10/03/2026
Great news for Lake Palestine area!
TPWF has acquired 650 acres on Lake Palestine for a future state park, securing one of the largest contiguous landholdings with frontage on the lake and protects one of the last large blocks of habitat in this part of East Texas.
TPWF will hold the property until Texas Parks and Wildlife can acquire it in late 2027, when additional funding from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund becomes available.
“Opportunities to protect a property like this don’t come along very often, and when they do, timing is critical,” said Anne Brown, TPWF executive director. “TPWF was able to step in and secure this land now so it can ultimately become a place where generations of Texans can enjoy the outdoors. This is a great example of what public-private partnership can accomplish for conservation in Texas.”
The property has been owned by the Pollard family since 1940 and was part of the family’s longtime Texas Pecan Nursery operation. The land includes native East Texas pine forests, pecan orchards, ponds, wildlife habitat and scenic lake views. Future visitors will have opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, paddling, wildlife watching and lake access.
Private philanthropy has played an important role in making the acquisition possible. The NextEra Energy Foundation, a corporate foundation of NextEra Energy Inc. and NextEra Energy Resources, provided $100,000 in support of the project, and TPWF also tapped its Land Conservation Loan Fund, a donor-supported revolving fund established to help TPWF act quickly on time-sensitive land conservation opportunities. Lyda Hill Philanthropies was an inaugural funder of that impactful loan fund
The Lake Palestine acquisition continues a long history of partnership between TPWF and TPWD to secure significant properties for conservation and public recreation. Learn more: https://www.tpwf.org/tpwf-secures-650-acres-on-lake-palestine/
Photo courtesy of TexasLand
