Parks Department Seeks Corporate Sponsors
The state's parks department is looking for corporate sponsors. Photo by Mose Buchele/KUT NewsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Last year’s devastating drought led to fewer visitors and less revenue at state parks. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department turned to the public for help, hoping to raise more than $4 million in donations. But since then, they’ve only received half that amount. To help close this funding gap, the department is now looking for corporate sponsors.
Park officials say they’re looking to partner with banks, hotels and sporting-goods stores. Soon, you could be the proud owner of an official Texas Parks & Wildlife cooler. Darcy Bontempo is the department’s marketing director.
“This is the first time, as far as we know, that a state agency has done this,” Bontempo says.
Does this mean someday soon a visitor to Garner State Park might see a sign saying, “Brought to you by McDonald’s”? Absolutely not, says Bontempo.
“That will not happen,” she says. “Of course we’ve gotten that question and I understand those concerns. That’s why we’ve worked so carefully to make sure that the manner in which we offer this opportunity is clearly defined.”
But you need to move fast if you want the Texas Parks & Wildlife stamp of approval for your business. The agency is only accepting proposals until August 30.
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