NEWS RELEASES
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Texas Parks & Wildlife's website.
AUSTIN, Texas - To start off 2020 on a positive note, Texas State Parks continued its First Day Hike on Jan. 1 and welcomed 5,242 people who hiked, biked and rode a total of 9,564 miles statewide. This year, a record number of Texans visited 76 parks and participated in one of the 126 events held New Year’s Day.
According to a TPWD News article, "The First Day Hikes events ranged from strolls on scenic trails, midnight walks, polar plunges, bike rides, and short treks with four-legged family members to more strenuous hikes for experienced visitors." A visitor at Sea Rim State Park participated in the polar plunge in the surf after walking a First Day Hike and came back to shore with a thumbs up exclaiming “I did it!” Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, about an hour southwest of Fort Worth, had the most participants with 390 visitors taking part in the seven First Day Hike events held throughout the day. Mother Neff State Park near Waco was close behind with 387 visitors and Tyler State Park in Tyler came in third with 262 participants.
More can be read on the monumental day at the TPWD website.