bastrop State Park wins $10,000 grant

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) - Bastrop State Park was awarded a $10,000 grant from Coca-Cola and will use the windfall to continue building new park trails.

The fire-ravaged park is received the grant in connection with Coca-Cola’s “America Is Your Park” campaign, in which parks nationwide competed to win the most votes for a top grant of $100,000.

Bastrop State Park came in 12th with 661,565 votes.

“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. “We are very appreciative of Coca-Cola’s $10,000 donation that will allow us to hire America’s YouthWorks to complete new trails in the park.”

Bastrop State Park has been making a strong comeback since last Labor Day Weekend’s horrific wildfire that burned most of the park.

Since last year’s tragic Labor Day fire that hit 96 percent of the 6,500-acre state park, more than $200,000 in donations have come from a variety of sources.

The donations have helped TPWD initiate a contract with American YouthWorks to assist with restoration efforts that include clearing downed trees and other debris, restoring park trails and constructing hand-hewn pine log bridges.

Despite the destruction of much of its loblolly pine forests, Bastrop State Park is seeing the growth of some vegetation and the return of park customers who are coming to camp, rent a cabin, fish, play golf and picnic.