BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — A new federal bill could place portions of Brazoria County inside a proposed national recreation area stretching across the Upper Texas Gulf Coast.
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber, who represents Texas’ 14th Congressional District, introduced H.R. 9325, known as the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area Act, on June 17.
The proposal would establish the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area along portions of Jefferson, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties. Supporters say the plan is aimed at expanding outdoor recreation, strengthening coastal tourism, supporting conservation and preserving the natural and cultural resources of the Texas Gulf Coast.
For Brazoria County residents, the proposal could eventually mean more attention on local coastal areas, wildlife habitat, fishing, public access, tourism and heritage-based economic development.
According to Weber’s office, the bill would keep local leadership in place, make participation voluntary and avoid creating new federal regulatory authority. Private landowners and local stakeholders would remain central to the process.
“The Texas Gulf Coast is unlike anywhere else in America,” Weber said in the announcement, pointing to fishing, wildlife and family recreation along the coast.
The proposed recreation area would not be one single continuous park. Instead, it would be a regional designation covering parts of the Upper Texas Coast, with cooperation between local governments, landowners, conservation groups and other partners.
The Lone Star Coastal Alliance, a group that has supported the effort, says the proposal is designed to connect the region’s environmental, cultural, recreational and historical assets while supporting local economies.
The plan also comes as the Texas Gulf Coast continues to face questions about coastal resilience, storm protection, public access and growth. Supporters argue the designation could help bring more attention and resources to coastal communities while still respecting private property rights.
For Brazoria County, the bill could tie into areas already known for fishing, birding, boating, beach access, wetlands, coastal history and outdoor recreation.
The legislation has support from several Texas Republicans, including original co-sponsors Brian Babin, Wesley Hunt and Troy Nehls.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, meaning it still has several steps to go before becoming law.
If approved, the Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area would become part of the broader National Park System framework, but the proposal is being presented as a locally driven effort rather than a federal takeover of private land.
Supporters say the goal is to promote tourism, recreation and conservation while allowing local communities to remain in control of how the effort moves forward.
Gulf Coast Times will continue following the bill and what it could mean for Brazoria County and surrounding Gulf Coast communities.
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