This is a tale of two parks. It began in 1980 when Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) purchased 400 acres of rolling, oak-dotted prairie on the northeast side of Eagle Mountain Lake, just 15 miles north of downtown Fort Worth, with the intention of creating a state park.

The new 400-acre park was intended to give visitors access to the 8,600-acre reservoir and its surrounding lands. Plans included opportunities for waterskiing, fishing, canoeing, picnicking, hiking, and biking, making the park a place of respite for urbanites escaping the city. However, the state deemed the property too small to be designated a major state park, and residents became concerned the property would be sold and developed.

In 2007, Trust for Public Land (TPL) brokered an agreement for the local water district to purchase the property and maintain it as a regional park and natural area.

Meanwhile, with the revenue earned from the sale of the Eagle Mountain Park project, TPWD was able to purchase and protect Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, more than 4,800 acres of rolling hills and creeks. This two-for-one deal protected an existing park and created a new one at the same time.

Now owned by Tarrant Regional Water District, Eagle Mountain Park includes six miles of scenic trails, waterfront access, and a picnic pavilion. The park’s blend of prairie and cross-timbers is home to native animals such as white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, and migratory birds.

“Eagle Mountain Park is a great example of how creativity and collaboration can create win-win solutions for conservation,” said Robert Kent, Texas state director for Trust for Public Land. “The residents of Texas are still able to enjoy the beauty of Eagle Mountain Lake while looking forward to the grand opening of Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.”