News Room

From the Senator's Desk . . .
April 30, 2009

Every session, we work real hard on improving health outcomes. Across Texas, a silent epidemic of obesity is cutting lives short, raising health costs and affecting communities from El Paso to Beaumont. More and more time in class and near computers is taking children (and adults) from time with family, time to exercise—and time getting back to nature.

Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org

Capitol

“Get Back to Nature”

Every session, we work real hard on improving health outcomes. Across Texas, a silent epidemic of obesity is cutting lives short, raising health costs and affecting communities from El Paso to Beaumont. More and more time in class and near computers is taking children (and adults) from time with family, time to exercise—and time getting back to nature.

What we see around Texas is that many communities are now realizing that improving access to nature and making time for the outdoors is a great investment.

In Austin, walking paths around Lady Bird Johnson Lake are a great way to spend an early morning. Austinites can also enjoy watching 1.5 million bats-- America's largest urban bat colony-- fly out at dusk from their hideaway under the Congress Avenue bridge.

Bats at sundown at the Congress Avenue Bridge by Senator Eliot Shapleigh

"Bats at sundown at the Congress Avenue Bridge by Senator Eliot Shapleigh"

In Wichita Falls, the city hosts a "Hotter'N Hell Hundred" 100-mile race in the middle of every summer.

In Beaumont, residents can check out the Camp Junction Pony Rides and Exotic Petting Zoo, which features traditional pony rides, trail rides, hayrides and exotic animals from Africa, South America, India and other countries.

In San Antonio, residents can walk the Riverwalk or take a Riverwalk boat tour. They can also walk a couple hundred feet underground by exploring the nearby Natural Bridge Caverns, or visit the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, where they can feed the freely-roaming antelope, buffalo or zebra.

In Dallas travelers can visit the Dallas World Aquarium & Zoological Gardens, where they'll see sharks, alligators, penguins and fish from every corner of the world. The aquarium is divided into separate Aquarium, Rainforest, Mundo Maya, and South Africa sections.

Out in El Paso, mountain bikers host the grueling 22-mile Coyote Classic Mountain Bike Race. This year's event had nearly 200 bikers trek through the Franklin Mountains desert.

At the El Paso Zoo, visitors can check out the Mexican wolf exhibit, one of nearly two dozen endangered species the Zoo is helping through its conservation education programs.   In 2010 the Zoo will open the new "Wild Outpost," an expansion to the zoo's Africa exhibit being sponsored by the El Paso Electric Company. One of the attraction's main goals will be teach young people about the importance of solar and wind energy. Each year, the zoo reaches out to 300,000 people, connecting them to adventures in the Franklin Mountains State Park, Rio Bosque Wetlands Park and others. The Zoo Adventure program at the zoo's El Paso Water Utilities Discovery Center offers K-3 classes on the outdoors by certified teachers.

On Sundays, in El Paso, the City closes Scenic Drive so families, road bikers and hikers can use it for a brisk walk to get back to nature.

Poppies in El Paso by Senator Eliot Shapleigh

"Poppies in El Paso by Senator Eliot Shapleigh"


This session, our office authored and passed out of the Texas Senate SB 205 to create the Texas Partnership for Nature—a coalition of stakeholders to advance, develop and promote new and innovative ways to get Texans back to nature. The bill creates a "partnership" that will explore ways to fund school districts in using local and state parks, teaching Texas children about water conservation and learning how a healthly lifestyle is a lifetime investment. The bill is expected to move out of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism soon.

Joining us to work on this bill were diverse groups such as the National Wildlife Federation, the Texas Land Trust Council, the Texas Parent Teacher Association and school districts state-wide.

By working together, we can help a new generation of Texans to learn once again how to "get back to nature."

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