The 65-acre lake is full, campers are enjoying moderate temperatures and the lush rolling hills of North Texas have never been greener in mid-July. Several rentals of the group camping facility have almost offset revenue lost during the rainy start to the remarkable summer of 2007.
Many state parks have suffered heavy damage as rains ravaged the Lone Star State, including the first official state park in Texas. Like Bonham State Park, Mother Neff State Park features historic stonework of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, but while the Bonham park is built around a placid lake with no major tributary, Mother Neff is located along the Leon River and flood waters have forced Texas Parks and Wildlife to close the central Texas park until September 1.
Mother Neff State Park dates back to 1916 when Isabella Eleanor Neff donated six acres along the river to become a park. Her son, Pat Neff, was elected Governor of Texas in 1921. When Governor Neff's mother passed away later that year, he designated the beautiful park as Mother Neff Memorial Park. The park was eventually made the cornerstone of the Texas State Park System.
In addition to being fortunate not to be more adversely affected by the heavy rains, Bonham State Park manager Lee Ellis is also relieved the 80th Legislature recognized the need for increased funding for the Texas State Park System.
"The legislature really came through for us," Mr. Ellis said. "We needed it."
Although it will take years for the increased funding to be fully implemented throughout the park system and repairing state parks that suffered heavy water damage will be a pressing priority, Bonham State Park will be allotted one part-time season employee.
