Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 5
Presenter: Jason Estrella

Action
Disposition of Land – Blanco County
Approximately 0.38 Acres at Blanco State Park
March 28, 2024

I.      Executive Summary: Staff requests authorization to pursue the disposition of land to resolve long-standing ambiguities in the chain of title of a 0.38-acre tract adjacent to Blanco State Park that is owned by the City of Blanco. Staff believes that the ambiguities in the deed records can be resolved with a quitclaim deed from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to the City of Blanco.

II.     Discussion: The 90-acre Blanco State Park straddles the Blanco River for more than two miles within the city of Blanco. The park was acquired in the 1930s and is very popular with visitors, allowing access to the clear waters of the Blanco River for swimming, tubing, picnicking, and enjoying a picturesque Hill Country stream.

Since 2016, TPWD staff has researched title records and mapped results for state parks and wildlife management areas in order to improve understanding of site boundaries and potential boundary issues. During staff’s research of Blanco State Park, staff found no proof of TPWD ownership of a 0.38-acre tract on the east side of the park. The City of Blanco previously reached out to TPWD with documentation proving City ownership of the subject tract and requested that TPWD work with the City to resolve ambiguities in the property records. A quitclaim deed from TPWD to the City of Blanco will clarify that the City owns the property and dispose of any future claim TPWD may have to the property. Staff believes that the disposition of this tract will not affect park operations.

III.   Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

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Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Regarding the Disposition of Land – Blanco County
Acquisition of Approximately 0.38 Acres at Blanco State Park
March 28, 2024

Resolution

      Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Blanco State Park (SP) for a variety of recreation and conservation values, including the protection of habitat; and,

      Whereas, since 2016, TPWD staff have been researching title records and mapping results for TPWD state parks and wildlife management areas in order to improve understanding of site boundaries and potential boundary issues; and,

      Whereas, TPWD has recently been working with the City of Blanco (City) to resolve long-standing ambiguities in the chain of title of a 0.38-acre tract adjacent to Blanco SP.; and,

      Whereas, research has proved that the tract is owned by the City, and the ambiguities in the deed records can be resolved with a quitclaim deed from TPWD to the City; and,

      Whereas, the City has reached out to TPWD with documentation proving City ownership of the subject tract and requested that TPWD work with the City to resolve ambiguities in the property records; and,

      Whereas, TPWD believes that a quitclaim deed from TPWD to the City will clarify that the City owns the property and dispose of any future claim TPWD may have to the property; and,

      Whereas, TPWD staff believes that the disposition of this tract will not affect park operations; and,

      Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the state park in which such newspapers are published (the Blanco County News in Blanco County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

      Whereas, the Commission finds that the disposition of land is in accordance with PWC section 26.001; and,

      Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the TPWD Executive Director to take all necessary steps to dispose of the subject 0.38-acre tract of land subject to the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

Adopted and approved this 28th day of March, 2024.

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Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit B

Location Map for Blanco State Park
Blanco County

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Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map for Blanco State Park
Blanco, Texas

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Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit D

Area Map of Blanco State Park
Proposed Disposition in Yellow
Blanco State Park Outlined in Red

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Commission Agenda Item No. 5
Exhibit E

Site Map of Proposed Disposition in Yellow
Blanco State Park Outlined in Red