Balmorhea State Park Gets Endowment From Apache Corporation
Balmorhea State Park was closed in 2018 due to repairs that needed to be made and now Texas oil company Apache Corporation is stepping up to help out the iconic park.
According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the park was closed in May of 2018 after park staff found damage to the concrete apron under the diving board while doing routine maintenance.
The concrete apron stabilizes the walls of the pool against erosion.
Park officials drained the pool and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation started a fundraising campaign for $2 million to help preserve the spring fed pool and coinciding park.
Apache Corporation pledged to match all donations up to $1 million. TPWF reached its $1 million goal on January 17, 2019 and Apache matched that and donated an additional $1 million to set up a permanent endowment within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation to provide support for the Balmorhea State Park.
That will mean that the original $2 million can go to repairs on the pool without diverting resources from other state parks, and the endowment can insure the park gets the support it needs.