In honor of its 100th birthday, Texas State Parks is encouraging visitors to take photos at one of the state’s 89 state parks as part of a yearlong contest.
The photo contest will offer a new theme every season to celebrate the centennial. In a press release, social media coordinator Whitney Bishop for Texas Parks and Wildlife said, “There are so many special moments to capture, from watching a beautiful sunset to catching your first fish. This contest is about more than taking pictures. It’s about making memories.”
There will be four quarterly winners, but voting for the grand prize winner won’t take place until December. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 H-E-B gift card, a VIP experience at a state park, and a Texas State Parks Pass, while quarterly winners will receive a $100 H-E-B gift card and a $70 Texas State Parks Pass.
The themes will be based on the seasons of 2023. This season’s theme is New Year, New Adventure. Between January 1st and November 27th, people can submit and upload photos while visiting any Texas State Natural Area or Park. Photos can also be submitted through the photo contest website or on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the hashtags #TexasParks100 and #TexasStateParks.
Visitors can submit multiple entries, and the photo gallery of all submissions can be viewed online. “We can’t wait to see the parks through our visitors’ eyes,” said Bishop.
Governor Pat Neff created the State Park Board in 1923. It is dedicated to protecting important natural areas in Texas. To celebrate the centennial, the board is hosting a series of events giving Texans the opportunity to see the natural beauty of the Lone Star state.
Texas Parks and Wildlife staff and immediate family members are not eligible to enter the contest. Staff members will judge photos based on creativity, overall impression, and originality.
If you enter the contest, remember that you are permitting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to use your photo and possibly your name in newsletters and other publications related to the contest.
