First North Texas Park in More than 25 Years to be Headed by UT Arlington Alumnus

By Amber Scott

For James Adams, the commute to moment he steps out of his front door and into 4,000-plus acres of rugged wilderness.

As superintendent of the soon-tobe-opened Palo Pinto Mountains State laughing. superintendent as being similar to that but one with a constantly changing population. Superintendents manage safety of every visitor, among countless other duties.

Adams lives onsite and oversees every phase of its development.

“Basically, we’re ultimately responsible for everything that occurs that it’s something his master’s in public administration from UTA has well-prepared him for. “It was all tremendously helpful, from governmental relations to human resources to law classes to public budgeting. I’ve used all of that.” development, Adams has led a team of subject-matter experts, including architects, engineers and resource specialists. Together, they’re focused respecting and retaining its history and will stand the test of time. similar to how it has for the past 100 years,” he said. “There has not been a lot of development here, which is great. extent and seeing wild Texas and the Wild West.”

Adams and his team have found evidence of that robust history in the Paleo-Indian point that is about 10,000

1880 to feed the masses when the Texas

“The occupation and use of this land has spanned millennia,” he said. “It’s really exciting to see evidence of that out here.” cataloged. Some are archived, and some half was excavated and archived, while left in its natural state, preserved for future generations to discover. outdoor activities amid stunning vistas

“That way, if future archaeologists context it existed originally,” he said.

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and is visitors a year.Adams, for one, can’t wait to welcome his fellow Texans inside.

“It’s just a beautiful part of the how beautiful it is until they get here