Friends of Big Bend National Park

Auditorium and Visitor Orientation Film – At the February 2008 meeting, the FBBNP Board of Directors approved a gift of $35,000 to the park to secure architectural drawings for a proposed 50-seat auditorium and visitor orientation film.  The plans have been drawn, and the project is now ready to be bid.  The Friends is actively pursuing an appropriations request for this project through the Office of Congressman Rodriguez. 

Update 6/10/09:  The House Interior Appropriations Sub-Committee did not approve our request for $500,000 for the auditorium, we will be pursuing this same appropriations request – in Spring 2010.

November 2009 brought a big boost to the $150,000 Visitor Orientation Film Campaign.  A $20,000 gift from The Brown Foundation took us past the halfway point, bringing the total raised to date to $93,000.  The Brown Foundation has a history of supporting the Friends and Big Bend National Park.  They have made the park a priority in their giving, and we thank them for their contributions to this important effort.  This film will have a lasting and visible impact on park visitors and their safety.  Thanks to all foundations who have given to this campaign for their steadfast support!

If you are interested in supporting this project, please let us know – we are hard at work to complete this campaign!

FY2010 Projects - At the September 2009  meeting, the FBBNP Board of Directors approved an additional $30,000 in funding for two projects requested by the park.  At the June 2009 meeting, the FBBNP Board of Directors approved $30,000 in funding for four projects requested by the park.  This brings us to over $940,000 in gifts to the park over the twelve year history of FBBNP!  Click here for details on these projects.

FY2009 Projects - At the June 2008 meeting, the FBBNP Board of Directors approved $30,500 in funding for four projects requested by the park.  Click here for details.  This makes over $730,000 in gifts to the park over ten years from FBBNP! 

At the February 2009 Board of Directors meeting, the board awarded $30,000 to the park for two projects.  The first project, funded at $10,000, will launch the park into the digital media age.  The project provides funding for a computer and software dedicated to producing and editing podcast and other multimedia video materials.  This lays the foundation for future Big Bend National Park podcasts – watch our website for launch dates!  The second project, funded at $20,000, will rehabilitate and improve the Fossil Bone exhibit kiosk.  The project also includes a design review of the site, with suggestions for a future, expanded exhibit on the park’s paleontological wonders.  Click here for more details!

Panther Junction Visitor Center — Construction is over and the park celebrated the re-opening of the visitor center with a ribbon cutting and party on May 1.  Friends of Big Bend raised over $250,000 for the new educational exhibits that grace the walls of the Visitor Center.  Want to know what it looks like?  Click here for photos of the dedication. 
FBBNP thanks the many supporters who made this project possible.  Click here to see the list of donors to this project.

Rio Grande Village Restoration – Friends of Big Bend National Park is pleased to announce a grant of $15,000 from the Brown Foundation for habitat restoration efforts at the Rio Grande Valley wetlands area.  This project aims to restore the area to its natural habitat, providing migrating birds with a welcoming environment and a buffer zone for the nearby federally endangered mosquitofish.  In 2007, FBBNP’s Board of Directors allotted $12,000 in license plate revenue to start this project, which park personnel estimate will cost $85,000.  Several grants to complete funding on this project are currently pending.