Rivard Report: Texas State Parks Coverage
The Rivard Report, an independent news outlet covering San Antonio and Texas, provided in-depth coverage of the Texas Coalition for State Parks and the campaign to pass Proposition 5 in 2019. The following image is from that coverage.
About This Coverage
In October 2019, as Texans prepared to vote on constitutional amendments in the November election, independent news organizations across the state covered the campaign to pass Proposition 5. The Rivard Report was among the outlets that reported on the efforts of the Texas Coalition for State Parks and the significance of dedicating Sporting Goods Sales Tax revenue to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission.
Proposition 5 passed with strong support from Texas voters, marking a landmark achievement for conservation and outdoor recreation in the state. The campaign demonstrated the broad, bipartisan support for protecting Texas’ natural areas and historic sites.
Why the Rivard Report Mattered
Coverage from credible regional news outlets helped inform Texas voters about what Proposition 5 would and would not do. A key message throughout the campaign was that Prop. 5 required no new taxes — it simply ensured that existing sporting goods tax revenue could not be redirected away from parks, as it had been for decades.
Journalists at the Rivard Report and other outlets helped cut through confusion about the ballot language and explained how the constitutional amendment would benefit Texans of all backgrounds — from hunters and anglers to urban families seeking affordable outdoor recreation.