Friends of Big Bend National Park

The Centennial Challenge:

Friends of Big Bend National Park enthusiastically supports the Centennial Challenge legislation making its way through Congress at this time. The Centennial Challenge bill (S. 2817) is an excellent opportunity for all parks to receive the funding they need to carry out special projects before the 100th anniversary of the park system in 2016.

The Senate bill establishes the Centennial Challenge Fund, a matching donation fund in the federal treasury that will provide up to $100 million a year to the national parks in support of signature “Centennial projects and programs.” This would allow supporters of the parks to match their contributions with federal dollars to carry out a program or a project at a national park unit. These matching funds projects will be from groups like FBBNP. This bill is critical to getting major projects done in parks across the country, and could mean new trails, an orientation film, an auditorium and new exhibits for Big Bend. To find out more about how you can support the Centennial Challenge bill, please contact Courtney at friendsdirector@yahoo.com or click here for a full review of S-2817.

What can you do? Please ask your Senators to co-sponsor the Salazar bill (S.2817). You can also contact your Representative and ask them to sign on to the letter of support for the Centennial Challenge from the National Parks Caucus and the Travel/Tourism Caucus that is being sent to the House Natural Resources Committee.

Posted April 22, 2008

Statement on the Christmas Mountains:
Friends of Big Bend National Park has sent a letter to Commissioner Patterson stating our support of Big Bend National Park’s request that the sale of the Christmas Mountains be delayed at this time.  Originally the Conservation Fund intended for this property to be a part of the park. Big Bend National Park is now in a position to manage this land. This area would be an outstanding addition to the park which is a treasure given by the people of the State of Texas to the National Park Service and the citizens of the United States.

The Friends of Big Bend National Park Board of Directors’ position is that expanding the borders of Big Bend National Park and preserving the land under the stewardship of the National Park Service would be beneficial to the State of Texas. We hope that the Commissioner will keep in mind the intent of the Conservation Fund’s donation of the Christmas Mountains property.

For the latest information on this issue, please check the website for the School Land Board at www.glo.state.tx.us/about/landboard.html.
Posted Oct. 29, 2007. Addendum Nov. 9, 2007.